We Conserve and Restore Land, Focusing on Birds and Wildlife
— Our Mission —
The mission of the Litchfield Hills Audubon Society is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife and their habitat, for the benefit of the community, through conservation, education and research.
|
Upcoming Programs
July 11, 2022 Gardening with Frogs and Toads August 1, 2022 LHAS Picnic at Boyd Woods Sanctuary September 12, 2022 The Falkland Islands |
Upcoming Events:
July 19, 2022 Berkshire Botanical Garden August 14, 2022 Chimney Swift Swirl (CANCELED) August 23, 2022 The Mount |
Blog Postings:
August 5, 2022 My Bird Gear Brings All the Birds To the Yard May 2, 2022 Birds & Mammals of Brazil's Pantanal March 19, 2022 Bird Window Strikes |
- EDUCATION -
Litchfield Hills Audubon Society aims to provide environmental experiences to people of all ages, particularly in the Litchfield County and surrounding areas. LHAS offers free monthly programs, bird walks and environmental events that are open to the public. We also support and offer National Audubon’s Audubon Adventures tailored for elementary school children.
|
|
Top Story
Monarch Butterflies now listed as Endangered
|
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The monarch butterfly fluttered a step closer to extinction recently, as scientists put the iconic orange-and-black insect on the endangered list because of its fast-dwindling numbers.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature added the migrating monarch butterfly for the first time to its "red list" of threatened species and categorized is as "endangered"-- two steps from extinct. |
The group estimates that the population of monarch butterflies in North America has declined between 22% and 72% over 10 years. After wintering in the mountains of central Mexico, the butterflies migrate north, breeding multiple generations along the way for thousands of miles. The offspring that reach southern Canada then begin the trip back to Mexico at the end of the summer.
The IUCN also says climate change has significantly impacted the migratory Monarch butterfly and is a fast-growing threat. Drought limits the growth of milkweed and increases the frequency of catastrophic wildfires, temperature extremes trigger earlier migrations before milkweed is available, and severe weather has killed millions of butterflies.
The western population is at greatest risk of extinction, having declined by an estimated 99.9%, from as many as
10 million to 1,914 butterflies between the 1980s and 2021. The larger eastern population also shrank by 84% from 1996 to 2014. Concern remains as to whether enough butterflies survive to maintain the populations and prevent extinction.
10 million to 1,914 butterflies between the 1980s and 2021. The larger eastern population also shrank by 84% from 1996 to 2014. Concern remains as to whether enough butterflies survive to maintain the populations and prevent extinction.
Report a Wildlife Sighting
Have you seen a Bear, a Bobcat, or even a Moose?
|
The DEEP Wildlife Division collects sighting reports of various wildlife species to help with ongoing research projects, as well as to track distribution and abundance of certain populations. You can help by reporting your observations.
To learn more and to report you sighting click here: <SIGHTING> |
|
Join us at a Meeting
|
Unless otherwise indicated, General Meetings are held on the first Monday of each month at the Litchfield Community Center, 421 Bantam Road (Rt. 202), Litchfield, CT. When the first Monday of the month falls on a holiday, the meeting is held on the second Monday. Refreshments are served at 6:45 p.m. The business meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. and the program follows. The June meeting is the Annual Meeting and Dinner held at a local restaurant; it begins at 6 p.m. Our August meeting is the annual Picnic at Boyd Woods Sanctuary; it begins at 6 p.m. Board of Directors Meetings are held the third Tuesday of every other month at 7:00 p.m. in the Learning Center at the Litchfield Community Center.
|
