Don Torino, one of the leaders on our nature walks with Bergen County Audubon Society, also writes a weekly nature column for the wildnewjersey.tv blog.  His latest is on why butterflies matter — especially appropriate with our Fifth Annual Butterfly coming up on Sunday, July 27..

Here’s a sample:

“Butterflies are a true ‘Canary in the Coalmine,’ a symbol or a warning about the health of our environment. When butterflies are few and far between it means that things are out of whack or out of balance.

Too much pesticide use and too little plant biodiversity mean an unhealthy environment, a kind of warning sign not only for the butterflies but for people, too.

When butterfly habitat is protected or restored, we help not only butterflies but also many migratory bird species, pollinators, even amphibians and reptiles can benefit from maintaining butterfly habitat. But it also means a healthy in-balance planet for humans.

The link is here.