Firefly Watch: Turning A Favorite Summer Pastime into a Community Science Project
A favorite summertime activity for people of all ages is watching the sparks that light up warm evenings: fireflies—or lightning bugs, depending on your local vernacular. Nearly everyone has caught one of these “glow bugs” at some point in their lives and has built lasting memories around those nights.
Sadly, these quintessential signs of summer are largely decreasing in number, due to a loss of habitat, increased use of pesticides, and light pollution (fireflies like it dark, so they can find each other, communicate, mate and continue their species!).
You can help researchers investigate changes in firefly populations by spending just 10 minutes a week observing fireflies and reporting your numbers this summer. Yes, you will have an excuse to sit on your porch, favorite beverage in hand, relax and watch these treasured jewels of the night.
Mass Audubon oversees “Firefly Watch,” a community science initiative designed to educate the public on how they may support these beetles, identify common species, provide for their life cycle needs, and record—then submit—observations and related data.
Before you begin your observations, learn how to identify fireflies by their flash patterns—it can be done! The Mass Audubon has a wonderful chart that notes the frequency and intensity of flashes per second that is immensely helpful. They also have a more detailed chart that looks intimidating until you become familiar with it. Then, decide where you’ll be making your observations and be ready to note some basic details like habitat type, air temperature, cloud cover and precipitation. Download the two-page observation form, so you can record the pertinent information, and have a watch with you.
When you’re ready, note the time and count the number of flashing fireflies you see over the course of 10 minutes in three 10-second periods. If you would like to view a five-minute demonstration of this procedure, fast forward to the 59th minute in this recording. It’s good practice, too! As with anything, the more you do it, the more proficient you’ll become.
Don’t forget to submit your data online at Firefly Watch!
The Firefly Watch website is full of great information about these gems. We also invite you to view the 1.5 hour virtual program that Penguin Court hosted earlier this year with representatives of Mass Audubon that was part of our online State Symbol Series. It’s very informative, and there are fantastic suggestions on how you may help fireflies, including sowing native plants; adding a water feature to your yard; keeping a brush pile; reducing the use of pesticides; leaving the leaves in the fall; letting your grass grow a little longer; and turning off your lights and encouraging your neighbors to do the same.
No one wants to lose fireflies and talk about them in past tense, but to ensure they’re with us for centuries to come, we all must pitch in to save them.
Firefly Watch: Turning A Favorite Summer Pastime into a Community Science Project Shughuli ya kupendwa ya majira ya joto kwa watu wa umri wote ni kuangalia cheche ambazo huangaza jioni zenye joto: fireflies <unk> au bugs umeme, kulingana na lugha yako ya kawaida. Karibu kila mtu amepata mojawapo ya "vipepeo hao wenye kung'aa" wakati fulani maishani mwake na amejenga kumbukumbu za kudumu kuhusu usiku huo. Kwa kusikitisha, ishara hizi za kihistoria za majira ya joto zinapungua kwa idadi, kwa sababu ya kupoteza makazi, kuongezeka kwa matumizi ya dawa za kuua wadudu, na uchafuzi wa mwanga (vipepeo wanapenda giza, ili waweze kupata kila mmoja, kuwasiliana, kuoa na kuendelea na spishi zao!). Unaweza kusaidia watafiti kuchunguza mabadiliko katika idadi ya fireflies kwa kutumia dakika 10 tu kwa wiki kuchunguza fireflies na kuripoti idadi yako majira ya joto. "Hakika utakuwa na kisingizio cha kukaa kwenye veranda yako, kinywaji chako unachopenda mkononi, kupumzika na kutazama ""vito vya thamani"" vya usiku." "Massabon inasimamia ""Firefly Watch,"" mpango wa sayansi ya jamii iliyoundwa kuelimisha umma juu ya jinsi wanaweza kusaidia wadudu hawa, kutambua spishi za kawaida, kutoa mahitaji yao ya mzunguko wa maisha, na kurekodi kisha kuwasilisha uchunguzi na data zinazohusiana." Kabla ya kuanza kuchunguza, jifunze jinsi ya kuwatambua vipepeo kwa sababu ya mwangaza wao - unaweza kufanya hivyo! Mass Audubon ina chati ya ajabu ambayo inaonyesha mzunguko na nguvu ya flashes kwa sekunde ambayo ni muhimu sana. Pia wana chati iliyo na maelezo zaidi ambayo huonekana kuwa yenye kuogopesha mpaka utakapopata ufahamu wa chati hiyo. Kisha, kuamua ambapo wewe utakuwa kufanya uchunguzi wako na kuwa tayari kumbuka baadhi ya maelezo ya msingi kama aina ya makazi, joto hewa, wingu kifuniko na mvua. Kupata fomu ya uchunguzi ya kurasa mbili, ili uweze kurekodi habari husika, na kuwa na saa na wewe. Wakati uko tayari, kumbuka wakati na kuhesabu idadi ya fireflies flashing unaweza kuona katika kipindi cha dakika 10 katika vipindi vitatu 10 sekunde. Ikiwa unataka kuona maonyesho ya dakika tano ya utaratibu huu, haraka mbele hadi dakika ya 59 katika rekodi hii. Ni mazoezi mazuri, pia! Kama ilivyo na kitu chochote, kadiri unavyofanya hivyo, ndivyo utakavyokuwa na ustadi zaidi. Usisahau kuwasilisha data yako mtandaoni katika Firefly Watch! Tovuti ya Firefly Watch imejaa habari nyingi kuhusu vito hivi. "Tunakualika pia kutazama programu ya virtual ya saa 1.5 ambayo Penguin Court ilikaribisha mapema mwaka huu na wawakilishi wa Mass Audubon ambayo ilikuwa sehemu ya ""Mfululizo wetu wa Ishara za Jimbo la Mtandao.""" Ni habari nzuri sana, na kuna mapendekezo mazuri juu ya jinsi unaweza kusaidia fireflies, ikiwa ni pamoja na kupanda mimea ya asili; kuongeza kipengele cha maji kwenye bustani yako; kuweka rundo la brush; kupunguza matumizi ya dawa za kuua wadudu; kuacha majani katika vuli; kuruhusu nyasi yako kukua kwa muda mrefu; na kuzima taa zako na kuhamasisha majirani wako kufanya vivyo hivyo. Hakuna mtu anayetaka kupoteza vipepeo na kuzungumza juu yao katika wakati uliopita, lakini kuhakikisha wao ni pamoja nasi kwa karne zijazo, sisi sote lazima pitch katika kuokoa yao.