WBA Begins Formally Recording Field Trip Sightings; Board Approves Policy to Insure Accuracy

After WBA field trips we’ve always gathered to record our sightings, announce the list of species seen, and then head for the nearest ice cream dispensary. Some of our lists have found their way back to WBA archives. Some haven’t.

During the summer of 2005, we stepped up a level: formally keeping track of our butterfly encounters on field trips, recording exactly where we found them using a handheld GPS (Geographical Positioning System), and including notes on observations such as numbers, behavior, gender, condition and the like.

Why? Well, several reasons.

• These reports provide an accurate record of field trips that can be posted, compared year to year, and used for planning and timing of future trips. (see http://www.naba.org/chapters/nabaws/fieldTrips)
• Natural history observations have scientific value. All those maps in Butterflies of Cascadia were based (largely) on maps in John Hinchliff’s classic An Atlas of Washington Butterflies. And the maps in that atlas came from thousands of observations like those we make on our field trips.
• Records of butterfly distribution provide a baseline that often serves as a starting point for designing scientific investigations. For example, when Dr. Dana Garrigan (PLU) scoped areas for studying the potential effects of global warming on butterfly distribution, he began by looking at historical records of sightings in places such as Olympic and Mt. Rainier National Parks.
• Sightings of special interest (and requiring special verification) include those that could result in state or county records, range expansions, extensions of flight periods and the like. A perfect example is Richard Youel’s sighting of an American Lady during the Big Day Count back in 2003. This was the first American Lady reported in Kittitas County.

As part of that larger world of scientific inquiry, WBA began last summer to send our sightings to Ann Potter. Ann has inherited the responsibility for maintaining records of Washington State butterfly sightings that were begun by John Hinchliff, Jon Pelham and the Evergreen Aurelians.

Last fall I talked with Ann about our reports and she told me that records, including supporting information (e.g. photographs, etc.), were kept in a “sighting file” and that plans were afoot to develop an electronic database for storing this information. Ann emphasized the value of information about butterfly distribution, noting that it will become increasingly important as climate change accelerates.

Ann also underscored the importance of data quality for efforts like ours, pointing out that quality assurance is one the highest priorities for establishing and maintaining sighting records. We talked about ways to ensure the accuracy of sightings reported from WBA’s field trips. Out of these discussions came a policy that will help us maintain the credibility of the information we collect and report.

After getting valuable input from Bob Pyle, the WBA board has reviewed, discussed, tweaked and approved this new policy. Highlights include:

• To make sure we are correctly identifying each species reported, initial sightings for each species on each field trip will be confirmed by at least two well-informed participants – generally including the trip leader. This will generally require having the butterfly “in hand.”
• If there is uncertainty about the identity of a butterfly, participants are urged to photograph it (dorsal and ventral images, as appropriate) for review by (an) expert(s).
• Until the identity of a species can be determined with certainty, the record should be flagged for instance with a question mark.
• Unusual sightings: potential range extensions, county records, early or late flight records, etc. are likely to require special procedures. These sightings should be vouchered – usually with photographs adequate to clearly identify the species, although some species will require specimen vouchers for certain identification.
• Additional observations and comments are encouraged including behavior, nectaring records, and associated plants – especially if egg laying is observed.
• Notes and photographs will be sent to Ann Potter and will include the precise locality (latitude/longitude or equivalent), date, and observer data.

So – as we enter the 2006 field season, we’ll be especially attentive on field trips, paying close attention to what we encounter and recording it with care, knowing that this information may provide important clues to the condition of butterfly populations far into the future.

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