Anonymous
Source: Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is thrilled to announce the opening of its beloved summer exhibit Butterflies Alive! on Saturday, May 29 in the Sprague Butterfly Pavilion. Featuring 1,000 live butterflies, the exhibit will be open through Monday, September 6. The Museum’s indoor and outdoor exhibits are open Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and reservations are required for admission at sbnature.org/tickets.
One of the Museum’s most popular exhibits, Butterflies Alive! features a dazzling variety of butterflies, from local favorites like the Monarch to exotic varieties like swallowtails, longwings, Gulf Fritillaries, and Malachites. Various butterfly species cycle through the pavilion throughout the summer, so no two visits are the same.
Beautiful flowers and foliage provide butterflies with plenty of nectar and roosting space. In this tranquil garden atmosphere, guests can discuss butterfly behavior and biology with trained volunteer interpreters. If the record number of people interested in joining the Butterflies Alive! volunteer team is anything to go by, the pavilion is going to be a particularly popular place this summer.
Last year, the Museum’s indoor exhibits were closed during Butterflies Alive! but this year, with indoor exhibits open concurrently, guests can see pavilion-bound butterflies emerge from their chrysalides in the Santa Barbara Gallery’s emergence chamber. Those interested in more behind-the-scenes peeks can check out the video series that followed last year’s butterflies from pupae to pavilion. The full series hosted by Butterfly Pavilion Senior Manager Kim Zsembik is available at sbnature.org/magic-window and features—in addition to close-up views of every stage of the butterfly life cycle—guest appearances by the Museum’s entomologist and a Q&A with Zsembik about what it’s like to work with butterflies.
“We are excited to invite Members and guests back to our Butterfly Pavilion this summer. After so much positive feedback last year, we’ve kept our socially distant pavilion similar to 2020, allowing families and guests to peacefully explore the pavilion in nine butterfly zones. Guest favorites like Malachite and Swallowtail butterflies are not to be missed,” shared Zsembik.
The Museum currently requires online reservations to limit the number of guests on campus at one time. Although face mask guidelines are quickly changing, face masks are currently required for anyone three years or older and must cover your nose and mouth at all times while on Museum property indoors and outdoors.
Those interested in helping the butterflies have a wonderful stay at the Museum this summer are invited to sponsor a butterfly. Opportunities range from $50 to $10,000 and sponsorship includes recognition on the exhibit’s Wall of Wings.
To learn more visit sbnature.org/butterflies-alive.
I would be appreciative of some discussion as to why these non-local species are not a threat to our environment? They are not sterile it seems as the pupate. We know many escape despite the controls.
Visit the exhibit- they have very strict security, double locked entrances and exits as well as very careful volunteer monitors. SB Natural History Museum has absolutely no interest being a non-responsible party on this issue. Perhaps you should discuss your proof about “many escape” with them.
Meanwhile everyone should visit this responsible stewardship exhibit and pick up tips how to create your own butterfly-friendly garden in your own backyard. Getting the right mix of plants makes magic happen.
Byzantium: Blind approval and support for a thing you find appealing without willingness to listen to questions about its appropriateness is pretty feeble. In season, when this butterfly exhibit is happening, local neighborhoods observe non-local butterflies. This is a fact. The reason the exhibit has “controls” is basically to keep the butterflies inside for the next tour. An answer to the question asked by 9:53 a.m. would be interesting to read if anyone has that knowledge.