Volunteers

THERE IS MUCH PREPARATION BEHIND THE SCENES BEFORE THE BUTTERFLY HOUSE OPENS

ITS DOORS TO VISITORS TWICE A WEEK. While volunteer gardeners tend the plants and laboratory assistants feed hungry caterpillars, Butterfly House Attendant Sara helps cleans the windows in the viewing corridor next to the ticket office.

“This gives me the opportunity to check out special things to share with visitors. It might be the variety of caterpillars, special chrysalids (such as the Monarch’s golden spots) or newly emerging butterflies looking very crumpled,” she says.

As one of our volunteer Butterfly House Attendants, Sara’s role is to welcome visitors, answer questions and point out interesting facts about our butterfly sanctuary.

“This could be observing how a butterfly draws up nectar through its proboscis or laying eggs on specific plants. I particularly like to get children to spot the males and females of each butterfly, such as the huge Cairns Birdwing or friendly Varied Eggfly.

“Visitors often pass Stick Insect Island and miss these well camouflaged insects. I love to see people’s reactions when I point out the huge stick insects.”

Sara joined the Butterfly House as a volunteer just over a year ago, wanting to do something different outside the home and family.

“Volunteering in the community is important to me, and the Butterfly House is a great place to be with nice people in cheerful surroundings,” she said.

“I enjoy the company of a new group of volunteering friends, watching people go ‘wow’ when they first see the many butterflies flying around, and the delight on children’s faces as they have one land on them.

“A very special moment is seeing older people in quiet reflection remembering times when they, too, chased butterflies.

Bribie Island Butterfly House 206B FIRST AVENUE, BONGAREE

Open: Wednesdays and Sundays Time: 10am-4pm www.bribieislandbutterflyhouse.org