Butterfly World: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
By: Joe Volz Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2006-12-21 12:07:27.613835-05:00
Just past the hum of the highway, visitors enter the world’s largest butterfly park, which now includes hummingbirds, too. Although Butterfly World is located near the Florida Turnpike, it seems like it is thousands of miles away.
When I arrived on a pleasant autumn afternoon, I walked into a tropical rain forest where every type of butterfly, from the majestic Monarch to the Plain Tiger, flew all about me. These beautiful creatures fluttered around me in the outdoors, although they did not have unlimited freedom—inconspicuous screens kept us all in our places.
If the butterflies that flitted within inches of my face were worried about my intrusion into their lives, they didn’t show it.
Sadly, their spectacular lives are over in a hurry. Their average lifespan is about two weeks—twice the lifespan of a butterfly in the wild. And yes, there are local butterflies fluttering about outside the screened-in area. Little do they know that their exotic neighbors will live twice as long as they will.
It’s Parrot World, too!
There are more than butterflies at Butterfly World. If you promise not to tell anyone, I'll share this secret: I found the colorful Lorikeet parrots the real stars. These birds are a variety of bright reds, yellows and greens very friendly for a price. If you buy a little cup of honey for $1, the birds will perch on your hand and dine on the sweet treat.
And then there are the tiny hummingbirds, which could easily fit in your palm. However, unlike the Lorikeets, the long beaked birds cannot be lured for a visit.
They must have been in hiding the day I visited. I only saw three of them. Maybe they were too busy working. They are said to visit up to 5,000 flowers each day, sipping on nectar and feeding on insects.
Actually, you’d think that you are outside communing with nature as you walk past the lush tropical trees and flowers. There is a double set of doors at the entrance to each area. You must close one door before you open the other and butterfly watchers are warned to check their clothing before leaving the area. Butterflies may be trying to hitch a ride to freedom by clutching onto visitor's backs.
Questions and Answers for the Horticulturists
The official guide for Butterfly World, offers Questions and Answers on butterflies:
Q. How many butterflies are in the aviary?
A. We try to keep a minimum of 3,000 butterflies on display.
Q. How many species are there?
A. At any time, up to 50 can be seen and over 150 during the course of a year.
Q What’s the difference between a butterfly and a moth?
A. They are similar but butterflies are solar-powered daytime fliers. Most moths fly at night. Butterflies generally rest with their wings folded above the body, perpendicular to the ground. Moths usually rest with their wings folded along the body.
Q What do butterflies do in the winter?
A. Most of the butterflies at Butterfly World are tropical and never have to cope with winter. Non-tropical butterflies have to spend several moths of the year in hibernation.
A Bit of History
Ronald Boender has a fascination with butterflies and after concluding a career as an electrical engineer, he started a business to farm butterflies for sale to universities and zoos. He also discovered a phenomenon called “butterfly houses,” which were prevalent in England. He entered into partnership with Clive Farrell, the originator of the concept and began working on the first butterfly house in America in Fort Lauderdale. The idea was to not only be a public tourist attraction but also a research center.
Links
Books
Find these books online at Borders.com
The Life Cycles of Butterflies: From Egg to Maturity, a Visual Guide to 23 Common Garden Butterflies
By Judy Burris, Wayne Richardson, Story Books 2006.
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Butterflies
By Robert Michael Pyle, Knopf Publishing Group, 1981.
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