Butterfly Mike
Mike Sikorski started working at The Academy of Natural Sciences as a volunteer exhibit educator in 1995. A self-taught artist and lover of insects and animals, Mike now is the butterfly keeper in Butterflies! Here’s an abbreviated checklist of what he does to keep the butterflies’ garden setting running. Look for Mike when you visit.
8:30 to 10:00 am
- Check for butterflies that have emerged from chrysalises overnight, release them.
- Mash honeydew, cantaloupe, papaya, watermelon and banana; soak sponges in fruit punch to feed butterflies.
- Water plants Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
- Sweep, clean the glass.
- Drink coffee, check email, take deep breath.
10 am to 4:30 pm
- Greet excited schoolchildren and explain rules: don’t touch the butterflies, but if they land on you don’t worry, they won’t bite.
- Work with exhibit volunteers answering questions and offering information.
- Check the plants for parasites and dispose of them using beneficial insects or by hand.
4:30 pm
- Check for butterflies that are emerging and release them.
- Make sure enough food is out for “midnight snackers.”
- Sweep up.
- Lights go off automatically.
