Mountain View Makes use of Google Grant To Create Monarch Butterfly Habitat – CBS San Francisco

MOUNTAIN VIEW (BCN) – Mountain View is using a grant from Google to create a new habitat for monarch butterflies in the city’s Shoreline Park.

The $ 30,000 grant will help the city develop and maintain three “pollinator” habitats on nearly two acres in the city’s popular wildlife and recreation area, city officials said Monday.

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“We have identified locations that would be good for establishing pollinator habitats in Shoreline,” said Brenda Sylvia, assistant director of Mountain View Community Services.

The areas will be planted with milkweed, which supports monarch larvae, as well as other native plants such as buckwheat, sage, sunflowers, asters and goldenrod that the adult butterflies enjoy, Sylvia said.

“I grew up in Santa Cruz and we used to go out to the redwoods in school to see the monarchs and they are ahead of the pack and things like that, so I’m really excited about this project,” said Sylvia.

Phase one begins on half an acre within 9 acres of North East Meadowland, followed by 2.7 acres near Pond 1 at Shoreline Golf Links and 4.5 acres in the Close to Pond 2 on the golf course.

According to the city, both habitats are to be completed in 2022.

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The pollinator habitats are also home to a rabbit owl population, and the butterflies will be a welcome source of food for the owls and other small birds and insects in the park.

The project will provide areas to breed, migrate and hibernate for butterflies, whose populations have declined due to habitat loss, Sylvia said.

In addition to creating the new butterfly rooms, the city has also been certified as a habitat for monarch butterflies by the National Wildlife Federation.

The Google grant will also help the city reach the community and get volunteers to help.

For more information, please visit the city’s website at http://www.mountainview.gov.

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