The Green Hairstreak Project
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“As early as 1956, Green Hairstreaks were reported disappearing from the San Francisco area. Today, virtually all populations on the Bay’s islands, hills, and shorelines have been eliminated as the natural habitat has given way to development.”
Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Butterflies; 1981
Discovered by modern science in the late 1800’s from “the hills of San Francisco” the Green Hairstreak (Callyphors dumetorum) is a small, nickel-sized butterfly isolated in three remaining remnant habitats within the city: Hawk Hill and Rocky Outcrop in the Sunset District and Battery Crosby in the Presidio.
The Green Hairstreak is a member of the Lycaenidae Family, or “gossamer-winged” butterflies, and flew throughout the peninsula before human development fragmented wildlife corridors. The primary goal of the Hairstreak Project is to connect two disjunctive butterfly populations in the Sunset District with street level plantings of host and nectar sources. If the two populations can interbreed, this will bolster the genetic viability and diversity and secure the butterflies sustainability into the future.
Further goals include:
- Reverse inbreeding of isolated populations, a known cause of local extinction.
- Rally support from the surrounding neighborhood and connect the community to the habitat of this unique and beautiful species.
- Restore fragments of native dune habitat, the natural home of the butterfly.
| To learn more about the Green Hairstreak Corridor, email the Project Lead, Liam O’Brien or call 415.863.12122 To make a contribution, call 415.564.4107 or click here |
Corridor
- Hawk Hill, Golden Gate Heights, Rocky Outcrop & Grandview Parks
- Other public lands besides RPD, e.g., the DPW triangle shown below at 14th & Pacheco
- Residential resources, i.e., front and back yards
- Moraga Steps and other stairways and throughways
- SEEC - SF will be our liaison to Hoover Middle School
Updates
Liam O'Brien Reports a Busy Week for the Hairstreak Project:
Wednesday, Nov 5
Met with Mike Belcher in the Sunset to discuss him becoming the site steward for the 15th/Noriega lot (pictured) along the corridor. He meets later with Julia Brashares of SF Parks Trust to begin the paperwork...
Thursday, Nov 6
Went to the Califronia Native Plant society's Plant Sale. Spent $214 on plants to distribute among the site stewards (Funny moment: Lady in line at the sale: "You aren't going to use all that yarrow are you?" Me:"Lady, I have alot of butterflies to feed.")
Sunday, Nov 9
Met with Alice Xavier at the Moraga staircase (pictured). Being situated below Grandview Terrace, I thought this was a perfect garden to incorporate into the project. "Yes," she said, "I have seen the green butterfy here before." Excellent! They have a few buckwheat plants already there, but Alice will work with Mike Belcher to incorporate more. She also gave me good advice on fundraising for the project.
Welcome Mike and Alice!
Growing for the Hairstreak
Now that the walks are over, the steering committee is focused on nurturing Hairstreak host plant seedlings, to prepare them for fall planting for the corridor. You can see Liam and Matt below taking care of the little plants.
Oases for the Green Hairstreak Corridor
"On September 3rd, members of the Hairstreak Committee met to hear Julia Brashares (San Francisco Parks Trust) take neighbors through the permit process for acquiring pieces of DPW lots along the corridor.
Corridor neighbors Alane Bowling, Barbara Kobayashi and Mike Belcher filled out the permit and agreed to manage various corner pieces along the corridor. The inital planting season will commence after the first rains of autumn (October/November). This involves prepping these "mini parks", starting with 14th and Pacheco, and planting Coastal Buckwheat & other nectar sources.
When the females start flying in spring, these oases will become incredibly important for their survival when they disperse from the metapopulations (Rocky Outcrop & Hawk Hill). Everyone should be proud of what we accomplished this season. I look forward to working with Parks Trust to get this going. Thank you Julia and thank you Laura for hosting!" -- Liam O'Brien
Walks
Liam O'Brien and Deirdre Elmansoumi led three amazing walks this spring to see the butterfly, and much to the pleasure of the groups, the Hairstreaks were out in full force! Read Liam's first hand accounts and see photos by NTC steering committee member, Amber Hasselbring, from the first and second walk.
There will be more corridor walks next Spring, when the butterflies come out in full force!
