BUFFALO, N.Y. — More than a dozen local conservation organizations gathered at the Elmwood Village Farmers Market on Bidwell Parkway for a butterfly release with Eastern Monarch Butterfly Farm.
Organizers, which included Gardens Buffalo Niagara, said butterfly releases aren't just joyful and uplifting, but they're also a way to help educate the community about the environment.
"Monarchs have a way of uniting people, getting people together, and we can talk about the environment because it segues into all environmental issues right here in Western New York," Dave O'Donnell, the owner of Eastern Monarch Butterfly Farm, told 2 On Your Side during the Saturday morning event.
Eastern Monarch Butterfly Farm raises nearly 1,500 monarchs every year, and they are released across Western New York.
People who attended the event could learn more about local wildlife, birds, pollinators, soil health, composting, and much more. The event also had activities for children.