Did Fisher Sand Ang Gravel Give Money To Kevin Cramer

The National Butterfly Center is pleased to announce their second guided Butterfly Bonanza trip to Costa Rica, June 26 – July 3, 2022, with in-country host, Holbrook Travel. Together, we've planned an unparalleled excursion guaranteed to delight! Costa Rica is world-renowned for its biodiversity, and its Lepidoptera populations are no exception—species numbers are estimated to be well in the thousands. Please join us on this 8 day-7 night journey to explore some of the highlights of this tropical paradise, from the country's arid northwest to the lush lowlands of the Caribbean.

Highlights:

Visit the area around Santa Maria Volcano in Rincón de la Vieja National Park to learn about the University of Costa Rica Butterfly Conservation Project.
Take guided walks and exciting hikes through gorgeous gardens and lush rainforests to enjoy the rich biodiversity and search for butterflies, birds, and other wildlife.
Learn from one of Cost Rica's foremost lepidopterists, Ricardo Murillo, your trip's expert environmental educator.

LEARN MORE HERE

Biden still building border wall.

#notanotherfoot

Before his election, President Biden promised #NotAnotherFoot of border wall would be build under his presidency...but that was a lie. Day after day, border wall is still being built all around us. We've shared photos and video, including drone footage of the on-going construction, but it's not receiving the media attention it should. Moreover, the US Attorneys and Customs & Border Protection are participating in this lie by calling this new border wall construction "levee repair," when it is not. Our levees are earthen and they were reconstructed about a decade ago; so, there is no reason for the earthen leveesthat withstood the catastrophic flooding brought by Hurricane Alex in 2010, to be torn apart and replaced with vertical concrete wall and the same steel bollard panels used in all of South Texas' border wall. Please take the time to learn more here and SHARE (buttoms on the right), if you want to stop the environment damage wrought by border walls,regardless of whether a Republican or Democratic administration is behind it!

Now You Know

Marianna under wall

The North American Butterfly Association filed suit against Brian Kolfage/We Build the Wall, Tommy Fisher/Fisher Sand & Gravel/TRG Construction and Lance Neuhaus/Neuhaus & Sons on Dec. 3, 2019.

When 60 Minutes reached out to us many months later, they were focused on Brian Kolfage, the front man for We Build the Wall. We had to inform them about WBTW's "Advisory Board Chairman" Steve Bannon's role in this scheme, business partner Tommy Fisher, and the participation of multiple fake news outlets, Senator Kevin Cramer, Donald Trump, Jr.…and ultimately,Trump, Sr. as all roads led back to the White House, from which Bannon departed in August, 2017.

We're not sure they fully understood or believed us (in spite of much reporting related to all of the above) until Kolfage, Bannon and two associates were federally-indicted for fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering on August 20, 2020.

We appreciate CBS News and 60 Minutes, in addition to ProPublica, the Texas Tribune and other legitimate investigative news outlets for shining a spotlight on the illegal activity of these fraudsters who targeted our organization and our executive director in an orchestrated campaign to malign and maliciously defame us for their personal gain.

bannon fisher kolfage Today, two of the three men pictured here have been arrested and the grand jury is still seated; so, additional indictments will likely be forthcoming. The current indictment refers to "unnamed Co-conspirator #2, a construction contractor," among others we hope to see arrested soon.

Meanwhile, our lawsuit has been set for trial Sept. 7, 2021 (yes, one year from now).

Please continue to SHARE our story and joinor donateto defend the National Butterfly Center's mission, land and staff. Everything that must be done to prepare for trial, including LOADS of discovery and many depositions, is going to be costly. For this reason, we are enlisting all the aid and support we can garner to expose and punish those who seek to harm the environment and us.

As always, we will be good stewards of your gifts.

With gratitude,

The Board of Directors, Members & Staff of the North American Butterfly Association

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Wild Bees of the National Butterfly Center

A new research project has revealed that dozens of unique and beautiful native bee species are present at the National Butterfly Center. Many of these are rarely seen within the United States, or are found here only in the Lower Rio Grande Border. One National Butterfly Center species, the red-legged Toluca leafcutter, has never been documented in this country before this year.

The NBC native bee project, conducted by distinguished photojournalists Paula Sharp and Ross Eatman, began in September 2018. Aided by scientists specializing in bees, Sharp and Eatman have now recorded more than 50 NBC native bee species in dazzling photographs, viewable on the website WILD BEES OF THE NATIONAL BUTTERFLY CENTER.

Before arriving at the National Butterfly Center, Paula Sharp and Ross Eatman undertook a three-year project documenting native bee species for New York's state park system. Sponsored by the New York State Environmental Protection fund, this project culminated in the highly-regarded and well-traveled nature website, Wild Bees of New York, which provides information on more than 120 species of native bees of the Northeastern United States.

Sharp and Eatman's photographs of wild bees are currently on a national tour of prominent museums, art galleries and botanical gardens. An exhibit of Sharp & Eatman's bee photographs will be featured by the Houston Museum of Natural Science from May 24 – September 22, 2019.

Sharp and Eatman will be continuing to research and photograph bee species of the National Butterfly Center and the Lower Rio Grande Valley throughout the upcoming year.

HELP SUPPORT A NEW WILD BEE GARDEN AT THE NATIONAL BUTTERFLY CENTER!

PBS' NATURE, Sex, Lies & Butterflies from the National Butterfly Center

Sex lies and butterflies

The National Butterfly Center, in Mission, Texas, serves as the backdrop for a portion of this insightful documentary of wild butterflies, filmed by Peabody Award-winning cinematographer Ann Johnson Prum, who recently won the Emmy for Best Cinematography in Documentary for her production of Super Hummingbirds, also for PBS' NATURE.

We were privileged and honored to host Prum and Coneflower Studios, last fall, and anxiously await the release of what promises to be a powerful and intriguing examination of the biology and behavior of butterflies that few have ever seen!
Watch the full episode here.

You never know what you'll see at the National Butterfly Center!

Did you know nearly 150 species of North American butterflies can be seen only in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) of Texas, or by traveling to Mexico?

In fact, more than 300 species of butterflies may be found in the LRGV, and more than 200 species have been seen at the National Butterfly Center, including a number of rarities and U.S. Records!

Incredibly, almost 40% of the 700+ butterflies that can be found in the United States can be seen in this three-county area at the southernmost tip of Texas, where the subtropical climate makes it possible to enjoy the outdoors year 'round.

Peace, Love, Butterflies

Ten years ago, the North American Butterfly Association broke ground for what has now become the largest native plant botanical garden in the United States. This 100-acre preserve is home to Spike (who thinks he is a butterfly) and the greatest volume and variety of wild, free-flying butterflies in the nation. In fact, USA Today calls the National Butterfly Center, in Mission, Texas, "the butterfly capitol of the USA."

Peace-Love-Butterfly-Bumber-Sticker
Buy your bumper sticker here.

Experience the National Butterfly Center

A flagship project of the North American Butterfly Association, the NBC is committed to 'Growing Connections' between people, plants, and the winged wonders that pollinate and propagate all that grows around us. We do this through educational and environmental initiatives that cultivate meaningful understanding of the parties and processes that create beneficial and sustainable ecosystems.

The Center showcases live animals and plants, in wild and cultivated settings, with educational exhibits to enhance human understanding and appreciation. This large-scale project is designed to ensure our beautiful landscape and the wildlife we take for granted will be here for future generations to enjoy. In addition to the ever-growing gardens and trails, the Center now boasts an impressive, new Visitor's Pavilion, designed by Wendy Evans Joseph, principal architect of the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC, and the Women's Museum in Dallas, Texas.

Located in Mission, Texas, near the Rio Grande River, and only 15 minutes from a major airport in McAllen, The Center is open to the public, for visitors and members, seven days/week.