Welcome to the Swampscott Conservancy! We’re so happy you’ve come to visit us. Please enjoy your experience on this site, and we hope to see you at our next meeting or event!
The Conservancy’s next Monthly Meeting will be held remotely on Wednesday, September 16 at 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Click here to attend.
View informative videos on our YouTube channel.
Conservancy News
Read our Current Newsletter and catch up on past editions:
The Swampscott Conservancy strongly supports open spaces at the Hawthorne site. For more information see the Nature in the Neighborhood article below or click here.
The Swampscott Conservancy is announcing a Youth Conservation Grant Program designed to provide support to Middle and High School students who wish to make positive environmental change in their community and more broadly New England.
Who can apply? Students who live or attend school in Lynn or Swampscott and are in Grades 6 to 12 are eligible to apply for funds to support a project aimed at making a difference in our natural world. Individual students or groups are welcome to apply. Click here for more information and to apply.
The Swampscott Conservancy Awards Scholarships to Graduating Seniors
The Conservancy awarded a $500 scholarship to Miquelle (Scout) Myers-Smith, a Swampscott High School graduate who intends to focus her higher education studies on environmental topics. She also has demonstrated a commitment to nature by her involvement in Girl Scout activities such as trailblazing at Harold King Forest and a Silver Award project cleaning a local pond in town. She also participated in a youth climate organization directed by the Massachusetts Audubon Society and was a longtime member of the environmental club at the High School.
The Conservancy awarded a $1,000 scholarship to Hazel Hitchcock. Of all the applicants, the Conservancy’s Scholarship Committee felt that she stood out for her commitment to the environment, as evidenced by her involvement in the High Schoolās Environmental Club, the townās Climate Action and Resilience Committee, as well as the Swampscott Conservancy. She was also a NOAA Ocean Guardian Youth Ambassador which enabled her to develop the skills to be an ocean conservation leader, including climate and ocean literacy, project management, and community outreach. Through her coursework, advocacy, and volunteer efforts, Hazel has had the opportunity to learn about the environmental problems the world is facing today and the current and potential solutions that can be implemented. We are confident that she will carry her commitment to protecting and improving our natural environment in her higher education and beyond.
The Conservancy believes in encouraging and supporting graduating students like Hazel and Scout who will be the future stewards of our planet.
Nature in the Neighborhood ā September 2026
Where have all the fireflies gone?
āHere come real stars to fill the upper skies / And here on earth come emulating fliesā
from āFireflies in the Gardenā by Robert Frost
I am of an age that remembers chasing fireflies ā or lightning bugs as we called them – across the lawn on warm summer evenings. My backyard twinkled with these tiny stars that I captured and put in a mason jar with holes punched in the lid.
But itās been many years since Iāve seen fireflies in the neighborhood night skies. Itās as though they have been slowly blinking out.
A 2024 study by the University of Kentucky, Fading lights: Multiple threats to North Americaās firefly populations, found that āas cities grow, they encroach on firefly natural habitats reducing their populations.ā In addition to habitat loss, fireflies face threats from climate change, pesticide and chemical use, and light pollution, all leading to their decline.
Worldwide there are about 2,400 different species of fireflies (which, it turns out, are actually not flies, but of the beetle family). Estimates vary, but there are 150 ā 270 species in North America, with the Common Eastern Firefly (Photinus pyralis) being the most prevalent firefly found in Massachusetts.
Fireflies use their ability to light up not only to help them find potential mates, but also as a defense mechanism to warn predators to stay away. While generally harmless to humans, many fireflies are chemically toxic to birds and other predators.
Fireflies produce light through a chemical reaction in their lower abdomen, a phenomenon known as bioluminescence. Technically speaking, this reaction occurs when the organic compound luciferin reacts with oxygen in the presence of the bioluminescent enzyme luciferase, both of which are produced by the firefly. The non-technical explanation, as anyone who has witnessed them transforming the night into something ethereal and enchanting, is that itās pure magic.
The timing and patterns of the flashes of light produced is unique to each species. This ensures that mating occurs within that species. Males typically fly through the air producing species-specific flash patterns, while females perched on vegetation respond with their own signal. On Massachusetts Audubonās webpage āGo Wild for Fireflies,ā you can download a flash pattern guide to help you decode their display.
Interestingly, in certain parts of the world, the fireflies in an area all light up at the same time, a phenomenon known as simultaneous bioluminescence. The synchronous flashing of the Photinus carolinus firefly can be viewed in Elkmont in the Great Smoky Mountains ā but, because of the high demand for this viewing opportunity, you have to be lucky enough to win the National Park Serviceās annual lottery! (nps.gov/grsm/learn/nature/fireflies.htm).
Firefly Decline Due to Light Pollution
As mentioned, human light pollution is one of the reasons for firefly decline. Thatās because artificial light from cars, homes, and streetlights can disrupt their mating communication and make it difficult for males and females to find each other. Depending on the species and environmental conditions, one source reports that light pollution can reduce firefly reproductivity by over 50 percent
There is an international campaign aimed at reducing light pollution and preserving and restoring the nighttime environment. The leading organization in this movement, Dark Sky International (darksky.org), has a goal of ensuring that natural darkness is preserved for both people and nature. It works to inform the public and policymakers about the harmful effects of light pollution and benefits of responsible lighting. In addition to lowering environmental impacts, responsible outdoor lighting can also avoid wasting energy and significantly reduce energy costs.
Massachusetts is moving toward a statewide dark skies policy that will set strict standards that aim to reduce light pollution. The Dark Skies Bill (Senate Bill S.3145) passed the Massachusetts Senate unanimously in July and is now making its way to the House. If enacted, it will apply to all new installments and replacements of publicly funded outdoor lighting in the state (malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S3145).
While most towns and cities have zoning laws for outdoor lighting for public safety and community aesthetics, some communities have also passed local laws or policies that address the environmental concerns of light pollution by explicitly referencing wildlife protection as a goal.
What can you do?
Homeowners can also take actions to protect fireflies by reducing the light pollution they produce, planting firefly natural habitats, and avoiding insecticides and pesticides, and lawn chemicals that can kill fireflies and their larvae (see: firefly.org/how-you-can-help.html).
- You can start with turning off unnecessary exterior and garden lights, especially during firefly season, and replacing inefficient, poorly installed, or unnecessary outdoor lights with those that have the āDarkSky Approvedā seal. Also make sure light fixtures are downward-facing and consider putting in motion sensors.
- As studies suggest, exposure to insecticides and many pesticides may negatively impact firefly populations ā as well as other wildlife. Fireflies spend the majority of their life, up to two years, in the soil, leaf litter, or rotting wood, where their eggs, larvae, and pupae develop. This leaves them exposed to the damaging effects of these chemicals. So, one of the best things you can do is to stop using broad spectrum pesticides and lawn chemicals (see: 23-022_01_Protect-Fireflies-at-Home-Factsheet.pdf). And it should be noted that firefly larvae eat other undesirable insects, so they are part of natureās built-in pest controls.
- The National Wildlife Foundation (NWF) recommends āreplacing areas of lawn (which provide little habitat for fireflies) with native plant beds. These beds are an excellent way to create the basis of a healthy habitat for fireflies ā as well as hundreds of other wildlife species like butterflies, bees, and songbirds (see: blog.nwf.org/2024/07/5-ways-to-support-fireflies-in-your-yard/). NWF also suggests leaving leaves and logs as even a single untamed corner will produce healthier fireflies than a uniformly clipped yard. (For other gardening ideas see: nwf.org/Native-Plant-Habitats/Plant-Native/Habitat-Essentials/Firefly-Friendly-Gardening).
It is sad to think that children in our neighborhood today have less of a chance to chase fireflies on warm summer nights, and that the children of the future may have none at all.
Toni Bandrowicz, President
Swampscott Conservancy
EMPOWER OUR CAUSE!
Donations to the Swampscott Conservancy are an invaluable resource that must be tapped in the fulfilling of the crucial and altruistic goals that are laid out in our organization’s mission statement, and which are embodied by our dedicated members and our ongoing activities. All monetary contributions will be applied in the direct interest of furthering the natural wonder of our community; whether a member or not, your assistance is greatly appreciated and will be perceived in one way or another by any and all who immerse themselves in Swampscott’s natural, open spaces. Thank you for supporting The Conservancy and empowering your local community!
