The North American Butterfly Association has run the Butterfly Count Program in the United States, Canada, and Mexico since 1993. Each of the approximately 450 counts consists of a compilation of all butterflies observed at sites within a 15-mile diameter count circle in a one-day period. The annually published reports provide a tremendous amount of information about the geographical distribution and relative population sizes of the species counted. Comparisons of the results across years can be used to monitor changes in butterfly populations and study the effects of weather and habitat change on North American butterflies.
If you have an interest in participating in one of the counts in the program, please go to the map page for either the current U.S. and Mexico counts or the current Canada counts. You will see a map of all the ongoing counts as well as a listing of the counts on the right hand side. By zooming in on the map you will see the circle that a given count covers. More information about the count including the name of the count, coordinates of the count center, count compiler contact information as well as planned count date(s) may be found by clicking on a count circle center on the map or by clicking on a count name in the right hand column.
Counts are open to public participation and new participants are encouraged. Depending on the count, one or more count parties will survey sites within the 15-mile diameter count circle on a given day. The compiler will let you know when and where to meet. There is a $3.00 fee to participate in a count.
Give it a try and enjoy!
