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European Skipper (June 23, 2001 at the trail)

2001 Butterfly Count at the trail

About the NABA Butterfly Count program

The North American Butterfly Association count program has been held annually since 1975. In 2000, 421 counts were held in 44 U.S. states, 5 Canadian provinces, and 3 Mexican states. Volunteers around North America select a count area with a 15-mile diameter and conduct a one-day census of all butterflies observed within that circle. Canadian counts are usually held in the few weeks before or after July 1. The count program is intended to promote interest in butterflies and provide results useful for scientific monitoring of butterflies. For more information, see the Butterfly Count page on the NABA web site.

The Brooklin trail is within a circle surveyed yearly by the Durham Field Naturalists. The 2001 count was done on June 24. (You, too, can volunteer. Contact the local co-ordinator, James Kamstra.)

Brooklin results for 2001

Bronze Copper (June 24, 2001, at the trail)

The 2001 count at our trail was done by Tom Mason, Curator of Invertebrates from the Toronto Zoo, and Norbert Woerns. Lions Trail webmaster Neil Wick was able to contribute one additional species from his photography session just prior to meeting up with Tom and Norbert.

After somewhat disappointing results in nearby Heber Down Conservation Area and Cullen Gardens, the counters were pleased to see the quantity and diversity of butterflies at the Brooklin trail. Highlights included a Milbert's Tortoiseshell, a species not on the pre-printed list for the Oshawa count circle. The trail also contained the best representation of skipper butterflies of the Whitby sites.

Due to time constraints, there was no opportunity to check the section of the trail south of the race track, but 166 examples of 16 different species were identified and counted in the time available. Of the 16 species, seven had not been recorded previously at the site. Our complete butterfly species list now includes the new sightings.