Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge butterfly count participant Stan Lilley identifies a Delaware skipper. - FWS photo by Steven Kahl

The American lady was one of the more uncommon butterflies seen on the count. - FWS photo by Kim Le Blanc

The bronze copper inhabits refuge marshes. - FWS photo by Kim Le Blanc

The first Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge NABA Butterfly Count was conducted on July 6.  The refuge count is one of hundreds coordinated by the North American Butterfly Association (NABA) in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. 

Counts are conducted for one day within a 15-mile diameter circle.  Shiawassee Refuge is at the center of its circle and occupies are large part of the geographic area. 

NABA counts are usually held in the few weeks before or after July 4^th.  NABA publishes an annual report of all count results.  These reports provide important information about the geographic distributions and population sizes of the species counted.  Comparisons of the results over the years monitor changes in butterfly populations and reveal effects of weather and habitat change on the different species.

Five participants found 30 species of butterfly and counted 1,311 individuals.  The most common species were red admiral (249), cabbage white (223), common wood nymph (199), monarch (189), and clouded sulphur (131). 

The rarest species found was one American snout.  Other uncommon species included banded hairstreak, American lady, and tawny emperor.  Four new species for the refuge’s butterfly list were found, including eyed brown, Appalachian brown, northern broken-dash, and dun skipper.