Capital Area Butterfly Count

Join NH Audubon to help survey butterflies in New Hampshire's Capital Area! Participants will meet at the NH Audubon McLane Center at 8:30 AM. After a brief introduction, the group will divide into small teams and head out to assigned field sites. Each team will have an experienced leader so no worries if you are a beginner. This is an opportunity to learn,  fine tune your skills, and enjoy butterflies.

The group will gather at the McLane Center at 3PM to submit data sheets and share some of our highlights. If you need to leave earlier, let the Count Coordinator (DIane DeLuca) know and we will make accommodations.

Come prepared for sun, biting insects, and ticks. If you are going to apply insect repellent or sun protection and are interested in handling butterflies, please make sure to wash your hands. Bring the following:

• Foot gear that can handle uneven terrain and wet conditions.
• Bring plenty of water, lunch, and snacks. It is unlikely there will be a place to stop for food during the survey.
• Binoculars
• Camera/Smartphone: Photographs can be helpful for identification, and we will photo document any butterflies that are considered unusual.
• Butterfly net, if you have one.
   

During the month of July, join the NH Butterfly Monitoring Network to complete a collaborative butterfly survey count across New Hampshire! Volunteers will meet in various parts of the state on a given day to complete an organized survey in a 15-mile diameter count area. A coordinator will help to organize participants providing locations to visit, maps, and datasheets. Participants will work in small teams, providing a great opportunity for learning and connecting with other butterfly enthusiasts while spending the day counting butterflies for a national dataset. Throughout the course of the day, each team will visit 2-4 sites, exploring fields, woodlands and wetlands to observe which species and how many individuals are present. Over time, these results can be used to monitor changes in butterfly populations and study the effects of weather and habitat change on North American butterflies. All butterfly enthusiasts are welcome, with or without prior experience!