2026 Butterfly counts / Caterpillar surveys / Odonate counts

Butterfly and odonate counts -- whose aim is to produce a list of species observed and the number observed for each -- are a great opportunity to improve your identification skills. If you don't feel your level of expertise is high enough, you can always check with the count organizer. Often you can go along with a more experienced person. I hope you'll join at least one in your neighbourhood.

The Toronto East butterfly count (usually held on July 1) is a TEA activity. All other counts are by other people or organizations, and we publicize them as a service to our members.

On some of the counts refreshments or camping facilities may be provided. Don't hesitate to contact the organizers if you have any questions. They would appreciate you letting them know as soon as possible if you will be participating, so they can plan more efficiently.

Dates are subject to change! Please check with the count organizer in advance. Also, at some counts people meet first thing in the morning, and then disperse; at others, people meet at noon; at still others, people meet at dinner. And there are counts for which the count area is divided up ahead of time among different individuals, and they may not meet at all on that day.

Everyone is welcome, whatever your skill level. Note that many of the butterflycounts are done for the North American Butterfly Association (NABA) and that there may be a nominal charge for participating.

Please be prepared for the count activity with sunscreen, water, hat, food, and other items suggested by the count organizer. A butterfly net is also helpful, if you have. And if you have any small clear plastic containers to butterflies in to show other people what you have caught, they would be helpful too.

Last updated March 7, 2026

2026 Butterfly counts

Format of the lists: Date (Rain date, if any), Location, Contact, Telephone, Email

• Date TBD (first 2 weeks of June), Atikokan (far western Ontario, near Manitoba border), Dave Elder, (807) 597-2008
• Saturday, June 13 (14). Rice Lake Plains (Northumberland County); Ewa Bednarczuk, 613-893-2983, ewa.bednarczuk@natureconservancy.ca. An Eventbrite sign-up page will be posted soon.
• Sat. June 27, Pinery Provincial Park and N. Lambton, Sharon Nethercott, (548) 997-9618, nethercottsharon2@gmail.com
• Wed. July 1, Toronto East, Carolyn King, (905) 720-2784, cking8000@gmail.com. Meet at the Twyn Rivers parking area (the traditional location -- Pearse House -- is under construction).
• Sat. July 11 (12), Toronto Centre, John Carley, (416) 930-6987, johnrcarley@gmail.com
• Sat. July 11 (12), Severn (NW of Orillia), Matt Thomson, (705) 812-3482, ardtreanaturenut@gmail.com
• Sat. July 18, Sydenham River Nature Reserve (no trails, difficult walking), meet at 9:00 a.m. 8402 Oil Springs Line, SE of Alvinston. Sharon Nethercott, (548) 997-9618 nethercottsharon2@gmail.com
• Sat. July 25, Pelee Island Butterfly Count, Antonia Guidotti, aguidotti8@gmail.com

2026 Odonate counts

• Sat., June 20 (21). Speyside Odonate Count 1: base of St Helene Rd - off Hwy 25 south of 15 Side Rd., Milton, Pedro Pereyra, 905 320-7808, pmpergon@icloud.com
• Sat. July 11 (12). Speyside Odonate Count 2: base of St Helene Rd - off Hwy 25 south of 15 Side Rd., Milton, Pedro Pereyra, 905 320-7808, pmpergon@icloud.com
• Sun. July 26, Pelee Island Odonate Count, Antonia Guidotti, aguidotti8@gmail.com

2025 Butterfly counts

Format of the lists: Date (Rain date, if any), Location, Contact, Telephone, Email

• Mon. June 14, Atikokan (far western Ontario, near Manitoba border). Dave Elder, mdwings@shaw.ca
• Sat. June 21. Pinery Provincial Park Butterfly Count. Meet at Pinery Provincial Park at 8:30. Sharon Nethercott, nethercottsharon2@gmail.com
• Sat. June 21 (22), Rice Lake Plains (south of Peterborough), Ewa Bednarczuk, (905) 359-0956, ewa.bednarczuk@natureconservancy.ca
• Sun. June 29, Oshawa, James Kamstra, (416) 729-6395, james.kamstra@aecom.com
• Monday, June 30, Lake Doré (near Eganville, ON): 9 am - 4 pm. Please contact in advance Jean Brereton, (613) 401-1837, jbrereton@xplornet.ca
• Mon. July 1, Toronto East, Carolyn King, (905) 720-2784, cking8000@gmail.com. Meet at the Twyn Rivers parking area (the traditional location -- Pearse House -- is under construction).
• Wed. July 2, Presqu'ile Prov. Park, Kristen Osborne, (613) 475-4324 x225, Kristen.Osborne@ontario.ca
• Fri. July 4, Algonquin Hwy 60 (meet at the Algonquin Park Visitor Centre at km 43 of Hwy 60), Colin Jones, 705-927-0336, colin.jones@ontario.ca
• Sat. July 5, Burnt Lands Alvar (near Ottawa). Sponsored by the Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club, see https://ofnc.ca/
• Sat. July 5, Long Point, Adam Timpf, cell (519) 429-4147, adam.timpf@gmail.com
• Sat. July 5, Windsor, Tom Preney, (519) 966-5852, ojibway@citywindsor.ca
• Sat. July 5, MacGregor Point Provincial Park, Chris.Sheedy2@ontario.ca
• Sun. July 6, Sunderland (north of Oshawa), James Kamstra, (416) 729-6395, james.kamstra@aecom.com
• Sun. July 6, Skunk’s Misery (southwest of London, meet at 8:30am at Newbury Hospital parking lot and count round-up dinner at Prieksaitis family house at 5:00pm at 11110 Furnival Road, Rodney), Ontario, George Prieksaitis (647) 401-2038 (cell) (905) 469-9946 (home), george.w.prieksaitis@ca.ey.com
• Thur. July 10 (11), Mississauga, Allie Abram, (647) 201-3880, alexandra.abram@mississauga.ca
• Sat. July 12, Haliburton Highlands, Ed Poropat, (705) 457-3018, ed.barb@sympatico.ca
• Saturday, July 12 (13). Speyside (N of Milton) Odonate and Butterfly Count, Halton North Peel Naturalists. Meet at the lower section of St Helena Rd at the Wilfred G. Crozier Nature Reserve. Pedro Pereyra, (fragenviron@gmail.com).
• Sat. July 12, Awenda Provincial Park (near Penetanguishene), Tim Tully, (705) 549-2231 ext. 225, tim.tully@ontario.ca
• Sat. July 12, Toronto Centre, John Carley, (416) 930-6987, johnrcarley@gmail.com
• Sat. July 12 (13), Severn (west of Orillia), Matt Thomson, (705) 812-3482, matt.jthomson@gmail.com and a sign-up page for newcomers.
• Sun. July 13, Rondeau Prov. Park, Edward Merks, (519) 674-1768, Edward.Merks@ontario.ca
• Sat. July 19 (20), Petroglyphs Prov. Park (between Peterborough and Bancroft), Martin Parker, (705) 745-4750, mparker19@cogeco.ca
• Sat. July 19 (20), Carden Alvar (east of Orillia) Butterfly Count, Bob Bowles, rbowles@rogers.com
• Sat., July 19, Sydenham River Nature Reserve (about 60 km SW of London, and just south of Alvinston), 9 am start; half day. There are no maintained trails, so walking can be difficult at times. Sharon Nethercott, nethercottsharon2@gmail.com
• Tues. July 22 (23), Fenelon Falls (north of Lindsay), Martin Parker, (705) 745-4750, mparker19@cogeco.ca
• Tuesday, July 22 (23 --for rain or wind). Hog Island (near Pembroke, ON). 9 am - 4 pm. Please contact in advance Jean Brereton, (613) 401-1837, jbrereton@xplornet.ca
• Sat. July 26, Pelee Island Butterfly Count, Antonia Guidotti, aguidotti8@gmail.com
• Sun. July 27, Clear Creek (near Rondeau Provincial Park): meet 8:30 am at 11110 Furnival Road in Rodney; count round-up to be held at 5:00 pm at same location), George Prieksaitis (647) 401-2038 (cell) (905) 469-9946 (home), george.w.prieksaitis@ca.ey.com

Counts held in 2025 not listed above: Ferris Provincial Park (Northumberland County) on June 12; Otter Valley (Port Burwell, on Lake Erie) on June 28; Killarney Provincial Park on July 12; Upper Credit River Watershed (Caledon) on July 12; and St. Thomas (Elgin County) on July 12. Information still to come: Killarney Provincial Park & the Town of Killarney, Muskoka Bala, Otter Valley, Upper Credit River Watershed.

The Manion Corners (near Ottawa), Burnt Lands (near Ottawa), Muskoka Bala and "rare" (Cambridge) counts were not run in 2025.

2025 caterpillar surveys

• The High Park Caterpillar Survey is a multi-year volunteer initiative documenting the diversity and abundance of moth and butterfly caterpillars in Toronto's High Park. During peak season, we typically see a dozen or more species in a single session. New survey volunteers welcome - no experience necessary.
• Caterpillars Count! is a citizen science project for measuring the seasonal variation and abundance of foliage arthropods like caterpillars, beetles, and spiders. Participants collect data by conducting surveys on trees and recording all of the arthropods observed. Here is a map of sites in Ontario (see bottom of the web page), most of which are in the GTA. Ecospark is the organizer of the GTA sites -- see the project's iNaturalist page. Here is one of these sites -- we always welcome new members:

2025 Odonate counts

• Sat. June 21 (22), Carden Alvar (east of Orillia) Odonate Count. Contact Bob Bowles (rbowles@rogers.com) to be assigned to a team. Meet at the Carden Recreation Centre at 9 am.
• Sat. July 5(6), Hamilton Odonate Count, 9 am meet at the church at SW corner of Concession 8 and Kirkwall Road. Brenda Van Ryswyk, brendavanryswyk@gmail.com
• Saturday, July 12 (13). Speyside (N of Milton) Odonate and Butterfly Count, Halton North Peel Naturalists. Meet at the lower section of St Helena Rd at the Wilfred G. Crozier Nature Reserve. Pedro Pereyra, (fragenviron@gmail.com)
• Sat. July 26, Lake Doré (near Pembroke) Odonate, Christian Renault, 613-717-3142, Meet at 9:00 am at the Melissa Bishop Park. (45°38'13.12"N, 77° 04'53.44"W), crenault5@gmail.com
• Sun. July 27, Pelee Island Odonate Count, Antonia Guidotti, aguidotti8@gmail.com

Information still to come: Algonquin Park

Note that the Haliburton Highlands odonate count and the Murphys Point odonate survey will not be running this year.

Last Year: 2024 Butterfly counts

• Mon. June 10. Atikokan (far western Ontario, near Manitoba border). Dave Elder, mdwings@shaw.ca
• Sat. June 22 (23), Rice Lake Plains (south of Peterborough), Ewa Bednarczuk, (905) 359-0956, ewa.bednarczuk@natureconservancy.ca
• Sat. June 22 (23), Muskoka Bala, Al Sinclair, (705) 645-2848, sinclair@muskoka.com
• Friday, June 28 (29 -- for rain or wind) Lake Doré (near Eganville, ON): 9 am - 4 pm. Please contact in advance Jean Brereton, (613) 401-1837, jbrereton@xplornet.ca
• Sat. June 29 (30), Otter Valley (Port Burwell, on Lake Erie), Kathryn Boothby, (905)330-0943, kathryn.boothby77@gmail.com
• Mon. July 1, Toronto East (see the TEA's field trips page for more information), Carolyn King, (905) 720-2784, cking8000@gmail.com
• Wed. July 3, Presqu'ile Prov. Park, Kristen Osborne, (613) 475-4324 x225, Kristen.Osborne@ontario.ca
• Thur. July 4 (rescheduled from Sun. June 30), Oshawa, James Kamstra, (905) 985-4497, james.kamstra@aecom.comThurs.
• July 4, Algonquin Park, Hwy. 60 (meet at the Algonquin Park Visitor Centre at km 43 of Hwy 60), Colin Jones, 705-927-0336, colin.jones@ontario.ca
• Thur. July 4 (5), Mississauga, Emily McNaughton (Please contact before June 25), (647) 201-3880, emily.mcnaughton@mississauga.ca
• Sat. July 6, Long Point, Adam Timpf, cell (519) 429-4147, adam.timpf@gmail.com
• Sat. July 6, Windsor, Tom Preney, (519) 966-5852, ojibway@citywindsor.ca
• Sat. July 6 (7), Manion Corners (near Ottawa), Jeff Skevington, (613) 327-2862, jhskevington@gmail.com
• Sun. July 7, Sunderland (north of Oshawa), James Kamstra, (905) 985-4497, james.kamstra@aecom.com
• Sun. July 7, Skunk’s Misery (southwest of London, meet at 8:30am at Newbury Hospital parking lot and count round-up dinner at Prieksaitis family house at 5:00pm at 11110 Furnival Road, Rodney), Ontario, George Prieksaitis (647) 401-2038 (cell) (905) 469-9946 (home), george.w.prieksaitis@ca.ey.com
• Sun. July 7 (20), MacGregor Point Prov. Park (near Port Elgin), Layna Lubimiv, (519) 389-9056, Layna.Lubimiv@ontario.ca
• Tues. & Wed. July 9 & 10 (15), Royal Botanical Gardens (Burlington), Lindsay Barr (905) 527-1158 x257 (or 1-800-694-4769, same ext.), lbarr@rbg.ca
• Sat, July 13, Upper Credit River Watershed (Caledon), Laura Timms (Credit Valley Conservation), Cell: 437-223-1098; laura.timms@cvc.ca
• Sat. July 13, Haliburton Highlands, Ed Poropat, (705) 457-3018, ed.barb@sympatico.ca
• Sat. July 13, Toronto Centre, John Carley, (416) 930-6987, johnrcarley@gmail.com
• Sat. July 13, Awenda Provincial Park (near Penetanguishene), Tim Tully, (705) 549-2231 ext. 225, tim.tully@ontario.ca
• Saturday, July 13, Killarney Provincial Park & the Town of Killarney, Kathleen Houlahan Chayer, 705-287-2900,  killarneydiscovery@ontario.ca
• Sat. July 13 (14), Carden Alvar (east of Orillia) Butterfly Count, Bob Bowles, rbowles@rogers.com
• Sun. July 14 (13 - based on weather forecast), Severn (west of Orillia), Matt Thomson, (705) 812-3482, matt.jthomson@gmail.com.
• Sun. July 14, Rondeau Prov. Park, Laura Penner, (519) 674-1772, Laura.Penner@ontario.ca
• Sun. July 14, Cambridge: rare Charitable Research Reserve, 9 am to 4 pm at Ancient Woods at 1201 Whistle Bare Rd, Cambridge. This event is in combination with a bioblitz the same day. Event leaders wanted.
• Sat. July 20 (21), Petroglyphs Prov. Park, Martin Parker, (705) 745-4750, mparker19@cogeco.ca
• Mon. July 22 (23), Fenelon Falls (north of Lindsay), Martin Parker, (705) 745-4750, mparker19@cogeco.ca
• Tuesday, July 23 (24 --for rain or wind). Hog Island (near Pembroke, ON). 9 am - 4 pm. Please contact in advance Jean Brereton, (613) 401-1837, jbrereton@xplornet.ca
• Sat. July 27, Pelee Island Butterfly Count, Bob Bowles, rbowles@rogers.com
• Sun. July 28, Clear Creek (near Rondeau Provincial Park: meet 8:30 am at 11110 Furnival Road in Rodney, Ontario and count round-up to be held at 5:00pm at same location), George Prieksaitis (647) 401-2038 (cell) (905) 469-9946 (home), george.w.prieksaitis@ca.ey.com

Last Year: 2024 Odonate counts

• June - August (odonate survey, multiple dates), Murphys Point Provincial Park (north of Kingston, near Perth), Bev Edwards, 613-284-1637, bave@sympatico.ca
• Tues. June 25 (new date), Carden Alvar (east of Orillia) Odonate Count, Bob Bowles, rbowles@rogers.com
• Wed. July 3, Algonquin Odonate, Peter Mills, peter.b.mills@hotmail.com
• Sat. July 6, Haliburton Highlands Odonate Count, Ed Poropat, (705) 457-3018, ed.barb@sympatico.ca
• Sat. July 6(7), Hamilton Odonate Count, 9 am meet at the church at SW corner of Concession 8 and Kirkwall Road, Brenda Van Ryswyk, brendavanryswyk@gmail.com
• Sat. July 27 (28), Lake Doré (near Pembroke) Odonate, Christian Renault, 613-717-3142, Meet at 9:00 am at the Melissa Bishop Park. (45°38'13.12"N, 77° 04'53.44"W), crenault5@gmail.com
• Sun. July 28, Pelee Island Odonate Count, Bob Bowles, rbowles@rogers.com

News to come about the Algonquin Odonate Count. There will be no Odonate Counts this year for Royal Botanical Gardens or Upper Credit River Watershed.

2024 "Caterpillars count!"

- Middle Mill (nearest address 44 Beechwood Drive, East York, Toronto: a project of Toronto Nature Stewards), Wednesday mornings - 9:00 - 11:00 or Thursday evenings - 5:30 - 7:30 until end of September. Donna Rice, donnarice456@gmail.com or 647-469-2711/

2024 High Park Caterpillar Survey

The High Park Caterpillar Survey is a multi-year volunteer initiative documenting the diversity and abundance of moth and butterfly caterpillars in Toronto's High Park. During peak season, a dozen or more species are seen in a single outing. New survey volunteers welcome - no experience necessary. All equipment is provided.

2024 Science North Weekly Workshops

Science North will be running a series of workshops throughout July and August that will have every insect enthusiast planning a trip to Sudbury Ontario. Come learn about moths by helping the Bluecoats (staff) identify these nocturnal pollinators, or practice netting and identifying butterflies in the Northern Garden. And if you love bumble bees, join the Bluecoats in collecting citizen science data for Bumble Bee Watch. Scheduling of the workshops vary throughout the summer, so if you are interested in learning more about the programming times and location, please reach out to meghan.mitchell@sciencenorth.ca. Please note that admission to Science North is mandatory to participate in these workshops.

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