2023 Butterfly counts / 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 June 27, 2023

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

2023 Butterfly counts

• Sat. June 17 (24), Rice Lake (south of Peterborough), Chelsea Marcantonio, (905) 348-3011, chelsea.marcantonio@natureconservancy.ca
• Sat. June 24 (25), Manion Corners (near Ottawa), Jeff Skevington, (613) 720-2862, jhskevington@gmail.com
• Sat. June 24 (25), Muskoka Bala, Al Sinclair, (705) 645-2848, sinclair@muskoka.com
• Sat. June 24 (25), Otter Valley (Port Burwell, on Lake Erie), Kathryn Boothby, (519)875-2994, kathryn.boothby77@gmail.com
• Sun. June 25, Oshawa, James Kamstra, (905) 985-4497, james.kamstra@aecom.com
• Fri. June 30 (Mon. July 3), Lake Doré (near Eganville), 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Jean Brereton, (613) 625-2263, jbrereton@xplornet.ca
• Sat. July 1, Toronto East (see the TEA's field trips page for more information), Carolyn King, (905) 720-2784, cking8000@gmail.com
• Sat. July 1, Long Point, Adam Timpf, cell (519) 429-4147, adam.timpf@gmail.com
• Sun. July 2, 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
• Mon. July 3, Sunderland (north of Oshawa), James Kamstra, (905) 985-4497, james.kamstra@aecom.com
• Wed. July 5, Presqu’ile Prov. Park, Kristen Osborne, (613) 475-4324 x225, kristen.osborne@ontario.ca
• Thurs. July 6, Algonquin Park, Hwy. 60 (meet at the Algonquin Park Visitor Centre at km 43 of Hwy 60) , Quinten Wiegersma, quinten.wiegersma@ontario.ca
• Sat. July 8, Toronto Centre, John Carley, (416) 930-6987, johnrcarley@gmail.com
• Sat. July 8, Awenda Provincial Park (near Penetanguishene), Tim Tully, (705) 549-2231 ext. 225, awenda@csolve.net
• Sat. July 8, Windsor, Tom Preney, (519) 966-5852, ojibway@citywindsor.ca
• Sat. July 8, Haliburton Highlands, Ed Poropat, (705) 457-3018, ed.barb@sympatico.ca
• Sun. July 9, Rondeau Prov. Park, Laura Penner, (519) 674-1772, Laura.Penner@ontario.ca
• Wed. July 12 (13), Mississauga, Allie Abram, (905) 615-3798 ext. 3798, alexandra.abram@mississauga.ca
• Sat. July 15 (16), Severn (west of Orillia), Matt Thomson, (705) 812-3482, matt.jthomson@gmail.com. This butterfly count has just started, so 2023 will be its first year.
• Thurs. & Fri. July 13 & 14 (18), Royal Botanical Gardens (Burlington), Lindsay Barr, lbarr@rbg.ca
• Sat, July 15, Upper Credit River Watershed (Caledon), Laura Timms (Credit Valley Conservation), Cell: 437-223-1098; laura.timms@cvc.ca
• Sat. July 15 (16), Cambridge (rare Charitable Research Reserve, starting 9 a.m. at Lamb's Inn, 1679 Blair Road) Contact info to come.
• Sat. July 15 (16), Carden Alvar (east of Orillia) Butterfly Count, Bob Bowles, (705) 325-3149, rbowles@rogers.com
• Tues. July 18 (19), Hog Island (near Pembroke), 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Jean Brereton, (613) 625-2263, jbrereton@xplornet.ca
• Sat. July 22 (23), Fenelon Falls (north of Lindsay), Martin Parker, (705) 745-4750, mparker19@cogeco.ca
• Sat. July 29, Pelee Island Butterfly Count, Bob Bowles, rbowles@rogers.com
• Sun. July 30, Clear Creek (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

NABA counts missing (i.e., held in 2022 and expected to be held in 2023): Hog Island, Killarney, Lake Dore, Science North

2023 Odonate counts

• Sat. June 24 (25), Carden Alvar (east of Orillia) Dragonfly Count, Bob Bowles, (705) 325-3149, rbowles@rogers.com
• Wed. July 5, Algonquin Odonate, (meet at the Algonquin Park Visitor Centre at km 43 of Hwy 60), Peter Mills, 705-571-5307, peter.b.mills@hotmail.com
• Sat. July 1, Haliburton Highlands Odonate Count, Ed Poropat, (705) 457-3018, ed.barb@sympatico.ca
• Sat. July 1 (2), 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 15, Upper Credit River Watershed (Caledon), Laura Timms (Credit Valley Conservation), Cell: 437-223-1098; laura.timms@cvc.ca
• Sat. July 29 (30), Lake Dore (near Pembroke) Odonate, Christian Renault, 613-717-3142, Meet at the Melissa Bishop Park. (45°38'13.12"N, 77° 04'53.44"W), crenault5@gmail.com
• Sun. July 30, Pelee Island Odonate Count, Bob Bowles, rbowles@rogers.com

2023 "Caterpillars count!" activities

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 shrubs and recording all of the arthropods observed. Here is a map of sites in Ontario, 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 events:

- 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.

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