2009 was an interesting year...a cool, wet spring led to low numbers of butterflies throughout the summer, but a warm fall kept butterfly sightings coming all the way into December, including a number of late flight records. What will 2010 bring? And who will spot the first butterfly of the year?
It is much too cold for butterflies now, but if we have a freak warm spell in winter, be on the lookout for Anglewing butterflies such as Eastern Commas, Question Marks, Milbert's and Compton Tortoiseshells, and of course, Mourning Cloaks. These butterflies all overwinter as adults and may emerge on a very warm day in winter or early spring. They all prefer wooded areas.
If you do see a butterfly in winter, please report your sighting at Ocean State Butterflies Yahoo group: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/oceanstatebutterflies/. Anyone can read the postings and you have to be a member to post. Joining is free and relatively easy--you just need to create a yahoo account--but you can email me at jlewis@asri.org if you run into problems.
In the meantime, why not brush up your butterfly ID skills--or just enjoy some great butterfly photos--at Massachusetts Butterfly Club's website? There is a great feature on the left sidebar: "Can you ID this butterfly?"
Have fun and enjoy the winter!
July Lewis
Here's everything you need to know about participating in Audubon's annual Rhode Island Butterfly Count, or just butterflying in general!
Butterfly Resources
- BUTTERFLY COUNT INSTRUCTIONS
- MAP OF SURVEY SITES
- RI Butterfly Check List a/o 2017
- Butterfly ID Powerpoint 1
- Butterfly ID Powerpoint 2
- Skipper ID Videos
- Butterflies of America
- Butterflies of No. America
- CT Butterfly Association
- MA Butterfly Club
- Massachusetts Butterfly Atlas
- No. American Butterfly Assoc.
Butterfly Reports
Back to Audubon
Audubon Society of Rhode Island
