What is the best method for recording a butterfly during a count when the participants are not 100% certain of its identification?
Whether butterfly count participants are new or experienced, butterflies in the field can be sometimes be tricky to identify. When a species is unusual—or especially if the species identification is not 100% certain—participants are strongly encouraged to document the sighting with photographs. A photograph is the best way to confirm, as well as share with others, a species that is rare, significantly out of range or habitat, or flying at an unusual date. And if someone observes a butterfly that they’re not quite sure of, the NABA staff will be happy to check the photo and possibly help with the ID. If we can definitely ID a butterfly reported only as, for example, “Skipper sp.,” it may increase the species total for your count. With the proliferation of digital cameras, it should not be too great a problem to ask that at least one person in every party be prepared to take photos.
