Butterfly Counts
Our chapter currently conducts butterfly counts in the Eugene-Springfield area, the Browder Ridge area in the Cascades, the Ochoco’s and the Metolius River area. See below for more information. For count results see the Count Data page.
Eugene Count
The Eugene butterfly count was started in 1991 when the Fourth of July Butterfly Counts were still being run by the Xerces Society. NABA was formed and took over the counts in 1993. The center of the 15 mile diameter circle is at 24th St and Amazon Parkway in Eugene (lat/long 44.0335, -123.0886) and includes most of Eugene and Springfield (see map). For the first ten years, this count was organized by Nearby Nature and included a count in Alton Baker Park, since that is where this group has its main focus. In the fall of 2000, our local NABA chapter was formed and took over the organization of this count in 2001.
Typically this count is on a Saturday in early July. Pre-registration is required. Usually counters are divided into four groups and each group meets at their site or meets at a parking lot somewhere and carpools to the site. Generally we count from about 10 am – 3 pm, but that may change with the weather conditions. Participants should bring lunch, snacks, water, hat, binoculars and wear sturdy shoes.
The first site is the Mt. Pisgah Arboretum in Howard Buford Recreation Area. Take Seavey Loop road east and cross the river, then go right (south). The parking lot requires a Lane County Parks Annual Pass or you can buy a Day Pass onsite for $5. The Arboretum has restrooms. We walk Riverbank Trail, Meadow Rd., Water Garden Trail, Pond Lily Trail, Quarry Rd. Trail (Trail 5), S. Boundary Trail, Plateau Trail, Trail 35, and Creek Trails, which is a total of 1.5 to 3 miles of easy hiking (does this group go to the top?). Butterflies have been counted here every year since 1991. The trails go through diverse habitats including oak savanna, wetland, riparian forest, and coniferous forest. Since 2005, this group also drives to the North trailhead (the road left from the river bridge) to survey the Friends of Buford Park Native Plant Nursery.
The second site is Buford Park East, which is on the back side of Mt Pisgah (earlier noted in the data as Buford Park South). Take Highway 58 to Pleasant Hill and turn left on Ridgeway, which takes you to the park entrance. This parking lot requires a Lane County Parks Annual Pass or Day Pass but there is no place to buy a day pass except by phone app (Passport Parking App). However you can park on the side of the road for free. There is an outhouse. From the parking lot, hikers go southeast to Willamette River via trails 2, 3, 5, then take Buckbrush Creek/trail 56 to trail 6 to return, about 2.5 to 3.5 miles total, moderate difficulty. (does this group go to the top?) Habitats include oak savannah, wetlands, and riparian forest. The first year of this count route was 2001. Since 2017, this group has stopped at LCC on the way home and counted amongst the gardens there.
The third site is the South Hills, which may include Spencer’s Butte, Mt. Baldy, the Amazon Headwaters, South Eugene Meadows (powerline), and portions of the Ridgeline Trail. This group hikes a total of 4.5 to 5 miles, moderate difficulty. Habitats include coniferous forest and upland prairie. The first year of this count was 2001.
The fourth site is the West Eugene Wetlands, where we walk about 3 flat miles total. We have included the Willow Creek Preserve on west 18th St since 1992. Here we hike the loop along one branch of the creek and back along the other. Since 2000 we have included the wetland trail loop west of Danebo Rd and just north of the Amazon Canal (historically known as the old Eugene Airport, the dragstrip, Balboa, or Danebo wetland, now known as the Tsal Luk-Wah or Tsanchiifin.) Here was where we found the first Great Copper in 2004. Later we added Stewart Pond/Grimes Pond, and the wetland to the west of Stewart Pond (just east of Bertelson Rd and across from Euphoria Chocolate.) This is where we usually find Great Coppers now. In the past we have also included Dragonfly Bend, Swallow Pond, the area east of Red House, Bailey Hill natural area, and the milkweed patch on Ken Neilson Rd.
Other sites we have counted in the past (besides Alton Baker Park, discontinued in 2004) include Skinner’s Butte, Delta Ponds, Wild Iris Ridge, Suzanne Arlie Park, Westmoreland Park, Armitage Park, a milkweed patch near Costco on Coburg Rd, and Southeast Eugene (Amazon Park to Kinney Park and both sides of creek in-between.) Unlike the Eugene Christmas Bird Count, we have never had enough counters and qualified leaders to cover the whole 15 mile diameter circle.
See the Eugene Circle Map
Browder Ridge Count
The Browder Ridge butterfly count, first done in 2001, is in the Cascade Mountains within the Willamette National Forest. The center of the 15 mile diameter count circle is lat/long 44.3158, -122.0855 (see map). Typically this count is on a Saturday in mid to late July. Pre-registration is required. Counters meet at 8 am in Eugene, break into two or three groups, and head to two or three sites. These are all day outings so participants should bring lunch, snacks, water, sunscreen, bug repellent, hat, binoculars and wear sturdy shoes.
The first site is the Iron Mountain Trail, which is a 2.4 miles round trip hike of moderate difficulty. Butterflies have been counted here every year since 2001. The trailhead (44.3988, -122.1556, elevation 4700 feet) is accessed by Civil Road/NF Road 035 off Highway 20, nearly a 2 hour drive from Eugene. The Northwest Forest Pass is required for parking, and a restroom is available at the trailhead. The trail begins in the forest, passes adjacent to Tomstone Prairie, and then passes through forest to hillsides of flowers higher up. Set aside for its botanical interest, Iron Mountain provides habitat for more than 300 species of flowering plants. This popular trail may be crowded with hikers. At the top there is a viewing platform, elevation 5440 feet. About 20 butterfly species should be seen, and hundreds of individual butterflies. Counters may want to hike to an open slope at the base of Cone Peak, about 2 miles east of the fork in the trail. The first two counts included the entire Cone Peak Loop Trail, 5.3 miles long without the hike to the top, by a third group of counters, yielding more butterfly species and hundreds more individuals.
The second site is a driving route on Frissell Ridge. The first year of this count route was 2004. Drive about an hour east of Eugene up Highway 58, then left on National Forest Road 15. Counters meet at the Lookout Boat Launch (44.2044, -122.2609) for toilet use. The dirt roads to come may not be suitable for a passenger car with low clearance. We drive up FS Road 15 about six miles and there the counting begins in forest openings, at a starting elevation of 2300 feet. We have several stops, walking on the gravel road for about 1/4 mile from the cars, searching for butterflies. Just east of Wolf Rock, we turn south on NF Road 1506 and drive up Frissell Ridge to 4900 feet, with many more stops and walks. On the ridge the habitat is more open with abundant flowers. More than 30 butterfly species should be seen, and several hundred butterflies counted. Part of this counting route is within the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest. We return to Eugene at about 7pm. If we have enough counters to form two teams, the teams start on opposite ends and meet in the middle, making the trip shorter. Unfortunately, in August 2023 Frissell Ridge and much of Road 1506 burned, but now we will be able to obtain data about butterfly population recovery after a wildfire.
Back in 2001 and 2002, the Browder Ridge Trail was surveyed. The trailhead is southeast of Iron Mountain on NF Road 080, via NF Road 15, 44.3731, -122.1339, elevation 4000 feet. The trail starts in the forest, but goes up through meadows below the ridge to an elevation of 4900 feet, about 1.5 miles from the trailhead. Counters also searched for butterflies on NF Road 15 on the way to the trailhead. About 25 butterfly species and several hundred individuals counted.
In the past, we also surveyed Robinson Lake Trail, an easy hike of 1 mile round trip, elevation 3900 feet, 44.2935, -121.9551, on the east side of the count circle. This trail was surveyed twice by the same counters that hiked the Iron Mountain Trail. The first year was a boom year for California Tortoiseshells, 826 were counted.
Ochoco Count
The first Ochoco Count was held at the end of June in 1990. The count circle is centered in the middle of Big Summit Prairie (44.3687, -120.2667) which is private land but surrounded by the Ochoco National forest. Ponderosa Pine is the dominant tree species. Streamside habitat as well as meadows and dry hillsides make for good plant diversity and therefore numerous butterfly species. A good count day can yield 50 species or more.
Participants meet at a campground in the Ochoco National Forest about 15 miles east of Prineville and split into two groups. One group will go north and one will go south, meeting up at the Crooked River Bridge. Each group will drive to a number of locations and tally butterflies seen at each stop. If enough people participate, a hike to the top of Lookout Mountain can be included.
Metolius Count
The Metolius Count, begun in 1986, is centered at the Allingham Guard Station along the Metolius River, a short way south of Camp Sherman, west of Sisters (44.473, -121.640). It’s usually held close to the 2nd Saturday in July. Nearly the entire count is within riparian habitat except for some dry areas on the East side of Green Ridge. The count circle straddles a transition zone from moist forest to dry sandy hillsides, from firs to pines, from riverbanks to pumice roadsides. This diversity of habits allows for a higher number of associated butterflies; around 45-50 species can be tallied on a good count day.
Participants meet at a campground between Black Butte Ranch and Sisters, split into two groups and drive to the Camp Sherman area. One group goes to the east of the Metolius and the other to the west. If enough people participate, a hike to the top of Black Butte can be included. The survey method is to drive to a number of locations and tally what butterflies are seen at each stop. Compilation occurs at the Metolius Fish Hatchery overflow parking area (before going over the bridge).