1500 butterflies recorded during 2015 census at UofL’s Horner Wildlife Sanctuary
Swallowtail on Teasel
1500 butterflies recorded during 2015 census at UofL’s Horner Wildlife Sanctuary in Oldham County
On Saturday, July 11, 2015 from 9:30am-3pm, over 30 volunteers participated in the 39th annual butterfly count at UofL’s Horner Wildlife Sanctuary and surrounding lands near Brownsboro, Kentucky. Together, volunteers recorded 1,495 individual butterflies and identified 48 species - the second highest diversity ever recorded during the annual census (the highest species count recorded at the site was 50).
The census was led by UofL biology professor emeritus Charles Covell and other butterfly specialists, as part of a national effort to monitor butterfly populations across the country. Prior to spreading out in teams across the landscape, experts taught volunteers how to identify the butterflies they might encounter. Count leaders supplied nets and field guides, while volunteers used cameras, binoculars and notebooks to gather information.
For more information, contact Charles Covell at 502-639-2691 or covell@louisville.edu.
