Durham Butterfly Count
by Jeffrey S. Pippen | Jeff's Butterfly Page | Jeff's Nature Page
Welcome to the Durham Butterfly Count information page. This survey is part of the North American Butterfly Association's (NABA) "Fourth of July" or Seasonal Butterfly Count program. The Durham Count was established in 1999 and has been conducted annually except in 2004 and 2012 when it was weathered out by tropical rain systems! Many other butterfly surveys take place across North Carolina. For a list of other surveys and schedules, consult the Carolina Butterfly Society website.
MAP: Count Circle Map (Large) | Durham Count Circle Map (Smaller)
WHEN: Sunday August 17, 2025
WHERE: Please contact me if you're interested at: jeffpippen9@gmail.com to find out when and where to meet. (Note, there will not be an organized get-together at the end of the day this year.)
HOW: We divide into groups, pairing beginners with experienced butterfliers. We then set out to designated areas to survey the butterflies all day, convening at the state park picnic area at 5pm to compile our results and swap stories from the field.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Bring binoculars, food, and water!! Fast food restaurants may or may not be available, depending on your coverage area, so I encourage participants to pack their own snacks, a lunch, and LOTS of beverages as it's usually pretty hot & humid outside this time of year. And I always recommend hiking boots, long pants, a hat, sunscreen and binoculars. Note that there is a mandatory $3 per person fee to participate (levied by and forwarded to NABA for printing/compiling costs).
CONTACT: Please contact me if you're interested at: jeffpippen9@gmail.com
Click here for the promo announcement
TALLY SHEET
Click here to download and print a tally sheet.
COUNT CIRCLE
Click here for Gazetteer version of the Durham Count Circle.
Click here for a different version of the Durham Count Circle. Thanks to Pete Harrell for creating this map!
MEDIA COVERAGE
News & Observer Announcement 2016
News & Observer Durham Butterfly Count Story 2007
News & Observer Durham Butterfly Count Photos 2007
PARTICIPANTS
Many thanks to all the leaders and participants over the years.
PHOTOS
Click here to see photos from past counts
TRENDS
RESULTS
Please contact me if you'd like an Excel file of the results.
DURHAM BUTTERFLY COUNT COMPILATION SUMMARY
Note, Avg refers to average number of individuals found when the species is present; zero values are not accounted for.
For example, Great Southern White has only ever been recorded once.
Avg Species
15 Pipevine Swallowtail
3 Zebra Swallowtail
13 Black Swallowtail
383 Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
53 Spicebush Swallowtail
1 Checkered White
8 Cabbage White
1 Great Southern White
6 Clouded Sulphur
13 Orange Sulphur
182 Cloudless Sulphur
6 Little Yellow
225 Sleepy Orange
4 Harvester
2 Great Purple Hairstreak
3 Juniper Hairstreak
1 White M Hairstreak
22 Gray Hairstreak
8 Red-banded Hairstreak
148 Eastern Tailed-Blue
41 Summer Azure
8 American Snout
1 Gulf Fritillary
106 Variegated Fritillary
5 Great Spangled Fritillary
45 Silvery Checkerspot
209 Pearl Crescent
2 Mourning Cloak
14 Question Mark
6 Eastern Comma
7 American Lady
4 Painted Lady
22 Red Admiral
236 Common Buckeye
48 Red-spotted Purple
15 Viceroy
20 Hackberry Emperor
15 Tawny Emporer
1 Southern Pearly-eye
10 Northern Pearly-eye
4 Appalachian Brown
6 Gemmed Satyr
205 Carolina Satyr
4 Common Wood-Nymph
46 Monarch
210 Silver-spotted Skipper
1 Long-tailed Skipper
9 Hoary Edge
4 Southern Cloudywing
1 Northern Cloudywing
4 Hayhurst's Scallopwing
24 Horace's Duskywing
1 Zarucco Duskywing
4 Wild Indigo Duskywing
26 Com. Checkered-Skipper
3 Common Sootywing
20 Swarthy Skipper
57 Clouded Skipper
32 Least Skipper
206 Fiery Skipper
3 Tawny-edged Skipper
21 Crossline Skipper
31 Southern Broken-Dash
4 Northern Broken-Dash
43 Little Glassywing
592 Sachem
6 Delaware Skipper
1 Byssus Skipper
72 Zabulon Skipper
6 Dion Skipper
27 Dun Skipper
1 Eufala Skipper
27 Ocola Skipper
1 Brazilian Skipper
3560 Total Individuals
113 Total Indiv per Party Hr
74 Total Species Diversity over all years
Thanks to everyone who has helped over the years!
Leader: Team 2023
Bockhahn: Brian Bockhahn
Carlson & Jarvis: John Jarvis, Lior Carlson, Michael Clark, Lee Anne Reilly
Cook: Will Cook (with Sam Cook)
Emmitt: Randy Emmitt, Al Hooks, Salman Abdulali
LeGrand: Harry LeGrand, Lori Arent, Lori White
Pippen: Jeffrey Pippen, Fred Myers, Anyi Mazo Vargas, Kelly Mieszkalski, Chloe Gude, (Donna Deal gave us plants & parking, but didn't participate in count)
Stickney: Richard Stickney
Leader: Team 2023
Bockhahn: Brian Bockhahn
Cook: Will Cook,Lori Arent, Lori White
Emmitt: Randy Emmitt, Roger Shaw
Pippen: Jeffrey Pippen, Fred Myers (Donna Deal gave us plants, but didn't participate in count), Annabel Renwick, Audrey Whitlock, Tanya & Patrick Horning (Quail Roost only)
Carlson & Jarvis: John Jarvis, Lior Carlson
Stickney: Richard Stickney
Leader: Team 2022
Bockhahn: Brian Bockhahn
Cook: Will Cook
LeGrand: Harry LeGrand, Lori Arent, Lori White, Claire Sullivan
Emmitt: Randy Emmitt
Pippen: Jeffrey Pippen, Fred Myers (Donna Deal gave us plants, but didn't participate in count), Annabel Renwick, Audrey Whitlock
Carlson & Jarvis: John Jarvis, Lior Carlson, Alison Smith
Stickney: Richard Stickney
Leader: Team 2021
Bockhahn: Brian Bockhahn
Carlson & Jarvis: Loir Carlson, John Jarvis
Driver: Ellis Driver, Loren Whitaker
Emmitt: Randy Emmitt
Krakauer: Tom Krakauer, Philip Johnson
LeGrand: Harry LeGrand, Lori Arent, Lori White
Pippen: Jeffrey Pippen, Fred Myers
Stickney: Richard Stickney
Leader: Team 2020
Bockhahn: Brian Bockhahn
Carlson & Jarvis: Lori Carlson, John Jarvis
Cook: Will Cook
Emmitt: Randy Emmitt
Krakauer: Tom Krakauer, Boyd Strain
Pippen: Jeffrey Pippen, Isaac Henrion, Fred Myers
Stickney: Richard Stickney
Leader: Team 2019
Bockhahn: Brian Bockhahn
Carlson & Jarvis: Lori Carlson, John Jarvis
Cook: Will Cook
Emmitt: Randy Emmitt, David McCloy
Krakauer: Tom Krakauer, Lynn Richardson
Pippen: Jeffrey Pippen, Isaac Henrion, Fred Myers
Stickney: Richard Stickney
Leader: Team 2018
Bockhahn: Brian Bockhahn, Nancy Odonnel, Edie Bridge
Cook: Will Cook
Emmitt: Randy Emmitt
Krakauer: Tom Krakauer
Jarvis: John Jarvis
Pippen: Jeffrey Pippen, Matthew Nielson
Stickney: Richard Stickney
Leader: Team 2017
Bockhahn: Brian Bockhahn
Carlson & Jarvis: Lori Carlson, John Jarvis
Cook: Will Cook, John Connors, Salman Abulali
Emmitt: Randy Emmitt, Barbara Driscoll
Pippen: Jeffrey Pippen, Donna Deal, Elizabeth Moore, Kati Moore, Matthew Nielson
Stickney: Richard Stickney
Leader: Team 2016
Bockhahn: Brian Bockhahn
Carlson & Jarvis: Lori Carlson, John Jarvis
Cook: Will Cook, Mai Anh Ngo
Emmitt: Randy Emmitt, Tom Driscoll, Derek & Elissa Treuer
Krakauer: Tom Krakauer, Jeffrey Pippen, Byron Perry, Laura Hamon, Kati Moore
Mieszkalski: Kelly Mieszkalski
Stickney: Richard Stickney
Leader: Team 2015
Bockhahn: Brian Bockhahn
Cook: Will Cook, Mai Anh Ngo
Emmitt: Randy Emmitt, Meg Millard
Krakauer: Tom Krakauer, Lynn Richardson, Ashley & Marshal Johnson-Prentice
Pippen: Jeffrey Pippen, Lori Carlson, John Jarvis
Stickney: Richard Stickney
Leader: Team 2014
Bockhahn: Brian Bockhahn
Emmitt: Randy Emmitt, Owen McConnel
Krakauer: Tom Krakauer, Salman Abdulali
LeGrand: Harry LeGrand
Pippen: Jeffrey Pippen, Kelly Mieszkalski
Stickney: Richard Stickney
Leader: Team 2013
Cook: Will Cook, John Mathew, Tracy Feldman, Yu-hsuan Liu, Fay-way Li
Emmitt: Randy Emmitt, Owen McConnel
Krakauer: Tom Krakauer, Gene Schepker, Carl Ganser, Jim Nottke, Sven Halling
LeGrand: Harry LeGrand
Pippen: Jeffrey Pippen, Max Nottke
Stickney: Richard Stickney
Leader: Team 2011
Bockhahn: Brian Bockhahn
Cook: Will Cook, Irene Liu, Vrad Levering
Emmitt: Randy Emmitt
Krakauer: Tom Krakauer, Roger Wellington
Pippen: Jeffrey Pippen, Jean Still
Stickney: Richard Stickney
Leader: Team 2010
Cook: Will Cook
Emmitt: Randy Emmitt, Meg Millard, Dorothy Pugh, Glashia O'Rourke
Krakauer: Tom Krakauer, Lynn Richardson, Salman Abdulali, Bud Webster
Pippen: Jeffrey Pippen, Toni Rexrode
Stickney: Richard Stickney
Leader: Team 2009
Pippen: Jeffrey Pippen, Bonnie Forbes
LeGrand: Harry LeGrand
Cook: Will Cook
Krakauer: Tom Krakauer, Lynn Richardson
Emmitt: Randy Emmitt, Meg Millard
Bockhahn: Brian Bockhahn, Ricky Davis
Stickney: Richard Stickney
Leader: Team 2008
Pippen: Jeffrey Pippen, Allison Leidner, Clinton Jenkins, Jennifer Maher, Freddie-Jeanne Richard
LeGrand: Harry LeGrand
Cook: Will Cook, Carl Rothfels, Ted Gilliland, Dave & Marty Kastner, Jim Nottke
Krakauer: Tom Krakauer, Wendy Elliot, Bob & Nancy Baldwin
Emmitt: Randy Emmitt, Meg Millard, Cyndy Hummel, Owen McConnell
Bockhahn: Brian Bockhahn, Ricky Davis
Leader: Team 2007
Pippen: Jeffrey Pippen, Allison Leidner, Toni Rexrode (with reporter Wade Rawlins and photographer John Rottet)
LeGrand: Harry LeGrand
Cook: Will Cook, Carl Rothfels
Krakauer: Tom Krakauer, Cyndy Hummel
Emmitt: Randy Emmitt, Meg Millard, Michael and David McCloy, Jim Nottke
Garden Watch at NCML&S: Richard Stickney
Leader: Team 2006
Pippen: Jeffrey Pippen, Allison Leidner, Clinton Jenkins, Wendy Elliott, Barbara Beaman
LeGrand: Harry LeGrand
Cook: Will Cook, Roger Rittmaster, John Dole
Krakauer: Tom Krakauer, Bob & Nancy Baldwin, Roger Wellington, Karen Oberhauser, Charlie Cameron
Carter: Derb Carter & Merrill Lynch
Emmitt: Randy Emmitt, Sharne Tolfree, Meg Millard, Michael and David McCloy, Chad Shoen
Garden Watch at NCML&S: Richard Stickney
Leader: Team 2005
Pippen: Jeffrey Pippen
LeGrand: Harry LeGrand
Cook: Will Cook
Krakauer: Tom Krakauer, Brian & Amy Counterman
Backstrom & Rittmaster: Parker Backstrom & Roger Rittmaster
Garden Watch at NCML&S: Richard Stickney
Leader: Team 2003
Pippen: Jeffrey Pippen, Bonnie Forbes, Laura Smith, Lou Hatfield, Jill Kirkland
LeGrand: Harry LeGrand
Cook: Will Cook, Roger Rittmaster, Nicole Benda, Michael Durham
Bockhahn: Brian Bockhahn
Garden Watch: Janet Krakauer at her garden
Garden Watch: Roger Rittmaster at his garden in his yard late afternoon
Leader: Team 2002
Pippen: Jeffrey Pippen, Bonnie Forbes
LeGrand: Harry LeGrand, Sandra Cavalieri, Derb Carter (in a.m.)
Krakauer: Tom Krakauer, Roger Rittmaster
Emmitt: Randy Emmitt, Laura Gardner
Cook: Will Cook
Bockhahn: Brian Bockhahn
Garden Watch at NCML&S: Richard Stickney, Paula LaPoint
Leader: Team 2001
Pippen: Jeffrey Pippen, Roger Rittmaster, Toni Rexrode
LeGrand: Harry LeGrand
Krakauer: Tom Krakauer, Janet Krakauer, Nancy Baldwin, Bob Baldwin, Charles Cameron
Emmitt: Randy Emmitt, Ruth Young, Donna Deal
Cook: Will Cook, Judy Murray
Bockhahn: Brian Bockhahn, Amanda Smith
Garden Watch at NCML&S: Paula LaPoint
Leader: Team 2000
Pippen: Jeffrey Pippen, Toni Rexrode, Bonnie Forbes, Tom Hecker, Jim Nottke, Charles Cameron, Jim Shamp (Herald-Sun)
LeGrand (p.m. only): Harry LeGrand, Paul Bryant
Krakauer: Harry LeGrand (a.m. only), Paul Bryant (a.m. only), Tom Krakauer, Janet Krakauer, Dianne Witzell, Gale Meyer
Emmitt: Randy Emmitt, Phil Johnson, Roger Rittmaster, Jean Hutchins, Leslie Killeen, Ken Pugh
Cook: Will Cook, Judy Murray, Ginger Travis
Bockhahn: Brian Bockhahn (3:45 - 7:30pm)
Leader: Team 1999
Pippen: Jeffrey Pippen, Sue Monohan
LeGrand: Harry LeGrand, Tom & Janet Krakauer, Mike Weissmann
Cook: Will Cook, Randy Emmitt, Phil Johnson
Created on ... Sep 24, 2007 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com