On 10am on July 3 six intrepid counters (Chris and Kim Helzer, Jonathan Nikkila, Carolyn Phillips, David Crites and Neil Dankert) set out on the 39th annual Butterfly Count at the Niobrara Valley Preserve located in Brown, Keya Paha and Cherry Counties. The Helzers, Jonathan and Neil arrived the night before to set up some lights and bait traps to sample the local moth fauna (more to follow). The weather on July 3 was near optimal. There had been an early morning breeze preventing a heavy accumulation of dew. Under sunny skies the group set out at 10am to survey open woodlands, floodplains, upland mixed grass prairies and marshy riparian habitats, ending about 3pm.
Participants in this year’s count found 28 butterfly species and a total of 150 individuals. This is one species more than last year but 64 fewer individuals than 2025. The species count was right on the 10-year average of 28.3 but the total individuals tallied was considerably fewer than the trailing 10-year average of 194. In spite of that numerous NENHP listed species were found including four Tier 1 species, Two-spotted Skipper (1), Regal Fritillary (2), Eyed Browns (3) and Monarch Butterflies (5) and five Tier 2 species, Long Dash (4), Northern Broken Dash (2), Little Glassywing (2) and Dun Skippers (1), and Coral Hairstreak Butterflies (1).
While overall numbers were not what we had hoped for we realize that this is a snapshot in time, there are always more butterflies present than are observed and finding nine Tier 1 and 2 species in any numbers is encouraging.
Thanks to TNC for their sponsorship and to this year’s counters.
