On July 6 seven intrepid observers set out on the Niobrara Valley Preserve’s 34th annual butterfly count. Conditions were incredibly dry (perhaps accounting for the lower overall numbers observed) but we were able to record 28 species and 161 individual butterflies. These totals fell roughly in line with averages for the last 10 years (26.8Continue reading “Niobrara Valley Preserve 2022 Butterfly Count”
Tag Archives: Plebejus melissa
Western Nebraska: Good for family & butterflies
By Jonathan Nikkila Putting to use all the tips, tricks and ID help Neil Dankert has given me over the years, I spent a day during our family vacation to the Pine Ridge last week to hunt for Western Nebraska butterfly species. My family was staying at Ft. Robinson State Park, a great place forContinue reading “Western Nebraska: Good for family & butterflies”
Soldier Creek, Gilbert-Baker, Sowbelly Canyon
On day two of our three day western Nebraska field trip Jen and I started out by doing some exploring since the morning skies were cloudy and we had time to be tourists. Neither of us had ever been to Soldier Creek Wilderness (National Forest Service) adjacent to Fort Robinson State Park so we tookContinue reading “Soldier Creek, Gilbert-Baker, Sowbelly Canyon”
Western Nebraska Spring Trip
After a week of watching the weather forecast, Monday Jen and I and the dog drove out to Chadron to try to locate as many of the spring flying butterfly species as we could before they vanished. We had been waiting for a couple of good days in succession and the forecast Sunday night wasContinue reading “Western Nebraska Spring Trip”