Butterfly Monitor Trainings

We are looking for new community scientists to monitor butterfly routes in 2023! In order to become a monitor with the Michigan Butterfly Network you must complete one of the training workshops. Click through the location tabs below to learn more about the trainings in an area near you. For more detailed workshop information, please reach out to the contact listed in your desired location. Registration required.

Contact Us

Jennifer Meilinger
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Research Director

Choose your location:

Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo Nature Center

7000 N. Westnedge Ave
Kalamazoo, MI 49009

Virtual Butterfly Monitor Training:

May 13, 2023 11 am – 1 pm

Learn more and register here >

In-Person Field Day:

Saturday, June 3rd 1 pm – 3 pm

Learn more and register here >

Battle Creek

Binder Park Zoo

7400 Division Dr
Battle Creek, MI 49014

Butterfly Monitor Training:

See virtual training being hosted by Kalamazoo Nature Center.

Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor Parks

Butterfly Monitor Training:

See virtual training being hosted by Kalamazoo Nature Center.

Detroit

Belle Isle Nature Center

176 Lakeside Dr
Detroit, MI 48207

Butterfly Monitor Training:

See virtual training being hosted by Kalamazoo Nature Center.

Port Huron

Friends of the St. Clair River

Butterfly Monitor Training:

See virtual training being hosted by Kalamazoo Nature Center.

For information on Friends of the St. Clair River or for information on monitoring in the Port Huron Area please reach out to Melissa Kivel at .

Traverse City

Grass River Natural Area

6500 Alden Hwy
Bellaire, MI 49615

Butterfly Monitor Training:

See virtual training being hosted by Kalamazoo Nature Center.

Angola, Indiana

Butterfly Monitor Classroom Training:

Thursday, April 27th, 2023, 6-9 P.M.

Location: Maple Wood Nature Center

4550 E 100 S, Lagrange, IN 46761

Butterfly Monitor Outdoor Training:

Saturday, June 3rd, 2023, 1-4 P.M.

Location: Pine Knob Park

2835E IN-120, Howe, IN 46746

Registration Deadline: Monday, April 24, 2023

Registration Fee: $5.00

Send registration fee, name, and contact information to:

Blue Heron Ministries

2955 W. Orland Road

Angola, IN 46703

ATTN: John

Sawyer

Chikaming Open Lands

12291 Red Arrow Hwy
Sawyer, MI 49125

Butterfly Monitor Training:

See virtual training being hosted by Kalamazoo Nature Center.

Oakland County

Oakland University

118 Library Drive
Rochester, MI 48309

Butterfly Monitor Training:

See virtual training being hosted by Kalamazoo Nature Center.

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Eagle Marsh Preservation

6801 Engle Road
Fort Wayne, IN 46804

Butterfly Monitor Training:

See virtual training being hosted by Kalamazoo Nature Center.

North American Butterfly Association July Butterfly Counts

Join us for the 2023 4th of July NABA butterfly counts! SW Michigan dates and locations are as follows:

Butterfly Volunteers Allegan – Saturday, July 8

Kalamazoo – Saturday, July 15

2022 marked the 13th year of the Kalamazoo Butterfly Count, where volunteers
conduct a one-day census of all butterflies sighted within a 15-mile radius as
part of the North American Butterfly Association’s Butterfly Count.
There was rain the night before the count so it was a slow start to the day
as the vegetation dried. We finished with 35 species, which is an average
number for our count. One species we rarely see on count day is the Snout
Butterfly, at right. The Snout are migratory species that have explosions
in their population in Southern Texas; during those years this butterfly can fly
northward all the way to Michigan looking for food. The last time we had
Snouts on our count was in 2017.There were 5 counted this year! See final count information here.

For more information about the Allegan count please contact Dennis Dunlap at .

For more information about the Kalamazoo area count please contact John Brenneman at .

These counts take place all over the state (AND country!). Check out the NABA site to find a count nearest you!

Current Butterfly Monitors: Documents and Resources

Please remember to enter your data at PollardBase and document your hours spent monitoring here.

Important Monitoring Documents

Contact the Michigan Butterfly Network

Sign up for the Michigan Butterfly Network ENewsletter

Learn more about field trips, programs, trainings and other butterfly-related topics!