The Chelsea Area NABA Count was started in 1995 under the leadership of John Swales and the noted Michigan lepidopterist Warren H. Wagner of the University of Michigan. The count centers on downtown Chelsea Michigan and covers a circle with a diameter of 15 miles. Within this circle are a Washtenaw county park and two state recreation areas.
Prominent habitats in the count area include rich hardwood forests, Oak-Savannah prairie, old fields, agricultural lands, Shrubby Cinquefoil-Poison Sumac fens, marshes, wet meadows, and Pine Plantations. The major sites surveyed on the count are Park Lyndon North, Embury Road, several sites along Boyce road, several sites along Hankerd road, and one site on Waterloo road. Depending on the numbers participating in the count, sites along Cassidy, Roe, and McClure roads may also be surveyed.
Most butterfly records are sight records only. Binoculars and butterfly nets are carried into the field as aids to identifications. A few butterflies are vouchered to either seek expert opinion on questionable ids or to document a rare find for Michigan Lepidoptera Survey and Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Year by Year Highlights
1995: June 24, Count first started, Harris Checkerspot (C. harrisii) 5, Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui) 1,
Hoary Edge (Achalarus lyciades) 5
1996: June 29, 32 species, Bronze Copper (Lycaena hyllus) 1, Harris Checkerspot (C. harrisii) 1,
Silver-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene) 3, Compton's Tortoise Shell (Nymphalis vau-album) 1, Long Dash (Polites mystic) 1, Tawny Emperor (Asterocampa clyton) 3, Hoary Edge (Achalarus lyciades) 5
1997: June 28, 30 species, Bronze Copper (Lycaena hyllus) 3, Harris Checkerspot (C. harrisii) 5, Milbert's Tortoise Shell (Nymphalis milberti) 1, Hoary Edge (Achalarus lyciades) 1
1998: July 4, 34 species, 437 individuals, Dorcas Copper (Lycaena dorcas) 105, Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii) 1, Milbert's Tortoise Shell (Nymphalis milberti) 17,
Buckeye (Junonia coenia) 1, Crossline Skipper (Polites origenes) 1, Mulberry Wing (Poanes massasoit) 23, Dion Skipper (Euphyes dion) 5
1999: July 3, First time over 40 species (43), 708 individuals, Harvester (Feniseca tarquinius) 2, Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii) 12,
Compton's Tortoise Shell (Nymphalis vau-album) 2, Northern Cloudywing (T. pylades) 1,
Dion Skipper (Euphyes dion) 1, Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator) 1, Hoary Edge (Achalarus lyciades) 1
2000: July 1, 48! species for the count, 602 individuals, Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii) 38, Striped Hairstreak (Satyrium liparops) 5, Gray Comma (Polygonia progne) 3,
Compton's Tortoise Shell (Nymphalis vau-album) 5, Long Dash (Polites mystic) 2, Poweshiek Skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek) 6, Little Glassywing (Pompeius verna),
Dion Skipper (Euphyes dion) 3, Broad-winged Skipper (Poanes viator) 1, Hoary Edge (Achalarus lyciades) 5
2001: June 30, 46 Species, 531 individuals, Dorcas Copper (Lycaena dorcas) 3, Gray Comma (Polygonia progne) 3, Compton's Tortoise Shell (Nymphalis vau-album) 1,
Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) 82, Hackberry Emperor (Asterocampa celtis) 1, Crossline Skipper (Polites origenes) 1, Poweshiek Skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek) 1, Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) 3, Southern Cloudywing (Thorybes bathyllus) 2
2002: July 6, 44 Species, 633 individuals, Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) 1, Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) 2, Dorcas Copper (Lycaena dorcas) 37, Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii) 16, Baltimore (Euphydryas phaeton) 77, Poweshiek Skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek) 16,
Mulberry Wing (Poanes massasoit) 50
2003: 46 Species, 450 individuals
2004: July 3, 43 Species, 702 individuals, Black Dash (Euphyes conspicua) 6, Bronze Copper (Lycaena hyllus) 3, Dion Skipper (Euphyes dion) 4,
Dorcas Copper (Lycaena dorcas) 52, Edward's Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii) 133, Gray Comma (Polygonia progne) 1, Hoary Edge (Achalarus lyciades) 1, Mulberry Wing (Poanes massasoit) 27,
Northern Cloudywing (Thorybes pylades) 1, Poweshiek Skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek) 2, Silver-bordered Fritillary (Boloria selene myrina) 6
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