NeilyWorld      Birding Ottawa - Butterflies

There are several resources for local butterfly study. High on that list are the Checklist of the Butterflies of the Ottawa District (1996) and The Butterflies of Canada (1998), both by Peter Hall, Ross Layberry & Don Lafontaine. The 3-fold card checklist contains a list of the 87 species occurring locally. It also has a flight chart showing the relative abundance over the April to October time period, in approximately 5 day intervals, for each of the 80 most common species. The splendidly illustrated book covers nearly 300 species found in Canada, and is the first comprehensive guide to the entire nation. Another indispensible tool for local butterfliers is the special butterfly issue of the OFNC's Trail and Landscape, Vol. 16, No. 1, 1982. This issue may still be available at the Flecher Wildlife Garden or through the club itself. On the web check out the Butterflies of Canada site which has great species accounts and specimen photos of Canadian species. Also check out the North American Butterflies and Moths site which has good information and a checklist database, mostly for the USA though.

An excellent local photo site is Rick Cavasin's Butterflies of Ottawa. Another fine local butterfly photo site is at Gillian Mastromatteo's PBase Galleries.