Garden Butterfly Monitoring Scheme

The Garden Butterfly Monitoring Scheme generates important data on what butterflies regularly occur in gardens, how this varies regionally across Ireland and tracks how butterfly populations are doing from year to year.

The Garden Butterfly Monitoring Scheme seeks to determining how important gardens are for butterflies and to track population change in our commonest species. The scheme requires surveyors to register their garden with the Data Centre then to make regular 15-mintue counts of the butterflies seen in the garden, on at least a weekly basis from 1st April to 30th September each year. The scheme was established in May 2020 during the Covid-19 lockdown, and has now been established as a full monitoring scheme of the National Biodiversity Data Centre.

What does monitoring involve?

The Garden Butterfly Monitoring Scheme asks volunteers to make a count of the maximum number of each butterfly species seen in their garden during a 15-minute period, during fine weather conditions. Surveyors can choose to count from a fixed point or from a walk around the garden, but the same method must be used each time for the count to ensure consistency of effort between counts. Ideally surveyors are encouraged to make at least one monitoring count each week but more frequent count can also be made.

If you would like to participate in this monitoring scheme please email butterflies@biodiversityireland.ie where help will be provided to register your garden on our system to get you started.

Peacock (Inachis io) – Liam Lysaght

Garden Butterfly Monitoring Scheme: an eCourse

The  Garden Butterfly Monitoring Scheme deals with only 20 butterfly species that are likely to be found visiting gardens. The National Biodiversity Data Centre has developed an eCourse to enable surveyors to become familiar with the identification features of these 20 species. This makes this recording scheme very accessible for those who want to get involved in butterfly monitoring.

The content of the eCourse covers:

  1. How to identify the 20 garden butterfly species
  2. The methods for the Garden Butterfly Monitoring Scheme
  3. How to register your garden on the National Sampling Framework (video tutorial)
  4. How to submit your data (video tutorial)
  5. Butterfly identification support

About the Garden Butterfly Monitoring Scheme

The Garden Butterfly Monitoring Scheme was launched on a pilot basis in 2020 to test the methodology and gain feedback from recorders. The pilot demonstrated that the monitoring scheme was valuable and could generate important data on butterflies to complement the other butterfly monitoring schemes operated by the National Biodiversity Data Centre. Consequently the Garden Butterfly Monitoring Scheme was launched as a full monitoring scheme in April 2021. A copy of the 2021 Annual Report can be downloaded from the link below.  Real time progress with the butterfly counts completed for the monitoring scheme in 2022 are shown on the charts and graphs below .

Species composition of butterflies

Number of butterflies

Participating gardens

Number of counts per month

Number of butterflies observed per month

National Sampling Framework


The National Sampling Framework is a system used for managing for large scale citizen science programs, including the Garden Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. This framework is underpinned by a bioclimatic map this means we can relate the climate to the distribution of species.

Contact Us


Should you wish to provide feedback please send observations to butterflies@biodiversityireland.ie

  • Contact Us
  • +353 51 306 240
  • National Biodiversity Data Centre
    Beechfield House,
    Waterford Institute of Technology West Campus,
    Carriganore,
    Co. Waterford,
    Ireland.
    X91 PE03

Download our free smartphone app for recording in the field
Android App
Apple App

The National Biodiversity Data Centre is a Company Limited by Guarantee. Register Number: 730718.

 

  • Privacy
We made this!
  • Home
  • About
    • Global Biodiversity Information Facility
      • Ireland’s GBIF profile
      • The GBIF Network
      • Latest news at GBIF
      • GBIF Science Review
    • Strategic Objectives
  • Monitoring & tracking change
  • Assisting conservation
  • Ireland’s Biodiversity Learning Platform
  • Publications
  • Biodiversity Ireland’s Top 10
  • Videos
  • Shop
  • News and Events
    • Distinguished Recorder Award
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However you may visit Cookie Settings to provide a controlled consent. You can view our privacy policy here.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non Necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Save & Accept