Book 11, Question 143
Why Do Citizen Scientists Count Butterflies?
Citizen scientists count butterflies to help real scientists learn! Citizen scientists are volunteers who collect information, and you can be one! One person cannot count everywhere, but thousands of volunteers can.
More fun facts
- Butterfly counts give scientists crucial information about what is happening to butterflies.
- Data from the public helps show how changes like climate change affect different butterflies.
- A North American butterfly count has been held every year since 1975.
- Volunteers pick a circle about 24 kilometers (15 miles) across and count butterflies for one day.
- Since the early 1990s, Monarch Watch volunteers have tagged butterflies to track migration.
Sources: BBC, National Park Service, Smithsonian Magazine
Questions kids ask
Can kids be citizen scientists?
Yes. Young people can join counts and learn much more than how to catch a butterfly.