Butterflies of the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Morris County, New Jersey

DIRECTIONS: The Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is in northcentral New Jersey in Morris County.

HABITAT: The Refuge contains approximately 7,200 acres of hardwood swamp, upland timber, bush, marsh and ponds, and poorly drained pasture. In 1968, the eastern half of the Refuge was designated as a Wilderness Area - to be left forever wild.

BUTTERFLY LIST:

Abbreviations are:
A, abundant, likely to see more than 20 individuals per visit to the right spot at the right time
C, common, likely to see 4-20 individuals per visit to the right spot at the right time
U, uncommon, likely to see 0-3 individuals per visit to the right spot at the right time
R, rare, unlikely to see any individuals even at the right spots at the right time
S, stray, vagrant, not seen most years

E, early in month
M, middle of month
L, late in month

Numbers refer to months. For example, the second species, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, is uncommon to abundant from April through September.

BEST TIME AND SPOTS TO VISIT: In terms of the largest variety of species, the best time to visit is from late June to mid-July. There are a number of very good fields in the Great Swamp NWR. One good one is the field next to the main parking lot off Long Hill Road. Also one can walk the main trail and side trails from the parking lot at the eastern end of White Bridge Road. Some of the best sites are in the Management Area which is not accessible to the general public but which is covered during the NABA-4th of July Butterfly Count. Consider joining the count if you are interested in checking out some of these areas.

SPECIALTIES: Dion Skipper, Black Dash.

NOTES: There are rest rooms near the parking lot of of Long Hill Road. Nearby sites include the trails and fields of the Somerset County Environmental and Education Center off of Lord Stirling Road (western end of White Bridge Road).