Counting Coppers: join the search for the Purple Copper Butterfly

Posted by squidolie

The Saving our Species program is seeking volunteers to help search for the endangered purple copper butterfly this spring. 

^{Photo description: a purple copper butterfly basks on Bursaria spinosa subsp. lasiophylla. Photo credit: David Roma/NSW DCCEEW.}

People living in or visiting Bathurst, Oberon, Lithgow and nearby areas are invited to be part of a vital mission to search for and protect the region’s endangered purple copper butterfly. Participating in the search and reporting sightings will provide the Saving our Species team with valuable data that will aid in the protection of this endangered butterfly.

Tips to help you with your search

• The ‘flying season’ for purple copper butterflies spans from late August to early November. Butterfly activity peaks in September and October at most sites.
• Butterflies are best spotted on sunny, calm days between 10 am and 2 pm. 
• They are most active when the temperature is above 15°C and cloud cover and wind are low or absent.
• When butterflies are disturbed, they’ll briefly take flight, so take your time walking through the habitat and watch for movement. 
• After taking flight, butterflies will often land in the sun to bask. Avoid casting a shadow on the butterfly – now is your chance to get up close and take some photos.
• They only live at elevations above 850 m, where their food plant native blackthorn is found.
• Native blackthorn (Bursaria spinosa subspecies lasiophylla) is the only food plant that purple copper butterfly caterpillars eat, but adult butterflies can be found feeding on other flowering plants.

Observations to take note of 

• Where they are sighted (take a GPS location if possible)
• Time and date of your sighting
• What habitat they are using; take note of the vegetation in the area if you are able to identify any plants or trees (you can add these notes to the Description field)
• How many individuals are sighted
• Photos are extremely useful for confirming identifications; take photos of the upper wing and underwing of butterflies where possible.

Read more about the purple copper butterfly here: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/animals-and-plants/native-animals/native-animal-facts/invertebrates/purple-copper-butterfly

^{Photo description: Left - a purple copper butterfly basks in the sun atop a measurement tape, its wingspan is less than 30mm. Right - a purple copper butterfly basks on a rock with its underwing visible (view of the underwing can help with identification). Photo credits: Alison Cowie/NSW DCCEEW.}