Butterfly Watch

You will learn basic survey and butterfly-watching techniques, as well as how to identify of 23 common butterflies in Singapore.

The training programme includes:

• Online training video (about 2 hours long)
• The recordings will be sent to you upon confirmation of your registration.
• Practical training workshop at the Singapore Botanic Gardens (about 1 hour long)
• This short field session allows you to try out the techniques taught in the online video.
• You will be assigned a one-hour slot for the practical training. You can view the dates and indicate your preference in the registration form.

Slots will be assigned on a first-come-first-serve basis, with priority given to new volunteers.

You might encounter some of these 23 common species:

1. Common Mime (Chilasa clytia clytia)
2. Lime Butterfly (Papilio demoleus malayanus)
3. Common Mormon (Papilio polytes romulus)
4. Common Birdwing (Troides helena cerberus)
5. Common Rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae asteris)
6. Emigrants (Catopsilia spp.)
7. Grass Yellows (Eurema spp.)
8. Striped Albatross (Appias libythea olferna)
9. Painted Jezebel (Delias hyparete metarete)
10. Psyche (Leptosia nina malayana)
11. Plain Tiger (Danaus chrysippus chrysippus)
12. Common Tiger (Danaus genutia genutia)
13. Black Veined Tiger (Danaus melanippus hegesippus)
14. Blue Glassy Tiger (Ideopsis vulgaris macrina)
15. Dark Glassy Tiger (Parantica agleoides agleoides)
16. Common Palmfly (Elymnias hypermnestra agina)
17. Bush Browns (Mycalesis spp.)
18. Peacock Pansy (Junonia almana javana)
19. Chocolate Pansy (Junonia hedonia ida)
20. Blue Pansy (Junonia orithya wallacei)
21. Tawny Coster (Acraea terpsichore)
22. Leopard (Phalanta phalantha phalantha)
23. Grass Blues (Lycaeninae spp.)

No, the training will take approximately three hours and the survey itself can be done at your own time within the survey period (9.30am to 3.30pm).

If you volunteer to do counts at more than one site, you may need to spend more time, but it is flexible according to your availability.

The training workshops are compulsory for first-time participants. Returning volunteers do not need to attend, but they can opt to attend as a refresher, especially if they have limited experience with butterfly watching or conducting Pollard walks. 

When you sign up, the registration form will require you to indicate your preferred location to carry out the survey at. Our team will then assign you a location that is within or close to your preference.

Alternatively, if you do not have a preference or would like to have a location that is further from your home, please either indicate the zone that you would prefer to conduct the survey at, or no preference in the registration form.

Yes, you can register online for groups of up to 5 people. When registering on Volunteer.gov.sg, look out for the question "Group Code" and input the same code for all members in your group. (e.g. ButterflyWatch123 – please think of your own unique code).

Large groups should contact cin@nparks.gov.sg for more information on registration.