August 2024 - Magazine - Page 28
Why count butterflies?
B
utterflies react very quickly to change in their environment which makes them
excellent biodiversity indicators. Butterfly declines are an early warning for
other wildlife losses.
How to take part
Mole, Ra b bit,
Mice,Rats & Squir r el
Catcher
Tr aditional methods onl y
Simply count butterflies for 15 minutes during bright (preferably sunny)
weather during the big butterfly count - 17th July to 9th August. We have chosen
this time of year because most butterflies are at the adult stage of their lifecycle,
so more likely to be seen. Records are welcome from anywhere: from parks, school
grounds and gardens, to fields and forests.
If you are counting from a fixed position in your garden, count the maximum
number of each species that you can see at a single time. For example, if you see
three Red Admirals together on a buddleia bush then record it as 3, but if you only
see one at a time then record it as 1 (even if you saw one on several occasions)
– this is so that you don’t count the same butterfly more than once . If you are
doing your count on a walk, then simply total up the number of each butterfly
species that you see during the 15 minutes.
Download our handy identification chart to help you work out which butterflies
you have seen. You can submit separate records for different dates at the same
place, and for different places that you visit. Remember that your count is useful
even if you do not see any butterflies or moths.
You can send in your sightings online at www.bigbutterflycount.org or by
using our free big butterfly count smartphone apps available for iOS and Android.
Unfortunately, we cannot accept any counts sent in on paper or by email, text
or phone. The website will be open to receive records throughout July and August.
(no poisons used)
PETER KING
Mobile: 07432 813614
pkingmoles@outlook.com
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