It’s time to count butterflies
A finger on the pulse of the UK’s natural health
READERS are being called upon to mobilise and take place in one of the UK’s largest ‘citizen science’ projects.
The Big Butterfly Count, which runs from July 17 to August 9, is seen as one of the best ways of ‘taking the country’s natural pulse’ and gauging the health of its natural environment.
All you have to do is spend 15 minutes in an outdoor space during sunny conditions and then count the types and amount of butterflies you see.
You can do as many counts as you like on different days during the three-week period, and even unsuccessful counts where you saw no butterflies at all are important and should be logged.
A time of peak butterfly appearance
Joanna Bower of Butterfly Conservation, which is organising the count, said: “Big Butterfly Count takes place during the peak abundance of butterflies in the UK, when the most widespread and numerous species are on the wing.
“Nevertheless, no two years are alike and different years see different species come to the fore.
“What you see can depend on where you live or make your butterfly count, as butterfly populations can be different in urban or rural areas as well as clustered in different places across the UK.”
As well as butterflies, you may also spot exotic day-flying moths such as hummingbird hawk moths and six-spot burnet moth.
For further details and a butterfly ID chart, go to bigbutterfly.org or contact Butterfly Conservation on 01929 400209 or email: info@butterflyconservation.org.
“Each year sees different species come to the fore”