Call to Highland nature lovers to help conservation charity in Big Butterfly Count this summer
A conservation charity is calling wildlife enthusiasts in the region to take part in a monitoring initiative to help scientists understand how climate change is impacting butterflies.
Butterfly Conservation have launched their annual Big Butterfly Count, which will run from July 12 to August 4.
To help scientists discover more about the movement and trends of where butterflies are living, the public are being asked to spend 15 minutes in any sunny spot and record the number and type of butterflies they see this summer.
Dr Zoë Randle, senior surveys officer at Butterfly Conservation explains: “Thirty years ago you wouldn’t have seen a Holly Blue in Scotland, now it has expanded where it lives across the UK by 34 per cent, increasingly spreading northward. And the Red Admiral, which was once a migratory species most commonly seen in southern England in the summer and then leaving for Europe in the winter, is now living in the UK all year round, resulting in a three-fold increase in their numbers.
“We’re also seeing other species which have previously suffered severe declines, such as the Comma, recovering, with a huge increase of 94% in where it is found. These highly adaptable species are all able to move into new places as the climate warms, but for habitat specific species, these trends raise serious red flags.
“Species that rely on particular habitats aren’t able to move as freely as our garden favourites. This means that if climate change continues, they could become trapped in isolated fragments of remaining habitat, unable to move and with their food plants at risk from adverse weather conditions, facing the very real threat of extinction.”
Joe Gray, publicity officer for the charity’s Highlands and Islands Branch, said: “All records will be incredibly valuable for the Big Butterfly Count. “But there is one species that I will have a particular interest in seeing this year's results for from the Highlands, and that is the comma butterfly. “A handsome insect with scalloped wings and a white comma-shaped marking on the underneath of each hindwing, this butterfly has become established in parts of the Highlands in recent years and seems to be undergoing a further range expansion. It will be fascinating to learn exactly where this species is being seen in 2024, with the help of contributors to the survey.”
The initiative is also supported by Chris Packham, who is the charity’s vice-president, as well as Sir David Attenborough, who has shared poignant messages in his support of the Count over the years.
He said: “The UK is a nation of amateur naturalists, and we have a proud tradition of celebrating and studying our wildlife. Every single person taking part in the Big Butterfly Count helps to build a picture of how butterflies are faring and how we can best conserve them.
“A few precious moments spent watching a stunning Red Admiral or Peacock butterfly feeding amongst the flowers in my garden never fails to bring me great pleasure.”
Last year, people across Scotland carried out 5,087 counts as part of the Big Butterfly Count, spotting 28,042 butterflies and day-flying moths. The most commonly spotted species across the region included Small White, Large White, and Peacock.
To take part in the initiative, people can download the Big Butterfly Count App or upload their counts on the dedicated website, where they can find more information on how to participate.
