Leading wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation is calling on Islanders to take part in this year’s Big Butterfly Count (12th July – 4th August) and help scientists understand how climate change is moving butterflies. After analysing 50 years of data, researchers have discovered a clear northward spread for many species, including common garden favourites the Peacock, Comma and Holly Blue, the result of climate change creating warmer habitats for them to survive in. Another species on the move is the Jersey Tiger. Previously found only in South West England, the striking day-flying moth has in recent years been spotted as far north as central London, gaining its spot in the Big Butterfly Count in 2021. At the other end of the scale, species such as the Scotch Argus in Scotland are retreating northwards to stay in the cooler climes this butterfly prefers. 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%, 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.”
Last year more than 135,000 Counts took place up and down the country, with participants spending a combined total of almost 4 years counting butterflies. The information gathered helps scientists to understand how butterflies and moths are faring, informs conservation projects, government policies and supports other experts with their research and vital work to protect our planet. This year’s Big Butterfly Count runs from Friday 12th July – Sunday 4th August. For more information and to take part simply visit www.bigbutterflycount.org or download the free Big Butterfly Count app.
It’s delightful to see the migration of once rare butterflies and moths reaching further into our country.
I had a hummingbird in my garden in April this year despite being cold much of that month.
Because climate change which has and will always happen, it’s sad to see it used to blame our current generation for every ill , much of which is naturally occurring.
But money can be made by the gullible and that too has always been so and always will be.
Masse immigration of non indigenous will cause more harm to our wildlife than one degree increase in temperature
Is this like the mass migration of birds that spend winter in Africa and summer here? It seems to work well for them.
Another headbanger using an unrelated article to push their political agenda.
I see and appreciate the point you are making, the leftist fan boys here are typically blind.
The immigration of millions of people that we seem desperate to house means our fields and nature are being lost en mass.
So we are losing our insects and wildlife.
Sure to bring a tirade of hate from the tolerant left. Bring it, bitches!
This year is the only year my ordinarily much-flowering buddleia hasn’t been covered in butterflies. Sad and alarming. Anyone with any ideas why this might be?
….and I mean – not a single butterfly.
The cold and wet spring has put most insects back a few weeks. This weekend was the first with many summer butterflies on the wing. I saw red admirals, large/small whites, meadow brown, and a peacock in my garden after seeing very few butterflies since May. I also saw plenty of dragonflies and damselflies during my walk yesterday.
We have also noticed the lack of flying insects so far this Summer. Damselflies, hoverflies etc. Last Summer there were an unbelievable number of Red Admirals, so far this Summer, ones & twos.
Well the BBC will go all quiet as they LOVE. to dictate Government mantra of global warming, which isn’t the reason
I suggest a long cold wet spring, following a long wet winter.
Also I question the logic in NO MOW MAY , for whilst it can provide food for butterflies etc, should they then lay eggs on such areas plants, come June they are mowed to death, thus losing the next generation, which, if no NMM, would have been laid elsewhere.
Best to leave an area all summer imo.
More people, more lost flora/fauna.
Vote Reform next time
Or not. Deform will never make a positive difference to the politics of this great country.
Climate change clearly is the reason why species that prefer warmer climates are moving into southern England while those that prefer cooler temperatures are moving north out of Scotland. There is so much evidence that man made climate change is real, and ongoing, that only those with money in the oil business and the truly dense deny it.
The flowers that butterflies feed on are not the plants their caterpillars feed on.
And then we come to your political headbanging. Give it a rest or, at least, restrict it to relevant articles.
Interesting what you say about NMM, but you spoiled it by how you’ve topped and tailed it.
butterflies:this year even the cabbage whites are conspicuous by their absence, or perhaps I talk too soon.
Interesting. I hope we start seeing some scientific articles about what’s happening.
One expects political leaders will tell us “ You should be wobbling about on an electric scooter, turn your stat down to below zero, have eye damaging led haze lighting and eat less meat”
Whilst they glide by us in fully heated luxury cars, going back to their ten bedroom fully heated mansion, with jacuzzi, heated pool, brightly illuminated chandeliers at their groaning dinner tables loaded with fine meats.
So by convincing the dim to not have a car, to wear a jumper indoors, to live in twilight, and to eat less decent food, then more room on roads and more energy and food for their ilk to enjoy.
See WHY they push this rot but allow in more imms, who ADD to our problems. Please don’t fall for it without thinking deeper