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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 12th July 2024
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Big Butterfly Count 2024 begins
Sir David Attenborough is among those urging the public to take part.
Public urged to help monitor butterfly numbers.

The public are being asked to take part in this year’s Big Butterfly Count to help scientists understand how climate change is affecting butterflies.

This year’s count is running from Friday, 12 July until Sunday, 4 August. To take part, participants need to spend 15 minutes in a sunny spot and record the number and type of butterflies and day-flying moths that they see. It is open to anyone in the UK.

The annual count is organised by the charity Butterfly Conservation and provides information that allows scientists to monitor butterfly populations.

Data from the last 50 years has shown that many species are spreading northward, including the peacock, comma, and holly blue. The changing climate is allowing them to survive in areas that would previously have been too cold.

However, the same trend is having a negative impact on the spread of species that prefer a cooler climate. The Scotch argus is one species of butterfly that is becoming less common in more southern regions.

Zoë Randle, senior surveys officer at Butterfly Conservation, said: “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.”

The Big Butterfly Count is the largest citizen science project of its kind. Last year, more than 135,000 counts took place.

Sir David Attenborough, president of Butterfly Conservation, added: “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.”

More information about taking part can be found on the Big Butterfly Count website.

Image © Shutterstock

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.