Big Butterfly Count 2012 - The Results!
By drc726
9 comments
Just received this and thought it was of interest!
A huge thank you to everyone who took part in the Big Butterfly Count this year, from everyone here at Butterfly Conservation. We could not have done this without you.
This year’s wash-out summer saw the numbers of common butterflies and day-flying moths fall, but over 25,000 people across the UK still took part in the survey, counting over 223,000 butterflies and day-flying moths.
This year’s results reveal that the numbers of 15 of the 21 species studied fell compared with last year’s figures, raising concerns that the wettest summer in 100 years, combined with a poor spring, has triggered population crashes that could put some already threatened species at risk.
So who were the winners, and who were the losers of this year’s Count? Meadow Brown counts rose by 186%, making this grassland species top of the chart for the first time ever, while Marbled White counts increased by a staggering 503%. The Red Admiral fell back sharply with numbers down by 72%. All of the white butterflies declined, as did garden favourites such as the Holly Blue and Brimstone.
10 Sep, 2012
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Comments
Good news that some have increased Drc....but sad that others have fallen. I saw more butterflies last week than I've seen in the last 2 years in my garden.
I do try to be consciencious when choosing plants.
Thanks for sharing this.
10 Sep, 2012
To celebrate H.M.Diamond Jubilee I bought 3 Royal Purple Buddleias. Planted to make a 'Butterfly Corridor' on my Allotment where there is plenty of space. They can grow as high as they like there.
Just my small contribution to the ecology. Hope its successful in years to come.
11 Sep, 2012
Interesting results. I had not seen any butterflies at all until recently. Now I've seen loads of Admirals, and just one common white, but no others at all.
11 Sep, 2012
All we have seen is common white, even my OH remarked on the lack of them. I add a 3rd Buddleias this summer - Buddleja alternifolia (Weeping butterfly bush). Its so disappointing when I think back to chasing them as children.
11 Sep, 2012
I remember seeing one early on in what we would normally call late spring, someone on here named it for me, it was a Monarch, first time I`d ever noticed one in my garden, since then I have only seen one Peacock and lots of the White`s, no Red Admirals at all this year...
11 Sep, 2012
Such a disappointing year, we have put in two Buddleja this year although our garden is very small, but we have only seen half a dozen butterflies since the spring, lots of bees though.
11 Sep, 2012
I have had more butterflies this last three weeks, but not as many as usual, and there were far fewer earlier in the year. Let's hope they recover next year after the awful weather.
11 Sep, 2012
I have in fact got 4 Buddleja now and lots of other plants to attract them but still no Butterflies except the common white.
We see few bees too but lots of wasps.
12 Sep, 2012
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Interesting Denise ...
10 Sep, 2012