Volunteers Wanted!
Date Published: 02/06/2009
We are really keen for volunteers to help us continue the work started by one of our volunteers who has sadly had to leave the Authority in conducting butterfly surveys at Gunpowder Park and Cornmill Meadows.
Surveys have shown that there has been a substantial reduction in the total numbers of butterflies at Gunpowder Park between 2004 and 2008. Most of the common species are involved in this reduction. It is vital that the records are as continuous as possible, in order that we can be sure that the changes seen are not the result of random fluctuations, and to help us find the cause of the decreasing numbers.
Full training and information will be given to those who wish to undertake a survey but the following guidelines outline the level of on-going commitment that can be expected when signing up to do a survey.
-
A fixed route walk is established and butterflies are recorded along the route on a regular (weekly) basis under reasonable weather conditions.
-
Routes are typically about 2-4km long, taking between 45 minuts and two hours to walk, and are divided into sections corresponding to different habitat or management units.
-
Butterflies are recorded in a fixed width band (typically 5m wide) along the transect.
-
The survey period is from the beginning of April until the end of September. Yielding, ideally, 26 counts per year.
-
Walks are undertaken between 10.45am and 3.45pm and only when weather conditions are suitable for butterfly activity.