Written by Zoë Randle (Surveys Officer) at Butterfly Conservation
Image of Small Tortoiseshell in Barley courtesy of Tim Melling
The Wider Countryside Butterfly Survey (WCBS) ran for a fifth year in 2013 and it was the most successful year to date. The number of random 1km squares covered was at an all time high, 857 squares were surveyed, 11% more than in 2012. Participants included recorders from the BTO/JNCC/RSPB Breeding Bird Survey who covered 374 squares (44%) of the total whilst Butterfly Conservation volunteers covered the remaining 483 squares (56%). In total 142,217 butterflies of 45 species were counted by over 700 recorders.
The most common and widespread butterfly was Meadow Brown, this species was found in 91% of squares and accounted for 22% of all butterflies seen during the core recording period of July and August. Small Tortoiseshell made a great comeback being found in more than twice the number of squares as 2012 (80% of squares versus 40%), with an average of nine counted per square compared with four in the previous best year of 2009. Peacock experienced its best year in the WCBS since the pilot year of 2007 being present in over two thirds of squares compared to less than half in 2013. The vast majority of butterflies fared better in 2013 than in 2012. Eight species Small Skipper, Large Skipper, Clouded Yellow, Small White, Small Tortoiseshell, Marbled White, Ringlet and Small Heath were more widespread than in any other year of the survey.
The WCBS will be running for a sixth year in 2014 and more volunteers are sought to take part. This UK-wide survey of insect abundance uses a robust random sampling framework and is important in assessing the changing status of butterflies in the wider countryside and in providing an indicator of the heath of nature.
Get Involved
To take part, all that is required is to conduct at least two surveys each year over the July and August period to an allocated 1km square. Most Butterfly Conservation Branches have a WCBS Champion who can allocate you a square and provide help and support to get you started. For more information or to find out who your Branch Champion is please contact Zoë Randle (Surveys Officer) via email or 01929 406006. For further news and results keep an eye on the website or contact Butterfly Conservation.
Thanks
We are extremely grateful to all the volunteer recorders and local co-ordinators who participate in these surveys – without your help the project would simply not be possible. The WCBS is run as a partnership between Butterfly Conservation (BC), the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH), co-funded by a multi-agency consortium led by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC).
