2 minute read
The Wall Brown Survey
The Suffolk Argus
The Wall Brown Butterfly – a Single Species Survey
Mark Nowers is leading the survey for the Suffolk Naturalists’ Society and has written the following article, which will appear in the ‘White Admiral’ . Suffolk BC members are encouraged to take part in the survey.
In conservation terms, the phrase ‘formerly common resident’ is particularly gloomy. I haven’t hit 40 yet, but I despair of the fact that the House Sparrows that used to plague my father’s vegetable patch when I was just a boy and nested in the cracks under the eaves are no more. For the delightful borough of Croydon, the House Sparrow is very much a ‘formerly common resident’ . Here in Suffolk, House Sparrows are still relatively common and it fills me with joy to see them gorging on millet in our front garden. However, there are other species that are vying for that infamous moniker, the Wall being one. Declining fortunes A tremendous amount of fieldwork has been undertaken over the last fifteen years and this has served to highlight a significant decline in records of the Wall. In the five year period of the millennium survey (1995-1999) of Suffolk’s 1089 surveyed tetrads, the Wall was recorded in 350 (32%), with a distinct bias towards the coast and the Brecks. Over the most recent five-year period (2005-2009) of 997 tetrads, records were received from only 122 (12.2%). In 2010, records came from just 21 tetrads (4% of those surveyed) , with no records from the west of the county. Where you can help Twenty-one tetrads, surely the decline cannot be that severe? Reasons for the decline are poorly understood and as such, the species has been allocated to the BAP category of ‘Research Only ’ . To the best of my knowledge, one of the primary drivers for readers of the White Admiral is to monitor our county ’s wildlife; therefore, I would like to ask for your help in surveying sites for the Wall this year. Rob Parker has devised a list of paired tetrads across the county which we would like to get surveyed, ideally during both the May and August flight periods. One is a known or promising site and the other is an adjacent or nearby square from which no records have been received in the last four years. This is not an arduous task. If you have not surveyed for butterflies before, you are missing a treat. At its simplest, it is a leisurely walk in the sunshine with a map, notebook and pencil. I can’t think of a more pleasurable pastime. The “Research Only ” BAP category for the Wall will be greatly assisted if we can compile as much up to date information as possible. Even if you are unable to survey specific tetrads, any observations will of course be welcome. Monitoring is the bedrock of conservation and the combined distribution and expertise of SNS membership can truly help here. Further reading For more information, I would direct you to Rob Parker’s monograph in the Spring 2011 edition of the Suffolk Argus. Getting in touch If you would like to get involved, please email marknowers@btinternet.com or call 07562 980870. We will endeavour to offer survey squares close to your home or in your area of choice. First come, first served.
Acknowledgements My sincere thanks to Rob Parker for providing the impetus for this survey and for allowing me to reproduce some of the detail from the aforementioned monograph.
