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NEWSLETTER No. 5 -  Summer 1981

WEST MIDLANDS BRANCH, BUTTERFLY CONSERVATION

 

1981 Recording Scheme

As part of our contribution to Butterfly Year, we are launching our own recording scheme which all branch members can support. The scheme has two main aims:

Firstly, to generally increase the number of records of butterflies throughout the region in order to reach a better understanding of the distribution of different species;

Secondly, to look for specific species, either at sites for which we have no recent information, or in areas where the habitat seems suitable but no records have been forthcoming. We shall be working with the County Recorders to identify these areas.

With this newsletter you will find a recording form which you should complete and return at the end of the season. In order to save costs, only one form is being sent - please make sufficient copies to cover the number of species likely to be seen this summer. If you see a butterfly you know to be rare or very local in the region please contact the branch immediately so that we can get in touch with the appropriate County Recorder. Such records will of course be treated in confidence. Under the "Other Remarks" section of the form, please, if you are able to, specify whether the foodplant of the caterpillar is present. All records will be processed and sent to the county Biological Record Centre.

In order to meet the second aim of the recording scheme, the region has been divided into small workable areas and we are hoping that individual members will act as local recorders or co-ordinators of "butterfly search parties". A number of members have already volunteered to act in this capacity but we would like to hear from others willing to work areas presently unallocated.

North Warwickshire - Tony Garner
Coventry - David Porter
Birmingham - Phillip O'Connor / Pete Salmon
North and West Worcs. - Mike Williams
South Worcs - Ron Hatton

We still need a volunteer to cover mid and south Warwickshire and the eastern side of Worcestershire.

It will, unfortunately, not be possible to extend the idea of local recorders to Staffordshire or Gloucestershire until we have a larger membership in these counties, but we would still welcome general records. If other members are interested in helping in this work they are asked to contact the person named above covering their area (see membership list for full addresses and phone no.) or myself.

Mike Williams