The Big Butterfly Count 2024

The Big Butterfly Count starts this month – 12^th of July until the 4^th of August!

The Big Butterfly Count is a nationwide science survey that YOU can get involved with! Launched in 2010, it has become the world’s biggest survey of butterflies! Over 107,000 people took part last year, submitting over 150,000 counts over the course of the survey.

Why Count Butterflies?

Butterflies are beautiful creatures, so they are great to spot. But they are also extremely important for the environment. They are vital parts of the ecosystem as both pollinators and play a big part in the food chain. However, these winged wonders are under threat with the numbers of butterflies and moths in the UK decreasing significantly over the last 50 years.

In the last 50 years, the UK has witnessed declines in over three-quarters of its butterflies.

“Many of our once common and widespread species like the large white, small copper and gatekeeper have started to struggle, mirroring the declines of rarer species. Butterfly Conservation has also revealed that butterflies are declining faster in our towns and cities than in the countryside.” said Butterfly Conservation president Sir David Attenborough.

If butterfly numbers are falling, then it’s a good indicator that nature is in trouble too. That’s why tracking numbers of butterflies is critical in the fight to conserve our natural world.

The data from this count will also help to identify important trends in species. As well as provide an early warning system so measures can be taken to protect butterflies from extinction, as well as increase our understanding the effect of climate change has on wildlife.

How to Take Part in The Big Butterfly Count 2024

Taking part in the Big Butterfly Count 2022 is easy.

1. Get ready by downloading an ID chart, or the free Butterfly Conservation app
2. Between Friday 12 July and Sunday 4 August, find a sunny spot and spend 15 minutes counting the butterflies you see.
3. Submit your sightings online at org or via the free Big Butterfly Count app.

You’ll need to check the Butterfly ID chart to check which species of butterfly you should be counting. Butterfly Conservation  are only asking participants to count certain species, that makes its easy for beginners to get involved and the count can be as accurate as possible.  Then it’s a matter of standing for 15 minutes or going on a walk in bright weather and counting the butterflies you see. Report those sighting online or via the app – even if you don’t see any butterflies at all! Submit as many reports as you like between the 12^th of July and the 4^th of August. And that will give a great indication of the number of butterflies in that area.