HOW TO RECORD BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS
There are several schemes in place in Dorset for monitoring our Butterflies and Moths:
TRANSECTS: regular walking along pre-defined routes. If you are interested in becoming involved with Transect Walking in Dorset, please contact Bill Shreeves.
CASUAL RECORDING: records sent in by people of any sightings outside of the Transects. Whilst the regular monitoring of butterflies at key sites across the county (Transects) is of great importance, this is by no means the only way of collecting data. It is equally important to know what goes on everywhere else, and there are therefore two basic methods available for submitting this information to us:
- Site recording: this is useful if you visit the same place regularly, and are able to collect information over several visits, or maybe you might like to send us the sightings of butterflies you see in your garden over a season. A form for this kind of recording can be downloaded in pdf format here, or you might like to submit your sightings to us as you go, via our on-line Sightings Submission Form.
- Casual recording: this is where you see a butterfly, or butterflies, as you go about the County. We are interested in all your sightings, including Large Whites and Meadow Browns, as don't forget, we use this data to provide statistical information about the population of Dorset's Butterflies, and if nobody reports the commoner species, the records will end up looking like they are extinct! To report your casual sightings to us, you can either download the casual recording form here in pdf format, or submit them on-line.