French National Butterfly survey

[basquesteve]

This week I have signed up for the French National Butterfly survey with STERF. (Suivi Temporel des Rhopalocères de France)
They are very keen to get more volunteer surveyors, so do sign up if you can. Some departments still don't have a single volunteer

Have a look at this site Suivi Temporel des Rhopalocères de France - Vigie-Nature

Give it a go

[goosey]

So how does that work then ( I don't speak/read French)? Is it to note your observations and species for a limited time on a certain weekend like we do here for the bird count, or is it over the whole period when butterflies are on the wing? I know with moths species, most are only around for a limited amount of time (although there are a couple which can be found 12 months of the year) so it would make more sense to have it over a longer period. Is it only the European map that have 2 generations which are very different in appearance or are there more butterflies like that? They would also need to be taken into consideration.
Going on what piccies you uploaded last year and the amount of species you saw I am sure they will be thrilled with your input Steve - a fun and worthwhile thing to do!
It would be good to hear your personal results and those of the National survey when they are all in and processed .

[basquesteve]

Hi Goosey

I have been sent two 2x2 kilometre map squares no more than 10 kilometres from my home in my case I am in the squares
I have to survey 5 to 10 small routes within the designated areas no longer than250/500 mtres long and taking a maximum of 10 minutes to walk , using the French governments online maps supply the longitude /latitude of the centre of these routes.
I have only to walk these routes every 15 days in high summer , I have to imagine I am walking in a 5 cubic metre tube and record species and numbers within the 10 minute time limit This is the minimum and I can supply details from a much more extended period

[goosey]

Originally Posted by basquesteve

Hi Goosey

I have been sent two 2x2 kilometre map squares no more than 10 kilometres from my home in my case I am in the squares
I have to survey 5 to 10 small routes within the designated areas no longer than250/500 mtres long and taking a maximum of 10 minutes to walk , using the French governments online maps supply the longitude /latitude of the centre of these routes.
I have only to walk these routes every 15 days in high summer , I have to imagine I am walking in a 5 cubic metre tube and record species and numbers within the 10 minute time limit This is the minimum and I can supply details from a much more extended period

OMG - it does sound complicated you clever ol' stick! Have fun!

[lemars]

morning Steve

You've got me interested. I went to look at that site straight away, opened one of their example attachments - and crashed my computer.

Clearly, you had no similar problems or you wouldn't have registered, so it's probably something to do with this machine (please say nothing about the operator - it was one click and crash, honest).

Reading - or attempting to do so - all that in French is more than a bit of a challenge to me. I also didn't get chance to fully get a handle on what they require.

I don't know why I'm telling you all this really, since there's nothing to be gained by it. I either risk going back to the site or I don't BUT am I correct in the initial impression I got - that they want a selection of specific butterflies counted, or all and any ??

C

[paul m]

Standardised butterfly transects (standard walks!) were developed some time ago in UK and, I think are being adapted in other temperate countries. They allow the recording of population/activity indices.
UKBMS - Development of butterfly monitoring
It may sometimes seems a bit overcomplicated but the rules are to avoid overcounting of some species - for instance, those which fly and then settle again a few metres away could be overcounted if the recorder were allowed to count insects ten or more metres away! It also avoids the problems of recrders with poor eyesight!
It's a very useful technique and most people can do it but it does require commitment - walks have to be performed every one/two/four weeks depending on the initial plan.

[lemars]

Paul - I've had a brief look at that site (brief in that I didn't download all the available pages). I'd certainly want to get involved if I were in the UK. I'm sure there are things there which may clarify some details - if I get to the french survey site again.

Steve - I PM'd you my email, as requested. Did you get it ? I've not received anything PDFish from you.