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If you don't know your Small Tortoiseshell from your Red Admiral this could be for you! Butterfly Conservation NI and the Ring of Gullion have teamed up to present a talk in Jonesborough on Thursday the 8th of August.
Catherine Bertrand from Butterfly Conservation NI will be showcasing some of our most beautiful moths and butterflies in The Pastoral Centre, Jonesborough on the 8th of August 2013 from 8.30pm to 10.00pm. And everyone is encouraged to come along.
Catherine will give a short presentation in the Pastoral Centre, Jonesborough before we all head outside to see what we can find. We start at 8.30pm and finish around 10pm on the 8th August. The evening’s event is suitable for families and anyone with a general interest in wildlife.
Catherine will help you spot some of our biggest common garden moths including the cryptic Pink-barred Sallow, the delicate Feathered Thorn or the strangely shaped Angle Shades - all of which can be found in the average garden!
Therese Hamill, Ring of Gullion Officer said “ We are also hoping that someone will spot the Garden Tiger, once common, is now becoming scarcer each year with climate change being blamed for the decline. It occurs in a wide variety of habitats, including gardens, as its name suggests so it is likely to be encountered by many participants in Moth Night. This is the only 'tiger' moth that flies predominantly late at night.”
Catherine’s talk will also encourage everyone to take part in the the Butterfly Conservation Trust’s Big Butterfly Count between the 20th July and the 11th August. The survey only takes 15 minutes and is lots of fun. Identification sheets with photos of the most common butterflies in Northern Ireland are available in the new Tourism Information Office in the courtyard in Slieve Gullion.
Butterfly Conservation President Sir David Attenborough has warned that butterfly numbers are at a historic low and is urging the public to take part in the world's largest butterfly count to assess if species are recovering after their worst year on record.
Sir David Attenborough explained: “The wet weather this spring and early summer has made life really hard for our butterflies and things could get worse unless conditions improve.
“Our butterflies were already struggling – almost three quarters of UK species have decreased in numbers during the last ten years. These falls are worrying because butterflies are important indicator species for our environment – their declines suggest a wider insect biodiversity crisis.
“You can play a vital role in the battle to secure their future. By taking part in the Big Butterfly Count you will be providing important information that could help turn their fortunes around.”
For further information and to book, please visit www.ringofgullion.org or contact any tourist office in Newry and Mourne. Places are limited therefore pre-booking is essential. This is a free event supported by Newry and Mourne District Council, NIEA, and Butterfly Conservation NI.
This year Butterfly Conservation wants to discover how garden favourite - the Small Tortoiseshell is faring after research revealed numbers were down across our countryside once again.
The Big Butterfly Count is encouraging a new generation of butterfly conservationists with The Butterfly Effect – a fun, educational programme organised by the National Schools Partnership (NSP) to get primary schools and families involved in the Count. Create your own virtual butterfly and discover more at www.butterflyeffectschools.org
