Recorders buzzing about insect explosion
Springwatch survey observations are now being made at an average of one every two minutes as spring finally bursts into life, says the Woodland Trust, the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity.
Among the species now being logged by the Springwatch survey, which is run by the BBC in association with the Woodland Trust and the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, are hundreds of observations of emerging queen red-tailed bumblebees and peacock butterflies.
The icy blast that swept across the UK earlier this year meant we had a more ‘traditional winter’ with temperatures close to a 30-year average, which restricted sightings of insects. But as temperatures continue to climb spring looks set to finally get underway in earnest.
Phenology project manager Jill Attenborough said: “The response to Springwatch 2006 has been superb and we have been recently logging more than 800 observations every day – but we still need more people to tell us what’s going on. Climate change is having a big impact on nature’s calendar right here in our back gardens and we need to try to build up as clear and comprehensive a picture as possible of what the knock-on effect is on our species, right across the UK.”
This year’s six spring indicators are first sightings of seven-spot ladybird, frog spawn, red-tailed bumblebee, peacock butterfly, flowering hawthorn and swift.
Everyone can take part in the survey. Recorders can log observations via the internet at www.bbc.co.uk/springwatch or by postcard, or even by text. Bill Oddie, Kate Humble and Simon King will be back again looking at the results with Springwatch, from May 29 on BBC Two.
Findings from Springwatch 2006 go to the UK Phenology Network’s vast database of observations to help plot changes in nature’s calendar.
