Why identify butterflies?
If you are involved with the management of, or surveying and protection of, less widespread terrestrial habitats, such as chalk grassland, heathland or coppiced woodland, then butterfly identification will be important in assessing the effectiveness of the site management. As they are relatively easy to locate and identify they make ideal indicators of certain terrestrial habitats and will highlight any decrease in their quality.
Most species have particular habitat requirements. Understanding them is key to managing any of their habitats. This is a group often ignored in surveys, however their identification is relatively straightforward and they are easily surveyed and monitored.
The course
This one day course gives you the basics of how to identify butterflies. As with all Project Fred courses we intend to give you the tools with which to identify the subject, so that you can then identify butterflies when you are on your own.
Learn about
- Identification, both in the classroom and in the field
- Butterfly habitats and flight times
- Butterfly terminology - some of the technical terms for body parts explained! You will come across these in books and it is helpful to be familiar with the most commonly used terms.
- Books to use - there are several butterfly books available. We give you advice on what to look out for when choosing one, where to get them from and which ones we feel are best.
Highlights include
- Unique keys, developed by Project Fred, to help you identify butterflies quickly.
- Slide show covering habitat, flight times and identification characteristics with identification practice!
- Hand outs covering butterfly flight times, books to use and identification
- Field work - to develop identification skills and field craft.
- Two angled approach to butterfly identification: firstly recognizing butterfly families and secondly separating similar looking species.
Equipment and things to bring
If you have a pair of binoculars that focus closely, down to about 1 metre, then it would be very useful to bring them.
A notebook and pencil are useful, plus a field guide. We shall bring copies of a range of guides, but we recommended the following as a great guide for the beginner:
Richard Lewington Pocket Guide to the Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by British Wildlife Publishing (2003) ISBN = 0 9531399 1 3.
The course will involve some walking, but there will be nothing too strenuous. Strong, comfortable walking boots or shoes are therefore important, as is a good selection of appropriate clothing to the time of year - all in natural colours as far as possible please - greens and browns are preferable. A small rucksack will also be useful for carrying your equipment. Drinks and snacks can also be bought along. We shall provide a butterfly net to use in the field sessions.
Cost
£40 per person. Group size minimum 5 and maximum 15 people. Smaller groups can be catered for at a standard cost of £200 per course. Larger groups may also be accommodated. Conservation Groups and Charities may be able to get a discount. Please contact us to discuss.
