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| Butterfly Conservation and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology have been running a Black Hairstreak project since 1999, aiming to repeat the comprehensive survey of the 1970s. Estella Roberts has been co-ordinating this project. Below you will find extracts from her update 2001 report. |
| "... the main aim of the survey was to
record the butterfly at target sites for which we lacked any recent records. Indeed Black
Hairstreak were spotted at a few such sites this year so adding to last years successes. Single individuals were seen at two woods in Buckinghamshire for which the last records were way back in the 60s. Both sites are privately owned and close to Wildlife Trust Reserves where strong colonies are known to exist. Individuals were also recorded at two privately owned sites in Oxfordshire." "Thanks to the efforts of many volunteers we now have a much better idea of how the butterfly is faring. From 1990 - 1998 the Black Hairstreak had been recorded at 38 sites. Now after three years of intensive survey they have been recorded at a further 15 sites bringing the total nunber of colonies recorded since 1990 to 53." " The Black Hairstreak appears to be holding its own after declining between the 1940s and 1970s. The results of the survey may even suggest it to be expanding, however the rediscovery of so many colonies may be the result of the increased survey effort rather than the increasing fortunes of the butterfly." " The future of the Black Hairstreak looks
promising. Thanks to the many surveyors we now have a greater understanding of the status
of this species. The majority of sites are under sympathetic management and members of
Butterfly Conservation, the Wildlife Trusts etc. work hard to liase with and advise
landowners and monitor populations." |
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Black Hairstreak Report 2001