Butterfly releases vs NABA counts

[Ian Thirlwell]

As a Brit I am puzzled as to why permits are issued for the release of such
common species as monarchs. The TV programs we see here show us the zillions
of these migrating in waves between Mexico & the USA & back (they also reach
our shores in good years). I presume the other species are common too.
 As far as I am aware, here in the UK controlled releases would normally
only be carried out in support of rare or endangered species, or to
reintroduce a vanished species. It is not unknown of course for some
breeders occasionally to release an exotic species, but I think the numbers
are low and survival rates negligible.

Ian Thirlwell
Hampshire
UK
ian at dunlinclose.freeserve.co.uk


Paul Cherubini wrote in message ...
>Michael Gochfeld wrote:
>
>> If releases occur close to and shortly before a count they could well
>> influence the count results significantly.  If they occur far from a
>> count (or after it), they probably won't.
>
>True. I will explain the actual situation in more detail below:
>
>I believe there are only 9 species the USDA will routinely write permits
for environmental
>release. These species have huge ranges (e.g. monarchs, painted ladies,
mourning
>cloaks, red admirals, buckeyes, gulf fritillaries, etc) in the USA.
>...snip snip ...
>