UK Moth Recorders’ Meeting 2025

Moth Recorders Meeting image showing a green moth on a leaf.

Butterfly Conservation’s Moth Recorders Meeting provides an essential update for ecologists, wildlife watchers, and naturalists interested in the latest developments in moth recording, research, and conservation. Introduced by director of business and research, Russel Hobson, this year’s meeting was held online via Zoom on Saturday 25th January, and comprised of a variety of talks by keynote speakers including Dr Zoë Randle, David Hill and Dr Avalon Owens.


Dr Zoë Randle, Butterfly Conservation: National Moth Recording Scheme Update 

The first speaker, Butterfly Conservation’s Dr Zoë Randle, shared an update on the National Moth Recording Scheme and key trends. Over 600,000 observations were submitted on iRecord throughout2024, bringing the total macro moth records to 36.2 million and micro moth records to 7.4 million in the National Moth Recording Scheme. Despite an increase in moth recording last year, Zoë emphasised the importance of both recorders and verifiers, while also stressing the need for more volunteers to streamline the verification process.  

A map showing the density of records across the UK
Number of Records in the National Moth Recording Scheme per km square. Credit: Dr Zoë Randle

Dr Norman Lowe, County Moth Recorder, Breconshire: Charismatic Clearwings in mid-Wales.  

Dr Norman Lowe, County Moth Recorder for Breconshire, discussed clearwings in mid-Wales, presenting the group as flagships for dayflying moths and provided an update on clearwing records during 2024. Last year, 31 more recorders and ten more pheromone traps/lures were supplied to aid in recording, resulting in a total of 80 clearwing observations for 2024. Data revealed some local and scarce species, including the Welsh Clearwing and Red-tipped Clearwings, and highlighted species which are common and widespread, like Lunar Hornet Moths. 

David Hill, Conservation Manager (Scotland), Butterfly Conservation: Black, White, Red & Gold – surveying Argyll’s rare moths 

Next to speak was David Hill, who reported on two key species that he has been working with in Scotland: White Spotted Sable Moths and Transparent Burnet. He discussed the background and biology of the species, as well as the efforts undertaken to better understand their pressures and distribution.  

  • 2024 larval surveys uncovered 30 White Spotted Sable caterpillars over three days and allowed surveyors to categorise habitat. This coming year, the team will look to rear caterpillars to confirm identification, start adult surveys and seek out sites where Anania terrealis, a commonly mistaken species, is present. 
  • Transparent Burnets are a focus for Scottish conservation projects as part of the Species on the Edge programme. This rarely recorded species is one of concern due to loss of suitable habitat and work will continue throughout 2025 to establish the distribution and abundance of this moth across Argyll. 
Transparent burnet moth
Transparent Burnet. Credit: David Hill

Dr Luke Evans, Butterfly Conservation: Can we measure the impact of insect change on bird and bat populations?  

Dr Luke Evans discussed the DRUID project, which has operated since 2021 and aims to investigate the drivers and repercussions of UK insect decline. Evans discussed the impact of this catastrophic decline on species whose diets are adapted to insects, true correlation vs random correlation (the observation data conundrum) and the suggestive patterns of decline in birds as a result of this. The use of key data, including that in the National Moth Recording Scheme, demonstrates the importance of national monitoring data for evaluating insect abundance and the direct impacts of insect change.  

Dr Sam Fabian, Imperial College London: Understanding why artificial lights trap flying insects using high-speed videography 

The next presentation was delivered by Dr Sam Fabian, who explored the aggregation of insects around bright light sources, how artificial light can impact insect flight and the behavioural mechanisms behind it. Fabian suggests that circling behaviour around bright light sources is due to dorsal light response – a stabilising reflex where insects angle their body to orientate bright lights above them – which causes erratic flight paths around artificial light sources.  

Circling behaviours around artificial light sources. Credit: Dr Sam Fabian
Circling behaviours around artificial light sources. Credit: Dr Sam Fabian

Dr Avalon Owens, Rowland Institute, Harvard University: Do sustainable lighting practices sustain moths?  

Last to speak was Dr Avalon Owens, who concluded the session with an insightful discussion on the impacts of light pollution on moths. This growing threat is one of many that impacts global insect abundance and diversity, and can have a range of negative impacts on insect behaviour, including: fatal attraction, temporal and spatial disorientation and visual confusion. These can have catastrophic effects on insects internal body clock, navigation ability and recognition of resources. With light pollution levels growing and expanding exponentially, Dr Owens also outlined key routes to tackle the issue by creating sustainable lighting that is useful, targeted, controlled, low level and warm coloured.  

Five lighting principles for responsible outdoor lighting and impacts of artificial light on insects
Five lighting principles for responsible outdoor lighting and impacts of artificial light on insects. Credit: Dr Avalon Owens

This year’s Moth Recorders Meeting was a fascinating insight into the National Moth Recording Scheme, key trends and developments in moth ecology and conservation, and the threats to these undervalued insects. Find out more about Butterfly Conservation, their valuable work and ways to get involved on their website. 

To hear more from this year’s speakers, a recording of 2025’s meeting can be found on the Butterfly Conservation YouTube channel. 

National Nest Box Week 2025

Friday 14th February marks the start of National Nest Box Week. With widespread population declines due to habitat loss and urbanisation, National Nest Box Week presents us with the perfect opportunity to provide habitat for local birds, boosting breeding success and contributing to the enhancement of biodiversity in our green spaces.  

Mid-February marks the start of the breeding season for many British bird species, with many beginning to actively seek new territory and suitable nesting sites. Nest Box Week is a great time to install a new nest box or do some maintenance on any existing boxes. By providing artificial nesting sites, we can assist species such as Robins, House Sparrows, and Swifts, while simultaneously raising public awareness about the diverse range of birds that benefit from these resources. 

House Sparrow at the entrance of a nest box
Image by Vine House Farm via Flickr

Here are some ways to get involved in National Nest Box Week

  • Install a nest box in an outside space, garden or balcony
  • Plant native flora and provide access to fresh, clean water to keep your garden bird-friendly
  • Support bird conservation organisations by donating, volunteering or sharing their work
  • Encourage friends and family to get involved in supporting their local wildlife

Garden Bird Species

A robin perched on a branch

Robins are a familiar sight in UK gardens and are easily recognised by their bright red breast and cheerful song. They prefer open-fronted nest boxes, often tucked away in hedges or shrubs, to mimic their natural nesting preferences in sheltered crevices and vegetation.

Blue Tit on a branch

Blue tits are small, vibrant birds common across the UK that are often seen flitting through gardens and woodlands. They prefer small, enclosed nest boxes, hung high to mimic their natural nesting sites in tree cavities.

Blackbird perched on a concrete post

With their distinctive yellow beak and melodious song, Blackbirds are a common sight in various habitats across the UK. They prefer open-fronted nest boxes, at a slightly higher location, tucked away amongst dense vegetation or climbing plants for added security. 

House Sparrow perched on balcony railing

Common in UK gardens and urban areas, Sparrows prefer nest boxes with a small entrance hole, placed high up on walls or under the eaves of houses, mimicking their natural nesting sites in crevices and holes in buildings. 

Why is National Nest Box Week important?

Increasing urbanisation, human development and changing land-use have had devastating impacts on bird populations in the UK. A loss of natural nesting habitats has introduced extra challenges for rearing young, and nest boxes provide nesting birds with vital habitat to rear chicks – helping to mitigate the impacts of habitat loss which is essential for supporting local bird populations. 

Find a selection of nest box blogs on the Conservation Hub, including:

NHBS Guide: Where to hang and how to maintain your nest box

Training Course: Bats for Building Professionals

The recent training course by the Bat Conservation Trust, Bats for Building Professionals, aimed to provide direction and understanding on the legal protections surrounding bats and their roosts in buildings. Suitable for contractors, pest controllers, surveyors, architects or those working within the construction industry, the session aided building professionals in developing their bat roost identification skills and taught them how to navigate situations where bats are present on site.  

The seven-hour course, run over two interactive online sessions, explored bat ecology, biology, best practices, the latest guidance and legal information. 


The course began with a comprehensive overview of Britain’s breeding bat species, covering their biology, ecology, adaptations, habitat preferences and roosting types. Speaker Katie Swift introduced the Bat Calendar – a particularly interesting aspect of the session which revealed how contractors and construction workers can plan work around bat activity to minimise disturbances (see below).

Bat calendar indicating best times for construction works
The bat calendar shows how contractors and construction workers can plan work around bat activity to minimise disturbances.

This led to a discussion of bat roosts in built structures, where Katie explained why bats favour these spaces and detailed attractive features for both cavity and crevice roosting species, such as soffits, eaves, and cladding. Exploring the different uses of these roosts throughout the year, Katie highlighted how occupied spaces change between summer and winter, and which bat species commonly utilise buildings for this purpose. Using examples like pipistrelles and horseshoe bats, she demonstrated how different species utilize roosting sites and how to recognize an active roost.  

The second part of the discussion focused on legislation and bat protection, educating attendees on the laws that are in place to ensure bat protection, actions that are considered an offence, and highlighting advice services availableKatie then reviewed the European Protected Species License, explaining its role in safeguarding bats within the UK, outlining how construction activities can potentially harm bats in buildings, and when to seek advice as a building professional in keeping with best practice guidelines. 

Common pipistrelle bat
Image by Bio Blitz via Flickr

The second session concluded with an interactive quiz of working examples for building professionals, covering a range of typical building works including barn conversions, door repairs and gutter replacements. 

The ‘homework’ task between sessions was a particularly enjoyable aspect of the course – through independent field work, attendees had the opportunity to report on the potential bat features of their chosen building or structure and apply the knowledge learned throughout the session to understand which species may be present in the area, the areas bats may utilise on the structure and what works might impact a roost.  


This insightful and informative training course provides a valuable resource for building professionals seeking to learn or refresh their knowledge about bats and building projects. The speaker’s expertise ensured a comprehensive and engaging learning experience, covering everything from bat ecology, to bats in buildings and licensing. 

Find out more about upcoming events and the extensive range of training courses with the Bat Conservation Trust via their website. 

Top 5: Thermal Scopes

Thermal scopes detect and display temperature variations and can use the infrared energy (heat) emitted by warm-blooded animals to create a distinct thermal profile. They produce an image that displays different temperatures in different colours which can be used to visibly detect the location of animals that may not otherwise be seen due to lack of light.  

Thermal scopes are typically used to survey nocturnal or elusive species. Particularly useful when used in bat surveys, they can be used to identify roost access points with greater accuracy and can provide improved-quality images of animals in flight. Thermal scopes are also used in surveys for other wildlife, including bird ringing programmes and nest box monitoring, particularly for Pine Martens. This non-invasive technology allows ecologists to monitor wildlife whilst minimising disturbance, allowing for more accurate data reporting on wildlife behaviour. They can be used during both the day and night and offer different colour palettes to improve visibility in different environmental conditions.  

Thermal scopes are designed with varied capabilities and are suitable for a range of users, from naturalists to ecologists. Here we explore a range of thermal scopes available on our website, including both affordable and more advanced options, and highlight the benefits and features of each.  


Pulsar Telos XP50 Thermal Imaging Monocular

Featuring an industry-leading thermal sensor, this high performance monocular provides high resolution imagery in all conditions and has a built-in laser range finder (LRF) capable of long-distance measurements. Durable and userfriendly, these waterproof optics are suitable for all weather conditions and are designed with a wear-resistant rubberised body to maximise longevity.  

  • Sensor: 640 × 480, 17µm, <18mK NETD 
  • Lens:  50mm/F1.0 Germanium lens  
  • Magnification: 2.5-10.0× (and 4× digital zoom) 
  • Frame rate: 50Hz 
  • Detection range: 1,800m 
  • Video/photo resolution: 1024 × 768 
  • Rating: IPX7 
  • Operating time: Up to 8.5hrs 
  • Weight: 720g with battery 

 

Pixfra Sirius S650 Thermal Imaging Monocular

Pixfra Sirius S650 Thermal Imaging Monocular

A compact, powerful monocular offering an incredible optical performance. This monocular has an impressive magnification and detection range, making it ideal for wildlife observation and recording thermal images at a distance. And with 64GB built-in storage, still images or video can be recorded at the push of a button. 

  • Sensor: 640 × 512, 12µm, <18mK NETD 
  • Lens: 50mm/F0.9 
  • Magnification: 3.45 × 
  • Frame rate: 50Hz 
  • Detection range: Up to 2,600m 
  • Rating: IP67 
  • Operating time: Up to 6 hours 
  • Weight: 537g 

 

Pixfra Arc 600 Series Thermal Imaging MonocularsPixfra Arc 600 Series Thermal Imaging Monoculars

A great all-round choice at a competitive price point, this thermal monocular is compact, lightweight and has the widest field of view in the Pixfra range making it ideal for emergence surveys. A highly robust chassis and an IP67 rating mean that this monocular is incredibly durable and is built to withstand poor weather conditions, drops and scrapes in the field.  

  • Sensor: 640 × 512, 12µm, NETD <30mK  
  • Lens: 13mm/F1.0 
  • Magnification: 0.875× 
  • Frame rate: 50Hz 
  • Detection range: 670m 
  • Rating: IP67 
  • Operating time: Up to 6.5h  
  • Weight: 304g (excluding battery) 

 

Pulsar Merger LRF XP50 Thermal Imaging Binoculars

High-spec, professional-level thermal binoculars, this device features a built-in laser range finder and a highly sensitive thermal sensor operating across a long detection range. Lightweight and durable, these advanced thermal optics are highly resistant to harsh environmental conditions and can be submerged in up to one meter of water for up to 30 minutes.  

  • Sensor: 640 × 480, 17 µm, NETD <25mK 
  • Lens: Fast aperture F50/1.0 germanium lens 
  • Magnification: 2.5×-20× (and digital 8× zoom) 
  • Frame rate: 50Hz 
  • Detection range: 1,800m 
  • Video/photo resolution: 1024p × 768p 
  • Rating: IPX7 
  • Operating time: Approx 10hrs 
  • Weight: 800g 

 

Pulsar Axion 2 XQ35 Pro Thermal Imaging Monocular

A lightweight and highly portable mid-range monocular, this thermal scope features an industry-leading sensor and a high-quality aperture objective lens to ensure clear, distinguished viewing. Innovative in design, this monocular allows for still image and video recording to internal memory, and is Wi-Fi enabled to allow for easy downloads to a mobile device.  

  • Sensor: 384 × 288, 17 µm, NETD <25mK 
  • Lens: Fast aperture Germanium 35mm/F1.0 objective lens  
  • Magnification: 2-8×,  
  • Detection range:1,300m @ 1.8m 
  • Video/photo resolution: 528 x 400p 
  • Rating: IPX7 
  • Operating time: Up to 11 hours 
  • Weight: 380g 

 

Recommended Reading: 

Thermal Imaging for Wildlife Applications

Paperback & Hardback | Oct 2023

A practical guide that collects findings from academic research and applied field protocols to inform readers on the fundamentals of the technology, its methods, equipment and applications. 

 

 

The NHBS Harp Trap: New Model Assembly Instructions

This blog provides a step-by-step guide on to how to set up and disassemble the latest model of the NHBS manufactured Harp Trap.

Please note that the NHBS Harp Trap is a made-to-order item, contact us at customer.services@nhbs.com for enquiries and we will be happy to advise on the current lead time.


Handling your trap

The trap carry bag has been designed to allow handling/carrying by either one or two people.

 

What’s in the bag?

1 × Harp Trap, 4 × legs, 2 × support poles (in two parts), 1 × accessories pack (including instructions, 4 × pegs, 4 × guy ropes and spare line)

The contents of the harp trap


Please follow these instructions for correct assembly and disassembly. We recommend that this is carried out by two people.  

Setting Up

1 . Carefully remove the harp trap from its carry bag and place the frame upright on the floor.

Remove the harp trap from the frame and place upright

2 . Take the legs out of the carry bag and insert them into the holes on the underside of the frame – it is easiest to do this one end at a time. When required, all legs can be individually adjusted to raise the trap or to level out when setting up on uneven ground.

3 . Undo the straps and allow the collecting bag to settle by opening the arms of the frame out fully. If using guy ropes, attach them to the upper carriage now.

Undo the straps and allow the collecting bag to settle by opening the arms of the frame out fully. If using the guy ropes, attach them to the upper carriage now.

4 . Release the spring locking pins at both ends of the trap by pulling the lever out and rotating 90° to lock in the open position. Grab the longer piece of the support poles and hold upright with the connector facing down. Now, loosen the star handled screw and carefully lift the top carriage, raising it away from the main frame. Insert the support pole through the hole, where you removed the upper carriage from, and allow the poles to sit on the floor. Then insert the top carriage locating pins into the open end of the support poles.

5 . If using guy ropes, untie and allow to hang.

6. Working at the same pace, slowly raise the support pole so that the bottom of the pole is just below the lower part of the main frame, watching closely to ensure no strings get tangled. Once you reach this height, tighten the star handled screw to secure the support pole in position.  

7 . Take the shorter parts of the support poles and attach them to the bottom of the longer parts by screwing together.

8 . With the support poles now at their full length, while holding on to them, loosen the star handled screw and continue to raise them, still working together and checking for any string snagging. Raise until the bottom of the pole is level (or as near as possible) with the bottom of the frame and tighten star handled screws. 

9 . Engage both spring locking pins to secure the lower carriage.

10 . If you are using them for stability, you can now peg out the guy ropes and your trap is ready for use.

 

Disassembly

1 . If used, pull out the pegs and store them carefully.  

2 . Release the spring locking pins from both ends of the trap. Hold the support poles (one person at each end) and loosen the star handled screws to lower the poles 

3 . Continue to slowly lower the poles and as you do so, carefully start winding the bottom line carrier, taking great care to ensure no lines get tangled. Guiding the lines with your hand/arm is key. Keep lowering the support poles slowly and evenly while winding the line carrier until the support poles rest on the floor.  

4 . With the support poles resting on the ground, tighten the star handled screw to hold the pole in position, unscrew the lower/short part of the support pole and safely place to one side.  

5 . Hold onto the support pole, loosen the thumb screw, and continue to lower until the pole sits on the ground. If used, gather up the guy ropes, tie them up, detach from the frame and place safely to one side.  

6 .  Now lift the top carriage off from the top of the support pole, slide the pole out from the frame and place to one side. Continue to lower the top carriage, whilst winding the bottom carriage, until the top carriage sits on the main frame.  

7 . Once the top carriage has been lowered fully, engage the spring locking pins and tighten the star handled screw to secure it in place, fold the arms of the catch bag assembly inwards until they meet, wrap the bag around the trap and tie the straps to secure.  

8 . Remove the legs from the frame, working on one end of the frame at a time is easiest. If you have extended the legs, to aid storage, reduce them to their shortest length. 

9 . Place the guy ropes and pegs back in the accessories bag. Put the legs and the support poles in the bottom of the carry bag and finally, carefully place the trap and accessories bag back into the carry bag, safe and sound, ready for next time.  

Book Review: New World Monkeys

New World MonkeysCurrently in our Backlist Bargains sale!

RRP £42.00, now just £25.20

***** Comprehensive and incredibly accessible

When I recently reviewed The Real Planet of the Apes, I casually wrote how that book dealt with the evolution of Old Work monkeys and apes, ignoring New World monkeys which went off on their own evolutionary experiment in South America. But that did leave me wondering. Those New World monkeys, what did they get up to then? Here, primatologist Alfred L. Rosenberger provides a comprehensive and incredibly accessible book that showed these monkeys to be far more fascinating than I imagined.

Most people are probably not very familiar with these monkeys. Technically known as platyrrhines, they are predominantly arboreal (i.e. living in trees), small to medium-sized primates. You might know the insanely loud howler monkeys from nature documentaries. Perhaps you have heard of capuchin monkeys or spider monkeys. But you could be forgiven for not having heard of marmosets and tamarins, or the even more obscurely named titis, sakis, and uacaris. A total of 16 genera are recognized, but outside of the scientific literature and technical books, these monkeys are not all that well known. And that is a shame as, from an evolutionary perspective, this is a unique group.

Marmoset, Sagui gritando by Joao Guillherm Soares Dias, via flickr.
Marmoset, Sagui gritando by Joao Guillherm Soares Dias, via flickr.

Now, before Rosenberger gets to this, it helps to better know these monkeys. Accompanied by many excellent illustrations and photos, the first half of New World Monkeys is dedicated to their ecology, behaviour, and morphology. Topics covered include their diet and dentition; locomotion and the anatomy of hands, feet, and prehensile tails; but also brain size and shape; and their social organization and ways of communicating via sight, sound, and smell.

The platyrrhines are a diverse bunch with some remarkable specialisations. In the family Cebidae we find the smallest members, some of whom, the Marmosets and Pygmy Marmosets, have teeth specialized for gouging the bark of gum trees and feeding on the gum that is released in response. In the family Pitheciidae we find the only nocturnal member, the Owl Monkeys, which have concomitant morphological adaptations such as enlarged eyes. In both this and the closely related Titi Monkeys, individuals have the adorable habit of twining their tails when socializing or sleeping. The family Atelidae is home to species with exceptionally prehensile tails whose underside ends in a pad with a fingertip-like surface. The Muriquis and the aptly-named Spider Monkeys use them as a fifth limb in locomotion, as demonstrated by a striking photo of a Black-faced Spider Monkey on plate 13. Here we also find the well-known Howler Monkeys, whose skull is heavily modified to support the exceptionally loud vocal organs in their throat and neck.

Black Howler Monkey Portrait #1 by Ryan Poplin, via flickr.
Black Howler Monkey Portrait #1 by Ryan Poplin, via flickr.

Despite these differences, platyrrhines are closely related and form what is called an adaptive radiation. Just like the textbook example of Darwin’s finches, many members have evolved unique adaptations and ways of living to minimise competition and maximise resource partitioning. Two ideas feature prominently in this book to explain how platyrrhines have evolved and what makes this adaptive radiation both so diverse and so interesting.

One idea is what Rosenberger calls the Ecophylogenetics Hypothesis. If I have understood him correctly, this combines information on a species’ ecology and phylogeny, its evolutionary relationships. It can offer hypotheses on how ecological interactions have evolved, but it also recognizes that ecological adaptations are shaped and constrained by evolutionary relatedness. For the platyrrhines, taxonomically related members are also ecologically similar. To quote Rosenberger: “[…] phylogenetic relatedness literally breeds resemblance in form, ecology, and behavior” (p. 96) and “Each of the major taxonomic groups that we define phylogenetically is also an ecological unit […]” (p. 97).

The other idea that makes the platyrrhines so interesting is dubbed the Long-Lineage Hypothesis. An extensive chapter on the fossil record documents how the whole radiation has been remarkably stable for at least 20 million years. Today’s New World monkeys are virtually unchanged from their ancestors, living the same lifestyles and occupying the same ecological niches. Some fossils have even been classified in the same genus as their living counterparts. This stands in sharp contrast to the evolutionary history of Old World monkeys where there has been a constant churn, whole groups of primates evolving and going extinct with time.

Red-backed Bearded Saki (Chiropotes sagulatus) by Allan Hopkins, via flickr.
Red-backed Bearded Saki (Chiropotes sagulatus) by Allan Hopkins, via flickr.

What stands out, especially when Rosenberger starts talking taxonomy and evolution, is how well written and accessible the material here is. He takes his time to enlighten you on the history, utility, and inner workings of zoological nomenclature, making the observation that “names can reflect evolutionary hypotheses”. Here, finally, I read clear explanations of terms such as incertae sedis (of uncertain taxonomic placement), monotypic genera (a genus consisting of only a single species), or neotypes (a replacement type specimen). Similarly, there are carefully wrapped lessons on how science is done – on the distinction between scenarios and hypotheses, or how parsimony and explanatory efficiency are important when formulating hypotheses. Without ever losing academic rigour or intellectual depth, Rosenberger quietly proves himself to be a natural-born teacher and storyteller, seamlessly blending in the occasional amusing anecdote.

A final two short chapters conclude the book. One draws on the very interesting question of biogeography, i.e. on how platyrrhine ancestors ended up in South America, which was long an island continent. Rosenberger convincingly argues against the popular notion of monkeys crossing the Atlantic on rafts of vegetation* and in favour of more gradual overland dispersal. The other chapter highlights their conservation plight as much of their tropical forest habitat has been destroyed by humans.

With New World Monkeys, Rosenberger draws on his 50+ years of professional experience to authoritatively synthesize a large body of literature. As such, this book is invaluable to primatologists and evolutionary biologists and should be the first port of call for anyone wanting to find out more about the origins, evolution, and behaviour of these South and Central American primates.

* One mechanism that Rosenberger does not mention is that tsunamis could be behind transoceanic rafting, as argued in a recent Science paper. This looked at marine species in particular and I doubt it would make much of a difference for terrestrial species. Most of the objections Rosenberger gives would still apply.
New World Monkeys
New World Monkeys is available from our bookstore here.

NHBS In the Field – Song Meter Mini 2 and Micro 2

The second-generation Song Meter Mini 2 and Micro 2 are the latest additions to the Wildlife Acoustics acoustic recorder range, with the Song Meter Mini 2 available in both AA and Li-Ion powered versions.  

I was eager to test the new Li-Ion version of the Song Meter Mini 2, which I set up alongside the Song Meter Micro 2 in early December. The aim of this deployment was to compare the performance of the two models, and as a self-described ‘bird nerd’, I was also very excited to capture recordings of the incredible birdlife that resides on Dartmoor.  

Deployment  

The Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion model holds six rechargeable 18650 lithium-ion batteries with a minimum of one required for deployment. In this case, I used four batteries in both devices which provided ample runtime for this short field test, and I inserted a 32GB SDHC card – unfortunately, I did not have access to a battery charger so the Song Meter Mini 2 began the deployment at 57% battery life. I set up the recorders in a rural Dartmoor village hoping for clear recordings. 

 

Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion (right) and Song Meter Micro 2 (left) set up with batteries and SD cards.
Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion (left) and Song Meter Micro 2 (right) set up with batteries and SD cards.

One of the main strengths of Wildlife Acoustic’s recorders is their simple deployment and configuration using the free Song Meter app. Here you can select your preferred recording schedule and check the status of your recorder at any time while in Bluetooth range this provides information on SDHC card capacity, battery life, recording mode, and number of recordings taken. For this deployment, I used a pre-set recording schedule to record birds for two hours around sunrise and sunset.  

Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion (right) and Micro 2 (left) status before deployment.
Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion (left) and Micro 2 (right) status before deployment.

Both models now feature cable lock holes so that they can be safely secured during deployment – using a Python Lock, I fixed the device to a tree and left it to record for two days. 

 

Results

Over 2 days, I had collected 33 recordings on each device. Both devices had ample battery life remaining and had used just 1.75GB of storage.  

Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion (right) and Micro 2 (left) status after deployment.
Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion (left) and Micro 2 (right) status after deployment.

I analysed the recordings with a fantastic free desktop software called Chirpity. Using the BirdNET model, this software has an auto ID feature which simplifies analysis of sound recordings, particularly for large data sets.  Using this software, I was able to identify a wide variety of garden bird calls including Robins, Blue Tits, Tawny Owls and many more. Examples of the dawn chorus from each device can be heard below.

Dawn chorus recording on Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion.

Dawn chorus recording on Song Meter Micro 2.

Spectrogram analysis of dawn chorus in Chirpity
Spectrogram analysis of dawn chorus in Chirpity

 

Product Comparison 

Both devices are impressive recorders in their own right – they produced clear and extensive recordings that captured a fantastic snapshot of the surrounding soundscape. On paper, the most obvious difference between these two recorders is the price, with the Micro 2 being much more affordable than the Mini 2-Li-Ion (@less than 1/3 of the price). 

Furthermore, the Micro 2 is around half the size of the Mini 2-Li-Ion, its compact design is hard not to be impressed by, and it can fit easily into a pocket.  Despite its small size, the Micro 2 features an incredible sample rate of 256kHz which allows you to capture good-quality high frequency recordings.  

However, what you gain in compactness you lose in battery life. The Micro 2 has an estimated runtime of 280 hours compared to the Mini 2-Li-Ion which has a whopping 1,330-hour run time. The Micro 2 was deployed with a fully charged battery and finished with 76% battery life. Comparatively, the Mini 2-Li-Ion started and finished at 57%, an impressive feat.

Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion (right) and Micro 2 (left)
Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion (left) and Micro 2 (right)

Another key difference between these recorders lies within environmental noise. These devices were deployed in the run-up to Storm Darragh, and some of the recordings experienced a good deal of wind distortion. Although this is an extreme case, it served to highlight the difference a windshield makes. The Micro 2 has no windshield over the microphone and as a result, experienced markedly more distortion when compared to the shielded Mini 2-Li-Ion. This can be seen in the spectrograms below, which were taken simultaneously. The Mini 2-Li-Ion also has the advantage of a low-noise microphone which, to my ear, produces slightly clearer recordings compared to the Micro 2. 

Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion (right) and Micro 2 (left) wind distortion
Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion (left) and Micro 2 (right) wind distortion

Comparison table of Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion (right) and Micro 2 (left)
Comparison table of Song Meter Mini 2 Li-Ion (left) and Micro 2 (right)

Summary 

While both recorders allow you to experience the surrounding soundscape in new ways, they each offer distinct functionalities to achieve this goal.  

The compact design of the Song Meter Micro 2, along with a recent price drop, makes this recorder a fantastic choice for enthusiasts who want to delve into bioacoustics. It has an excellent sample rate, good battery life and produces crisp recordings that are a joy to listen back to.  

In comparison, the Song Meter Mini 2-Li-Ion is perfect for researchers. Its improved battery life makes it an excellent choice for both short and long-term deployments, and the low-noise microphone and windshield are ideal at producing clear recordings for subsequent analysis.  

This Week in Biodiversity News – 3rd February

Pollution 

Flea and tick treatments are contaminating songbird nests. A recent study surveyed 103 tit nests that utilised pet fur in construction, and found that 100% were contaminated with fipronil, a chemical component of pet flea and tick treatments that is banned for agricultural use in the UK and the EU. Contaminated nests were found to have an increased number of unhatched eggs and dead chicks, placing significant pressure on breeding bird populations. The findings have led to calls for a thorough environmental risk assessment of veterinary treatments, and to consider restricting their use as a preventative measure to an active treatment. 

Great tit with nesting material
Image by hedera.baltica via Flickr

The Arctic carbon sink is now a source of emissions, a new study concludes. Rising temperatures in the Arctic landscape are facilitating the release of vast amounts of carbon dioxide, which is currently stored in the region’s permafrost, and over 40% of this is now significantly contributing to greenhouse gas emissions in the context of global warming. The effects of rising temperatures are also reflected by visual changes in the landscape – ground collapse, increased plant growth, microbial domination – and changes in the carbon cycle in the region. 

 

Environment 

Wales’ plan to reverse wildlife decline lacks plan, action and investment according to Senedd’s cross-party environment committee. A recent report identified several shortcomings that have impacted the Welsh government’s ability to tackle nature loss and boost biodiversity. These include legislation that failed to deliver, outdated key policy documents, a broken promise to update the Nature Recovery Action Plan, and a history of delays, undelivered commitments, and missed deadlines. With 1 in 6 species at risk of local extinction in Wales, and a 20% decrease in wildlife over the last three decades, the committee urged the Welsh government to prioritise setting targets to address biodiversity loss by 2030, bringing Wales in-line with previously agreed biodiversity commitments. 

eurasian curlew
One in six Welsh species are threatened with local extinction. Image by Antje Schultner via Flickr

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has published a report on the prospect of the UK meeting its environmental targets and commitments. The third OEP assessment analysed the government’s current progress towards improving the country’s natural environment between April 2023 and March 2024, and determined that the UK remains off track in meeting legal commitments due to slow progress and a loss of momentum. Key issues identified were as follows: policy or regulatory frameworks are not adequately developed or delivered; actions do not address all major pressures; inadequate resource provision and a lack of urgency. To tackle this, the report concluded that the UK government should speed up, scale up, stack up and catch-up actions to make adequate progress.  

 

Wildlife and Conservation 

A Greater Mouse-eared Bat (Mytosis mytosis) has been discovered in Sussex. In mid-January 2025, a breeding female Greater Mouse-eared Bat was found hibernating in the South Downs National Park, marking the first identification of a new female since the 1980s. This species was declared extinct in the UK in 1992 following decades of species decline, however two male sightings, one in 2002 and one in 2023 suggested the potential for their return in the future. Conservationists have ringed the newly discovered female to allow for future identification, monitoring and research, with the hope of discovering an established breeding population in Britain. 

Greater Mouse-eared Bat
Image by Tim Ellis via Flickr

Galicia’s shellfish stocks are declining at an alarming rate. Europe’s primary source of mussels, and the world’s second largest producer of shellfish, has seen a dramatic fall in cockles, clams and mussels. In 2023, cockles crop fell by as much as 80% and last year, mussel production was at its lowest for the last 25 years with some stocks falling by 90%. It is thought that the climate crisis and pollution from agriculture and local industry are at the root cause of this catastrophic decline, with increased rainfall reducing the salinity of the water and invasive species attracted to rising water temperatures. 

Brown Trout survival is at serious risk as English rivers warm with climate change. A Government report suggests that these native fish are at risk of extinction in large parts of England within decades. The first national temperature projections by the Environment Agency forecast an unliveable environment at the height of summer by 2030. Brown Trout have a temperature threshold of around 12°C, above which there is a significant risk of egg mortality, small hatching sizes and development defects. For adult fish, this increased temperature could also amplify the impact of pollutants and an individual’s susceptibility to pathogens.  

Conference: Rewilding Futures Shaping Tomorrow’s Wild 2025

Citizen Zoo Rewilding Conference banner

Although the term was initially coined in the 1990s, ‘rewilding’ has come to dominate conservation thinking in the last fifteen years. This seemingly paradigmatic shift was consequent of a growing perception that a vision of planetary future should not merely appease a bare minimum criterion for ecological longevity. Instead, conservationists should envision an ecologically prosperous future that supersedes the conditions of the present or the recent past. Many of the initiatives enacted under the banner of ‘rewilding’ may be seen as the attempted actualisation of this vision. 

Six years have passed since Citizen Zoo’s original Rewilding Symposium in 2019. This period has seen a rapid acceleration in the global recognition of rewilding alongside the now widespread presence of rewilding initiatives. The growth and support of the rewilding movement has coincided, of course, with the continued acceleration of global biodiversity loss and the increasingly unignorable impacts of anthropogenic climate change. The common philosophy across the sometimes-disparate presentations of participants was that the process of actively reinstating biodiversity is inextricably tied to the viability of our planetary future. 

Rewilding Futures played host to a globally diverse set of speakers from organisations including Rewilding Chile; Rewilding Europe; Rewilding Britain; Gorongosa National Park (Mozambique), Blue Marine Foundation; The Wildlife Trusts and Rewilding Argentina. 

This year, the University of Cambridge played host to the conference, bringing together leading voices to tackle pivotal issues in the field and discuss the future of rewilding in the coming decades. Key highlights for me were as follows: 

 

Carnivore Reintroductions 

Luigi Boitani asked, ‘What role for wolves in Europe?’ a fascinating presentation which argued for the conservation status and continued legal protection of wolves across the continent. The recovery of the species has been successful across swathes of Europe, and this has raised questions of the potential down listing of the species. Most interestingly, the presentation pulled into question the oft perceived justification for wolf reintroduction their capacity to create a trophic cascade of top-down ecological restoration. The speaker argued that this justification has been historically overstated in the same way that their potential to prey on livestock has been underplayed. For Boitani, we must acknowledge that our desire for the presence of wolves is based on our perception of the species’ intrinsic value and simultaneously the real concerns about livestock predation must be mitigated. 

Adult Lynx
Image by Tambako the Jaguar via Flickr

A presentation from Scotland: The Big Picture provided a summary of their efforts in working towards a reintroduction of Eurasian Lynx in Scotland. Similarly to Boitani’s consideration of wolves in Europe, they also acknowledged that the carnivore’s potential to prey on livestock has been understated by previous groups who have lobbied for lynx reintroduction. Most importantly, Scotland: The Big Picture acknowledged the necessity of garnering support from stakeholders who may be impacted by the presence of lynx. The organisation’s more clearheaded approach to the possibility of lynx reintroduction in Scotland marked a stark contrast to the mysterious and illegal releases in the Cairngorms which preceded the conference. 

Perhaps the most contentious presentation of the event came from the Colossal Foundation – a Texan initiative that claims they are enacting a process of Thylacine ‘de-extinction’. A mandated project will see the Tasmanian Tiger, extinct since 1936, re-animated and playing a significant role in future Tasmanian ecology. This, alongside their programme of Woolly Mammoth ‘de-extinction’, could be perceived as representing the boldest outreaches of the rewilding movement. Pragmatists within the conference raised concerns about the detrimental implications that this unprecedented project, the mandate of which transcends ordinary legal barriers to reintroduction, could have on Tasmanian ecology. 

 

Land for rewilding: Legal mechanisms and Ownership 

The Lifescape Project offered an analysis of the legal mechanisms used to secure land for long-term rewilding, such as conservation covenants in England and conservation burdens in Scotland. Their talk Using Novel Legal Mechanisms to Secure Land for Rewilding: Lessons from across UK and Europe outlined the ways in which various mechanisms allow or impede the long-term dedication of land for rewilding. Utilising cross comparison case studies from across Europe, this talk encouraged innovative and collaborative approaches to improving land use legislation. 

Similarly, Ted Theisinger’s workshop To Own and Control: The Future of Land Governance Structures in Scotland and Beyond presented an interesting consideration of the future of conservation in Scotland. Scotland is one of the most depleted terrestrial landscapes and simultaneously has one of the most concentrated structures of land ownership in the world. Throughout the workshop, participants considered the ways in which existing legislative instruments define the parameters of conservation within the context of Scottish land ownership. The workshop oriented toward imagining a future where non-human voices were interwoven into considerations of what to do with our lands and seas. 

Scotland is one of the most depleted terrestrial landscapes and simultaneously has one of the most concentrated structures of land ownership in the world.
Image by Nick Bramhall via Flickr

 

Peatland Restoration

Among the many intriguing discussions of individual sites where rewilding is enacted was Andrew Osborne’s historical ecology of Chat Moss, a 36km square area of lowland raised bog in Salford. The presentation traced the history of Chat Moss over the last 200 years, including industrial habitat destruction which resulted in a significant loss of flora and fauna in the area. The talk highlighted the work of restoration projects dating back to the 1980s, driven by the imperative to preserve carbon stored in the peat and encourage carbon sequestration. Consequentially, the last forty years have seen the translocations of many species into the area, including the recent reintroduction of the Large Heath Butterfly (Coenonympha tullia). 

 

Marine Rewilding

Another highlight was the Blue Marine Foundation’s presentation Rewilding the Seas: A modern odyssey of hope and challenge. Charles Clover outlined the work of the Blue Marine Foundation and looked to answer the question: why rewild the sea, which in comparison to land, is seemingly already wild? The presentation argued that the principles of sea rewilding are essentially the same as that of land, to bring back lost and depleted species to our oceans and restore ecosystems that have been harmed by human activities?– simply by stepping back and letting nature repair the damage, or by reintroducing species/ restoring habitats. 

lesser spotted dogfish
Image by Mark Fox via Flickr

 

Final Thoughts

While aspects of rewilding remain deeply contentious and there continues to be a vast diversity in perspectives of what rewilding should and could be, the most substantial thematic takeaway is that rewilding has galvanised people in a way that traditional conservation approaches have not.  

In 2025, the impacts of anthropogenic climate change and unprecedented biodiversity loss are met with deterministically inactive governing bodies across the globe. In many ways things seem more hopeless than ever before, yet actors within the conservation field understand that without hope there can be no inspiration for change.  

The revolutionary potential of the rewilding movement has come to represent the last beacon of hope for a viable future for people and nature – a possible catalyst for change. 

Book Review: Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis book cover.***** A delightful potpourri

Entomologist Erica McAlister, the Curator of Diptera at the Natural History Museum, London (NHM), has previously written two popular science books on flies, The Secret Life of Flies and The Inside Out of Flies. Her mission is to change your mind not just about flies, but, as Metamorphosis shows, about insects in general. In her third book with the NHM, she teams up with radio producer Adrian Washbourne with whom she worked on the 10-part BBC Radio 4 series Metamorphosis: How Insects Are Changing Our World that formed the basis for this book. A delightful potpourri of entomology, Metamorphosis is particularly strong on the science history front and further solidifies McAlister’s reputation as a science communicator par excellence.

Metamorphosis is the same size as the preceding two books on flies, a small 14 × 20 cm hardback that is illustrated throughout. Its ten chapters, clocking in at 20 pages or fewer, each focus on one particular group of insects that stand out for one reason or another. She examines the biomechanical and biochemical details that allow fleas to jump so far. She explains how Darwin predicted (correctly) the existence of a hawkmoth species with an exceptionally long tongue by examining an equally exceptional orchid. Plus, there is an engrossing chapter on blowflies and their role in forensic entomology, a topic I find particularly fascinating.

Author Erica McAlister. Credit: Channel 5
Author Erica McAlister. Credit: Channel 5

The flap text explicitly mentions the book will consider modern applications of entomology. Indeed, each chapter concludes with a brief section on current and expected future applications. There is unsurprisingly a fair amount of robotics here, with fleas and bees inspiring different kinds of miniature robots. The question of how beetles harvest water from coastal fog in the otherwise bone-dry Namib desert has inspired research on new water-repellent surface materials. Other research on moth tongues is informing the development of micro- and nanostraws that could one day result in safely reusable medical needles. Meanwhile, several start-ups are optimising rearing protocols for black soldier flies that could become the future of animal protein in our food. This would help recycle organic waste and eliminate the environmental impacts of livestock farming. However, it will require finding ways to overcome our disgust of insects and our reluctance to try new food.

The applications, however, come across as a sideshow. Instead, Metamorphosis excels in telling utterly fascinating chapters from the history of entomology. Drosophila (which are not true fruit flies but called vinegar flies) are a widely used model system in biological research. The famous Fly Lab of geneticist and embryologist Thomas Hunt Morgan (1866–1945) pioneered their use. The remarkable part is that he was sceptical of both Darwin’s and Mendel’s ideas and hoped to disprove them, but ended up doing the exact opposite, finding evidence of classic Mendelian inheritance patterns in certain mutant flies. Or, take the story of the remarkable Victorian entomologist Margaret Fountaine (1862–1940), who used the inheritance of an uncle to travel the world solo, amassed an enormous butterfly collection now housed at Norwich Castle Museum, and left a time capsule of twelve notebooks with instructions not to open these until 1978. McAlister & Washbourne also provide an extended backstory to African American entomologist and civil rights activist Charles Henry Turner (1867–1923) who Lars Chittka also featured in The Mind of a Bee. Turner was denied an academic position on grounds of his ethnicity yet staunchly laboured on and made pioneering observations on bee behaviour in particular. He was ahead of his time in refusing to see bees ‘as simple reflex machines driven by spontaneous reactions to environmental stimuli’ (p. 185).

Hummingbird Hawkmoth feeding on a flower
Research on moth tongues is informing the development of micro- and nanostraws. Image by Peter Stenzel via Flickr.

These and other people are vividly brought to life here. The only fly in the ointment is some errors in dates: apothecary James Petiver apparently lived from 1865 to 1718 (he was born somewhere between 1663 and 1665 according to a published chronology), Turner supposedly married his wife in 1896 even though she died in 1895 (they married in 1886), and Turner himself died in 1923 and two pages later in 1958 (the former is correct). Other than reiterating the importance of proofreading numbers, this minor complaint does not diminish the fact that the history-of-science component of Metamorphosis is utterly engrossing. Many of these stories are largely unknown to the general public, with only articles in specialist journals commemorating the achievements of these historical figures. There are several biographies in here waiting to be written and McAlister & Washbourne have the makings of a fine pair of science biographers.

Whether you enjoyed the BBC Radio 4 series when it aired, find yourself in the museum’s gift shop wondering whether this book is worthwhile, or nurture an interest in entomology or the history of science (or the intersection of the two), I warmly recommend this little book, especially given the reasonable cover price.

Metamorphosis book

Metamorphosis is available from the NHBS online store.