Hi APC!
As a member of the committee of the Hants branch of Butterfly Conservation, I've made some enquiries (and discussed this with Linda) and a mix of specific and general responses is given below. Most-importantly, we encourage records (obviously) and want to give some reassurance that all correspondence is dealt with - we just have a lot of it (especially at this time of year). I suspect that these comments apply to anyone sending in data to any BC brach ... so ...
1. First off, as you've done, if anyone requires an acknowledgement of receipt of any data them please request this with your submission. A reply will be sent as soon as possible.
2. With regard to transect data ... For all transect data we aim to send out thank you emails within three weeks of receipt allowing us time to check data before replying. We currently receive data from more than 90 transects.
3. With regard to non-transect data ... We aim to thank recorders who send in data on spreadsheets and paper recording forms as they are processed (due to the sheer volume of records we receive this can take several weeks). But for all records received by the deadline (this year 4 November) we aim to send out replies by the end of November. In addition we may contact you at any time if we have a query about your data.
In general terms, the amount of time it takes us to reply relates to the size of the operation! We currently receive 45,000 butterfly records each year and all processing of data is carried out by volunteers. But thanks for raising this on the forum since it's definitely best to get such concerns "out in the open" and I'd be worried if anyone felt that their efforts were going awry - they're really not. And I can confirm that your data has been received and is much appreciated - keep up the good work!
If anyone has any concerns then feel free to contact me directly at
pete@ukbutterflies.co.uk
Cheers,
- Pete