This post is written by Maria Gezela and Karolina Baranowska and includes a report about their volunteering experience for LIFE Apollo2020 in Poland.
Honestly, not everyone knows what species monitoring is like. That is why we are going to tell you a little bit about it. First of all, we were volunteers for two weeks in the Apollo Volunteering Program that was created in collaboration with Karkonoski Park Narodowy and Klub Przyrodników.
We started our journey on the first of July and got to know everyone that had also participated in this program and read about the biology of Parnassius apollo. On the second day, we got to know Roman, Grzegorz and Dariusz from Karkonoski Park Narodowy and we learned a lot about Parnassius apollo from them. Firstly, we visited Karkonoski Bank Genów in Jagniątków, where there is Parnassius apollo rearing and we saw and got to know about the process.
Then we went to two quarries “Gruszka” and “Miłek” and we had a chance to release the imago form. It was the first time when we had held the butterflies in our hands. We all tried to be gentle with them, they were so beautiful and really special, not like any other butterfly. On the third day we got to know all the reintroduction sites, how they look, where Sedum maximum and nectar-producing plants are. There were eleven reintroduction sites such as: Chojnik, Podzamcze, Sobiesz, Wały Cieplickie, Piastów, Krzyż Jubileuszowy, Góra Szybowcowa, Kamieniołom “Gruszka”, Kamieniołom “Miłek”, Bobrów and Kruczy Kamień.
On Thursday, we all went to Kruczy Kamień and we finally got a chance to learn the transect and CMR methods. Also It was our first time catching butterflies and it was such an amazing experience, which we learned a lot from. Then we went to Karczma Sądowa in Uniemyśl, which is Klub Przyrodników field station. We had some coffee and talked a little bit, got to know the story behind the restoration of this place, because a few years ago it was completly ruined.
On friday, Jacek, Dominika and Ola were monitoring Parnassius apollo in Cieplice, Piastów, Sobiesz, Podzamcze and Chojnik. Karolina and I went to the Klimatyczne Karkonosze event and we colored wooden magnets, earrings and keychains that looked like Parnassius apollo with the children. Also, we educated them about our extraordinary butterfly.
On Saturday, we monitored Parnassius apollo in Kruczy Kamień and it was a huge success for us, we catched 15 individuals in which 5 were new (2 females with sphragis and 3 males). After Kruczy Kamień we went to Bobrów where something funny happened. We all decided to go around this small part of the forest, but we didn’t expect that we would have to climb back to get to our car. In the end we finally got to our car, but it was so tiring. On Sunday, Jacek, Dominika and Ola went to Krzyż Jubileuszowy and Góra Szybowcowa. Karolina and I went to “Gruszka” and “Miłek” quarries. That day, the weather wasn’t good, so we saw nothing. Then we had to say goodbye to Ola and Dominik because they were going back home that day. That’s how our first week ended, we learned a lot about monitoring and honestly about everything from Roman, Grzegorz, Dariusz and Kamila. They helped us a lot and to be honest, they are not only great teachers but also funny and helpful.
The second week, we started with another monitoring session. Karolina and I went to Chojnik, Wały Cieplickie and Piastów. Jacek went to Sobiesz and Podzamcze. Despite the beautiful weather, we couldn’t find any butterflies in Wały Cieplickie, Piastów, Sobiesz and Podzamcze. Just as we needed to end the monitoring, I found one dead Parnassius apollo… right beside me. It was a female with sphragis and she had a number 298 on her wings.
Of course, our day couldn’t end without some adventure. On the way back from Chojnik to our car, we found sheep in trouble. The sheep was tangled in an electric fence, which we had to turn off and free her from. We also met new volunteers – Ola, Łucja and Magda. We went for monitoring until Wednesday with the interns – Julia and Justyna. For a moment we felt like teachers, because we tried to tell them everything about the butterfly, his biology, monitoring etc.
Thursday and Friday were days off for me and Karolina. On those days, we were able to rest and relax. Beside me, because I needed to defend my bachelor’s degree and I had a lot of problems on my way back to Jelenia Góra, because there was a problem with all trains to and from Wrocław. Luckily, my mum came to rescue me and drove me back to Jelenia Góra.
On Thursday, we also had the opportunity to learn a few things while catching bats. It was a great experience and we all had a lot of fun. On friday, Karolina and I went hiking. We did 16 km and also we were really lucky to see the blackgrouse on our way. It was shocking.
Saturday was our last day of monitoring, Karolina, Jacek and I went to “Gruszka” and “Miłek”, sadly we couldn’t find any butterflies. Magda, Łucja and Ola went to Bobrów, Sobiesz, Podzamcze and there were no butterflies. This last day was hard for us, because our volunteer time was coming to an end but we all had a lot of fun through all these days and it was such an amazing experience.
