Naturalists are predominantly elderly.

Is this because they were socialised as children in a time when there was a greater abundance and variety of wildlife and were more free to roam or is it simply that in retirement they have time to let their interest flower?

If the former, we are in danger of seeing a collapse in data gathering for anything other than birds and butterflies, putting the natural world in greater danger.

If it is just a stage of life thing, there will be steady replacement and data will continue to flow.

Any thoughts?

#insects #entomology #biodiversity #birds #wildlife