Armchair Naturalist - Wildlife surveys

Several people have asked about surveys that they can take part in during lockdown. Obviously please do these within your gardens and don’t go endangering yourself. So as part of my next armchair naturalist series, after an idea from Haith’s, here are several surveys you can currently take part in within your own gardens.

Taking part in wildlife surveys can be great fun. It engages the brain, they often teach you to identify new species and provide valuable data for conservation organisations. I’ve discussed the benefits of wildlife surveys and many that happen during the year previously here. Today I am just listing surveys you can currently take part in during lockdown from your garden.

#Greatstaghunt The people’s trust for endangered animals want to hear about any sightings of stag beetles. Not one I get up North but some of you may be fortunate enough to see.

Living with mammals is looking to know what mammals you can sight in your gardens.

Big hedgehog map is mapping hedgehog sightings and people pledging to make hedgehog holes.

National Biodiversity network list many surveys you can take part in through the year.

UK ladybird survey The UK ladybird survey keeps track of the spread of invasive harlequin ladybirds compared to our natives.

UK pollinator monitoring scheme asks for you to do a timed survey on a patch of flowers. 

The big pond dip is one for people with ponds, obviously best done from May to August. Once you’ve done your dip it gives you a score and you then get advice on what you could do to make your pond more wildlife-friendly.

BTO The British trust for ornithology runs many year-round surveys but the easiest of these to take part in currently is the garden watch.

iRecord allows you to record all manner of wildlife sightings, insect, bird, mammals and wildflowers. This is then used by many organisations to help support where numbers are dropping and to see where wildlife is thriving.

Joshua Johnson – Haith’s ‘Armchair Naturalist’ blogger