Introduction to Survey & Recording Techniques

Monitoring the species living in a specific area has always been import, but as our climate changes it has become even more vital to understand the development of these life cycles.  We have therefore created this course for those who have recently taken on the maintenance of a plot of land or simply have a general interest the natural world.

You will be taught how to accurately collect data through surveys to create a base line. From this you will be shown how to capture and record that information which will help to determine the status of a species.  

There are a host of different techniques used when surveying. Therefore, on this beginners’ course we will be concentrating on just three of them; moth trapping, a breeding bird survey and the use of a quadrat. Each delegate will have the chance to collect data using each of these methods.  

Guidance and instruction will then be provided on how to record and use this information effectively.

Tutor Profile: Dan Banks

 'I have always been interested in the natural world.  As a teenager, I became increasingly fascinated in ornithology, subsequently studying Ecology and Wildlife Conservation at Brighton University. I then worked in South Africa on a project mapping the nests of raptors.  I am now a licensed ringer with the British Trust for Ornithology, adding to my growing knowledge of how and why birds migrate. I have spent time on a migration ringing project in Greece, where we were recording migrating raptors and other birds moving through.

Having volunteered with the Sussex Wildlife Trust, I am now employed by the Surrey Wildlife Trust as the Citizen Science Officer. It is exciting to be working on the Space4Nature project, where we are recording different plant species for use in satellite technology. I also communicate regularly with the Surrey Biodiversity Information Centre as well as meeting with and supporting a variety of local recording groups.

In my spare time I regularly go birdwatching and enjoy reading about different bird types. I have currently seen over 150 different bird species found in the UK.'

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Host or Publisher Surrey Wildlife Trust