Getting Involved

Surveys

There are plenty of local and national surveys that you could take part in if you are interested – some only require individual sightings, whereas others need longer commitments. If you do decide to take part in a survey, please also send the records to Lincolnshire Environmental Records Centre – see Submitting records

	Survey details	When to take part
	Abnormal Plumage Survey www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/gbw/about/background/projects/plumage A study looking at abnormal plumage of British and Irish garden birds. You can report observations of birds in gardens showing unusual plumage characteristics – particularly those associated with pigmentation problems.	Anytime
	Big Wildlife Garden Competition www.bigwildlifegarden.org.uk/wildlife-garden-competition The Royal Horticultural Society and the Wildlife Trusts are looking for examples of the best wildlife gardens in the country. Gain points for doing things for wildlife in your garden and you could win bronze, silver or gold, or even the prestigious Green Award!	Anytime. Enter the competition by 30 May 2012.
	The Big Spawn Count 2012 www.pondconservation.org.uk/bigponddip/BigSpawncount This is a joint survey by Pond Conservation, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, and the Amphibian and Reptile Groups of the UK. Female frogs can produce several thousand eggs bound together in a clump of spawn. Since each female frog usually produces one clump of spawn, it is possible to estimate the numbers of breeding females from the number of spawn clumps. Try out this new survey – which, as it develops, will give a crucial insight into the numbers of frogs breeding in garden ponds. The timing of spawning depends on temperature and can begin as early as January, stretching over a period of several weeks. The survey will also be used to find out more about the Common Toad. Toads lay their eggs in a characteristic double string of spawn, which can be up to 2m long. Toads spawn in a melee, over the period of a few days, which is often later than frogs, typically in March or April.	Spring 2012
	Hedgehog Hibernation Survey www.hedgehogstreet.org/pages/hibernation-survey.html A study was conducted 40 years ago which suggested a link between climate and when hedgehogs come out of hibernation. PTES are now repeating the study to see if climate change has affected hedgehog hibernation patterns. They therefore need your help to collect hedgehog records from 1st February until 31st August 2012. Simply record when you see a hedgehog, noting its location and whether it is alive or dead. Don't forget to carry on looking up until the end of August when all hedgehogs should be awake.	1 February to 31 August 2012
	Lincolnshire Biodiversity Partnership Ponds and Amphibians Survey http://www.lincsbiodiversity.org.uk/docs/Getting_Involved/Ponds_and_amphibians_survey_2008.pdf In 2008 and 2009 LBP ran a survey to improve our understanding of the distribution of the ponds in Lincolnshire and their wildlife value. This survey is now finished, though you can still use the survey form to tell us about your pond(s).	Anytime
	Lincolnshire Bird Club Garden Bird Survey http://www.lincsbirdclub.co.uk/information/garden_bird_survey.htm This long-term study is used to monitor the populations of birds found in Lincolnshire’s gardens. Please record for each week (Sunday to Saturday) the highest number of birds of each species seen using your garden or other recording area at any one time.	All year round
	RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2012 www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch All you need is a pen, some scrap paper (or, a printout of the handy bird ID sheet), and an hour to spend watching the birds in your garden, or local park, on either Saturday 28, or Sunday 29 January 2012. Simply make a note of the highest number of each bird species seen on the ground (not flying over) at any one time, and login on the website to report what you saw.	28 or 29 January 2012
	Nature’s Calendar Survey www.naturescalendar.org.uk/survey Here you can record and view seasonal events that show the impact of climate change on our wildlife.	Anytime – particularly spring and autumn
	UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme www.ukbms.org Help gain important insights into aspects of butterfly ecology by taking part in a scheme that has been monitoring changes in the abundance of butterflies throughout the United Kingdom since 1976.	All year round
	Wildflowers Count www.plantlife.org.uk/things_to_do/wildflowers_count Many of our more common species of flower can easily be taken for granted, often overlooked while we study rare and endangered species. But common species are important and can be under pressure from problems such as pollution, or they may be doing well because of land management practices. This is why we need to count our more common wildflowers; they are indicators of how healthy our countryside is, and the more counts there are the better.	One visit per year