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Other surveys
If you love wildlife, helping to keep track of their populations is a great way to help. Besides RSPB projects, there are lots of other organisations running surveys of a whole variety of things, from dragonflies to flowers to bats. There's something for everyone, so check out the links on the side of the page for more details.
Bird ringingIn the UK, bird ringing is organised by the British Trust for Ornithology. Volunteers train for several years under close supervision before qualifying for a license to work on their own. It's hard work but very rewarding and ringing is an important part of monitoring the UK's birds - it enables us to keep track of breeding success, survival rates from one year to the next, and birds' movements. If you find a ringed bird, you can do your bit for science by reporting the details online.
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Breeding Bird SurveyThe Breeding Bird Survey is the main scheme for monitoring the UK's common birds. Taking part is easy - just visit a random local 1 km square twice during the breeding season, and record all birds you see or hear. You'll need to make an early start, but it's a wonderful time of year to be be out and about, and you'll get to know parts of your local area you might never have visited before!
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BuglifeBugs are under threat as never before, and Buglife (the Invertebrate Conservation Trust) runs surveys each year to help keep an eye on what's happening. This essential information enables us to monitor the state of our wildlife and to deliver effective conservation action where it is most needed. Volunteers are always needed, so if you have a passion for all creatures great and small, why not find out how you can take part?
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Common Plants SurveyThe Common Plants Survey, run by Plantlife International, aims to build up a picture of the health of our countryside. Common species have often been ignored as attention has been focused on rare species. But the common species play pivotal roles in ecosystems, providing habitats and food for us and our wildlife, so they can be used as indicators to gain an insight in to the health of our countryside. Can you help with this ambitious project?
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Dragonflies in FocusThe British Dragonfly Society is running a five-year survey project, called Dragonflies in Focus. The aim is to gather better quality information on dragonflies and the places they live, eventually producing a national atlas of where these fantastic creatures are found. Volunteers are needed - you just need to send in details of what you see and where.
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Moths CountAre you a fan of moths? Get involved with the Garden Moths Count. It's an online survey of a small number of common moths that takes place over a short period each year (usually June/July) and is aimed at people who are new to moths and moth recording. It's easy to join in - no specialist equipment or knowledge is needed. Through the survey, it's hoped that more people will become aware of moths and their importance in our ecosystem.
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National Bat Monitoring Programme The Bat Conservation Trust runs a number of surveys which anybody can take part in - whether you're an expert or just someone who's interested in these fascinating creatures. The surveys usually involve visiting a roost or potential foraging site on two evenings in the summer. As well as being of great value to bat conservation, the surveys are fun and rewarding to carry out.
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UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme Butterflies provide a great way to monitor the health of the wider countryside, and via the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, you can do your bit to help. If you can make regular walks along a fixed route and identify the butterflies you see along the way, this could be the survey for you!
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UK Ladybird SurveyEverybody likes ladybirds, so you might like to take part in the UK Ladybird Survey. On its website there's lots of information to help you find and identify species, and online forms so that you can record what you've seen.
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