Depending on the specific survey instructions, you may require:
Activity
Do a wildlife survey
Counting insects, birds and other nature is great fun and gives a snapshot of how wildlife is faring.
This Helping Nature activity can be completed as part of Families Wild Challenge.
Instructions
Easy wildlife surveys
There are lots of wildlife surveys you can take part in. Whether you just want to look out of your window or fancy travelling further afield, there’s plenty to observe and record.
Big Garden Birdwatch
There's our very own RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch, which runs in January each year. If you’ve been taking steps to attract birds to your garden, looking out for your feathered visitors is really satisfying.
Other wildlife surveys
Here are some other popular wildlife surveys you might like to try. These can all be done in gardens or other green spaces:
- Big Butterfly Count (mid-July to early August) – Butterfly Conservation
- Bumblebee surveying and monitoring – Bumblebee Conservation Trust
- Sunset Survey (April to October) – Bat Conservation Trust
- Swift Mapper (summer months) - RSPB
- Ancient Tree Inventory (all year, although trees are easier to identify when they are in leaf) – Woodland Trust
- Big Seaweed Search (all year) – Natural History Museum
Get set to survey
Once you’ve chosen your survey, read the instructions and then follow them carefully. This is really important to ensure the results gathered are accurate.
Don't worry if what you're being asked to do seems a bit odd, the scientists know what they're doing!
What you'll need
This Helping Nature activity can be completed as part of Families Wild Challenge. Each action you take for nature brings you a step closer to a Gold Award. Ready to take on the challenge?