I have written before about the different forms of nature surveying that go on across Bracknell and beyond. There is a new page on the Bracknell Forest Council website dedicated to the subject – https://www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/parks-and-countryside/wildlife-and-biodiversity/wildlife-surveying
This week I have surveyed birds, butterflies, and dragonflies. I have also done a couple of more generic site surveys and provided advice to a couple of other surveyors. This led me to wonder why people survey nature.
Some people survey because they want to learn more about nature or about a place. Some people survey because they want to see trends, or because they want to know what interventions to make to benefit nature or people. Some people survey because they want to share their knowledge with others.
In my experience surveying can be fun. It can also be educational, sociable and rewarding. A group of us have just started trying to learn to survey dragonflies and damselflies. We have already had a number of good natured arguments about what we have seen. This is not helped by the fact that there are six different species of blue damselfly that can only be told apart by the patterns on certain parts of their bodies. This in turn is very hard when they are darting about.
Surveying can be a nice way to engage with others. I enjoy showing people what I am looking at and explaining a little bit about why that flora or fauna is important. For example I recently showed some dog-walkers woodlarks on a local piece of heath-land, got them listening to their song and how it differs from the more familiar song of the skylark, and then thanked them for keeping their dogs under control near the nests of these beautiful birds.
I find that surveying can be a relaxing and mindful experience. A pleasant walk can be enhanced by paying attention to the smaller things such as moths and butterflies. Surveying can also spring surprises. This morning’s walk around Piglitttle Meadow turned up a bird that I had never seen in Berkshire before and a beautiful day-flying moth that I have never seen before.
I am increasingly convinced that anyone can survey nature. All you need is a good guidebook or app and a bit of patience. One of my friends has been away from the UK for a long time and has just set himself the task of learning common bird song, with the help of an app on his phone, as a way of re-connecting with English nature.
If you want to get involved with nature surveying in Binfield then please contact us.
On Saturday 20th August we will be walking round a couple of the survey sites in the parish to learn more about what is being found there. For more detail and to register your interest see the events pages - https://binfieldeg.wixsite.com/binfieldeg/upcoming or visit the BEG FaceBook group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/255283628282517.
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