Volunteers needed for Clyde Area Amphibian Surveys, Spring 2024

Posted bykirmenPosted inRecord/survey/id, VolunteeringTags:, , , , , ,
Frog sitting next to a pond

Clyde Amphibian and Reptile Group (CARG) is recommencing the Greater Glasgow Pond Survey. The purpose of the survey is to assess the status of amphibian habitats and populations across Glasgow North, Glasgow South, East Kilbride, Paisley, and Barrhead. They are calling on volunteers, old and new, to make this season as fruitful as those past!

Several PNHS members have been involved in the past and found it very rewarding. As well as recording the numbers of amphibians you find you also survey the quality of the water and learn a lot about the invertebrates and plants that are there.

Two people standing at the edge of a small pond emptying a net into a container
Volunteers surveying Barshaw wildlife pond
Two people at the far end of a pond full of wild flowers but water level low. One person is dipping a net into a pool of water
Volunteers surveying the large pond at Jenny’s Well
small snail and insect larvae in a container
Common Darter dragonfly larva from Jenny’s Well ponds
Two small juvenile newts in a container of water with plant debris
Efts from Jenny’s Well ponds
1 large and 2 small water insects in a container with pond plants
Pond skaters from Barshaw wildlife pond

If you are interested in contributing to the surveys, please get in touch and we will forward you the contact details for the project organiser at CARG. They will need the details asked for below:

  • Name and email address
  • Availability to attend an on-line training session at 19.00h on 15th March (with the possibility for others at a later date)
  • Previous experience (none, some, a lot)
  • Do you have your own transport?
  • Preferred survey area (from Glasgow North, Glasgow South, East Kilbride, Paisley, Barrhead) but will consider other suitable locations on request

All surveyors will join CARG (cost £1.00) to be covered by ARG-UK’s insurance and should be aged 18 or over. All surveys will be carried out by groups of 2-3 to ensure safety, and each surveyor will read and sign a Risk Assessment Form. To help assemble survey teams, please let them know if you have someone you are keen to do the surveys with. For those lacking their own transport, they will try to ensure that survey locations are accessible by public transport, and they have funds to pay for travel expenses.

The initial surveys in March will occur during day-light and will assess frogspawn and pond condition. If numbers of surveyors permit, they hope to have later night-time surveys for mating toads. Then, in late May or June for tadpoles and summer pond condition.

Please note that responding to this call for volunteers does not commit you to taking part, and that the later surveys will be optional, with the principal need being for day-time spawn surveyors in March.

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