Wildlife Records

Why do we need to record wildlife?

It is important to record wildlife in the countryside (and in gardens) so that we can gain a better understanding of where species are found (and also where they are not found) and how important their presence on a site is. Records help with making management decisions on reserves and making comments on development issues on sites. Never assume we don't want your records - we do!
 Do I need any special equipment?
No, not really, but remember to take a notebook with you to record the records!. Good wildlife records are based on good identification. This only comes with practice and experience. If you are not sure about what you are recording take some identification guides with you and try to take a photograph. Other useful bits of equipment may include binoculars and a magnifying glass.
What do we need to know?
To be useful, a record needs to have 4 important elements:
· Who - your name, address and telephone number or e-mail (to credit your records and in case we need to contact you to check a record).
· What - what species you have seen. And we are interested in everything!
· When - date.
· Where - where did you see the species (with grid reference (6 figure) and site name).
Other information may also be useful such as the number of a particular species seen (eg. 3 weasels) and whether there was evidence of breeding (eg. young seen).
Golden Rules of recording:
1. Have fun! Wildlife recording should not be a chore, just something you do whilst out enjoying the countryside or pottering in your garden.
2. Never trespass. Always stick to public footpaths or know sites which have open access (such as some Derbyshire Wildlife Trust reserves).
3. Never guess identification, only submit records you have confidence in.
4. Don't pick wild flowers (it is illegal and if the species is rare you could endanger its future).
5. Write your records up the same day (it is surprising how easily you forget what you saw!).