Birds in Lincolnshire

THE NATIONAL AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE RECORDING SCHEME 2007

NARRS is co-ordinated by the Herpetological Conservation Trust (HCT) and was launched in 2007 as two separate surveys: the National Amphibian Survey and the National Reptile Survey .  HCT have now issued an interim report of the 2007 survey, and this summary is taken from that report.  The results are still being analysed, and a full report will be issued in due course. 

Both surveys aimed to measure trends in the conservation status of all the widespread amphibian and reptile species and the eventual survey protocol was the culmination of several years of planning and consultation with many organisations and people, including the BTO.  With the help of volunteer trainers, 52 training days were held across the UK and survey packs and training materials were provided for those taking part.

In essence, a random selection of 1km survey squares was generated across the UK, comprising 400 priority ‘blue' squares and a greater number of lower priority ‘red' squares.  Squares were evenly distributed across Vice Counties.  Would-be surveyors registered on line and were then allowed to select the most convenient square(s) but were asked to prioritise blue squares wherever possible. 

About 500 people requested a survey square and results were eventually obtained from about 150 amphibian and 110 reptile squares. Most people surveyed their squares for both amphibians and reptiles but some did only one or the other, so a total of 186 squares was actually visited.  The organisers hope that this total will steadily grow in coming years, although probably never to the number of squares covered for bird surveys, for example! 

At least one reptile species was detected in 53% of squares visited, comprising 27% occupancy rate for common lizard, 21% for slow worm, 20% for grass snake and 8% for adder.  This seems very high, and there is a suspicion that it may hide some bias; this might relate to selecting squares which look ‘good' for reptiles or to a high drop-out for poor squares, with the results perhaps simply not reported.  To counter this possibility, random squares may be allocated in future years based on surveyors postcodes.

For amphibians the equivalent figures were occupancy by at least one species of 75% of squares, with common frogs in 56%, common toads in 21%, great crested newts in 8%, smooth newts in 21% and palmate newts in 30%.  A further 11 squares (8%) had small newts, either smooth or palmate but not identified to species, and one square held marsh frog.  Again, there is some concern that the same factors may be biasing the results.  The amphibian surveys were based on asking surveyors to visit only one pond in their square, and an option under consideration is to provide an option of continuing to a blanket survey of all ponds present in future years.

For further information on the survey, to view the really excellent survey pack or to sign up for next year, visit www.narrs.org.uk .  For more info on HCT, visit www.herpconstrust.org.uk .  Those with a particular interest in this group might also like to have a look at www.adder.org.uk and www.alienencounters.org.uk

Anne Goodall

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