Citizen Science - help with a wildlife survey

How healthy is biodiversity in your area? Are frogs or birds laying eggs earlier  this year?  Citizen science is about voluntary involvement in a scientific project.  This includes collecting information on biodiversity.  Wildlife surveys are essential tools in monitoring biodiversity. You can help by joining in and finding out more about your local area and its amazing wildlife.

What you can do to help

Everyone can help to build a picture of the state of Scotland's animals and plants, providing vital information that allows us to see what actions we need to take to protect our nation's wildlife. You can easily do surveys on your own but some surveys require lots of people to get involved across the country to help build up a picture of how things are faring overall.

Wildlife surveys are a fun, easy, immediate and personally rewarding way for anyone to get involved with biodiversity in your local area.

No matter where you live and what wildlife you're interested in, you'll find a range of surveys that you can contribute to throughout the year. Have a look at Citizen Science surveys   for some ideas of what you could get involved in.

Local recording groups usually have small surveys on the go and some which might give you the inspiration to get going yourself are:

• NESBReC    - North East Scotland Biological Recording Centre
• The Highland Biological Recording Group 
• BRISC    - Biological Recording in Scotland