Other Techniques
In other sections of our surveying toolkit you will find details of techniques for surveying particular types of wildlife or habitats, but there is a whole range of other interesting and enjoyable things you can do to discover and record the natural heritage of your local area. This section gives you a few ideas for practical projects that can be conducted by individuals or groups. These can provide a much wider picture of what the local area is actually like to live in as well as an historical record of what can be found there.
Put pencil and brush to paper
Your records will be significantly enhanced if you can support them with a rough sketch or a more detailed drawing or painting. It does not matter if you cannot draw well; even siimple sketches help to record important detail and making them is a good way of honing your observation skills. Over time you will improve and, by trial and error, learn which techniques produce the best results for you.
You can use photographs as a basis for your art work. The flexibility and clarity of digital photography is an excellent way to capture images of wildlife of scenes you may later wish to draw or paint.
Get snapping
Taking photographs of the wildlife and scenery in your area is an excellent way of recording what can be found there and what the local area and local habitats look like at a particular point in time. Changes to the landscape can be recorded and details of local buildings and landmarks can be preserved for posterity. Make sure your images are stored with information including the date and the location where they were taken.
The advances in digital imaging have made photography accessible as never before. Even the most basic compact digital cameras produce high quality results that can be easily processed and stored in electronic and hard copy format. Old images also scanned, enhanced and stored electronically to provide a fascinating archive.
It’s a record…!
Have a look at our image gallery which is a unique pictorial wildlife record of what has been seen in Norfolk.
All your really need to get started is inspiration and imagination. There are no set rules and you can express your interest in wildlife and wild places in whatever way you wish, using whatever medium you favour.
Make a date with wildlife
The study of the timing of natural events is called phenology. The first long-term study in the UK of nature’s calendar was carried out by Robert Marsham, born at Stratton Strawless in Norfolk in January 1708. For many years he recorded 27 ‘Indications of Spring’. These included the timings of trees coming in to leaf, bird migration, butterfly appearance and amphibian breeding.
You can carry on this important work by recording such things from your local area; for example:
All these observations are of great importance in helping to measure the impact of climate change on Norfolk’s wildlife. For more information visit:
www.naturescalendar.org.uk
Wax lyrical
Why not have a go at putting your thoughts about wildlife and your local area into verse or creative prose? It is not difficult and there are no rules to follow.
They get called adders
but mostly they subtract
from the less numerate frogs,
then multiply in bearing live
their young by long division. (Bob Ward, North Norfolk)
Did you know…? The writings of the famous poet John Clare include the first known records of 65 bird species for Northamptonshire.
Need some inspiration?
Discover just some of the ways people have been recording wildlife in Norfolk.
Would you like to tell us how you have recorded wildlife in your parish? Click here.
Please remember to send your wildlife records to Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service – make your records count!
Address:
Norfolk Biodiversity Information Service
Planning and Transportation Department
County Hall
Martineau Lane
Norwich
Norfolk
NR1 2SG
Email:
nbis@norfolk.gov.uk
Top tips are our forte…
For a small fee we can organise a wildlife art or wildlife photography workshop for your community. Contact Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Wildlife Information Service on 01603 598333 or email
wild@norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk
Need help identifying that mystery animal or plant?
Get the low down on Norfolk's wildlife
Related questions
Other techniques – How do I go about keeping a nature diary?
Keeping a nature diary is very simple and over time it can build into a fascinating record of observations from your local patch. What you record can range from simple ad-hoc jottings to detailed accounts of special days out. You can add sketches, paintings, photographs or clippings from magazines and newspapers. You could even add some colourful bird feathers you find or a collage of dried plant material. The list is endless and is limited only by your imagination.
Many well known local naturalists have published their nature diaries, notably: Ted Ellis, who was a prolific author; Arthur Patterson, who published many books cataloguing his observations in and around Breydon Water; and Jim Vincent, warden at Hickling, whose diaries were published under the title ‘A Season of Birds’. other techniques
Other techniques – What is pinpoint photography?
One simple technique to illustrate how things change with the seasons is to select a number of interesting spots in your local area and take photographs of these from exactly the same position at regular intervals - monthly or quarter-annually, for instance. The results can be displayed side by side to show how things change through the seasons. other techniques
Other techniques – How do I go about making a dvd of wildlife in my parish?
It is quite possible nowadays to obtain a relatively inexpensive, high quality digital camcorder which will take pictorial recording to another level. Not only are these quite simple to operate, but modern software allows you to edit your footage on a PC in the comfort of your own home. You can transfer your output to CD or DVD and make it available to local residents, parish councils and libraries, and/or you could place it on a website to allow worldwide access.
You may not win an Oscar, but…
- Use a tripod – this is the only sure way to avoid camera shake.
- Don’t use the zoom while filming – zoom in to the subject first; then start filming.
- Vary your shots – change your position between shots.
- Take your time – general scenes should last for between five and ten seconds, close-ups five seconds.
- Use lots of close-ups – these really capture the viewer’s attention.
- Change your angles – look for more exciting angles on a plain subject.
- Pan slowly from left to right – film the starting shot for a few seconds; then slowly pan from left to right and come to rest on the ending shot. Hold the ending shot still for a few more seconds then stop shooting.
- Avoid bright backlit subjects – your subject will appear in silhouette as the camera will over-compensate for the bright light source.
- Break up your scenes – use small segments to provide more interest to a scene.
- Use stills – try to mix some still photos with your video clips. other techniques
Other techniques – How can an anecdotal questionnaire help with a wildlife survey?
Aspects of the natural history of your local area may be found in books or magazines, or on the internet, but what about the wealth of experiences, opinions and memories locked away in the minds of local residents? Tapping into this resource may provide some fascinating and amusing anecdotes. It will also help plug the gaps in knowledge of local history, as well as giving current viewpoints on what living in the area means to people, both young and old.
Click here to view an anecdotal questionnaire distributed around the parishes of Melton Constable and Briston.
Why not invite local residents, school groups, landowners and visitors to take part in an oral history of your parish? All you will need is a recording device and a means of editing recordings. You can even create a CD/DVD which can be illustrated with still or moving images. Better still, you could combine a project to record moving images of your parish with one that overlays anecdotes from people who actually live in the places being portrayed. If you do not own any recording equipment, you may be able to borrow some from a local recording studio, oral history society or possibly the BBC (which sometimes runs projects with input from the local community).
It’s good to talk…
The following steps may help obtain maximum benefit from any voice recordings:
- Put your subject as ease – have a relaxed introductory chat about the subject before recording
- Prepare some standard questions so that the interviews have focus – questions like where the person was born, where they went/go to school, what they like about their parish and what their favourite wildlife memories are.
- Try not to interrupt the interviewee unless you feel the interview is wandering off subject.
- Make sure you maintain good eye contact with the interviewee unless you feel the interview is wandering off subject.
- Make sure you maintain good eye contact with the interviewee and encourage them by using positive body language (such as nodding and smiling).
- Ensure you get the interviewees’ written permission (or that of their guardian) to use the interview in your project. other techniques