Basically a biological record has 6 components:

1. Name: The species observed, referred to either by a widely used common name or, preferably by its scientific name.
2. Location: Where it was seen, usually a name taken from the Ordnance Survey (O.S.) Map e.g. High Woods, Fordham Heath, and a grid reference that enables the spot to be pinpoif you can’t estimate a grid reference (instructions on allnted – 6 figures (or more!) is preferable. I O.S Maps) and can’t afford a GPS unit, try a Romer (a plastic overlay which enables you, for less than £1, to accurately read off a grid reference from O.S. maps of different scales). If that’s too complicated, give a description with enough detail to enable the map reference to be worked out later.
3. Date: date of the day the observation was made. (if using a light trap at night, the convention is to give the date of that night prior to midnight and for pitfalls and other traps a date range for the period when the trap is in action)
4. Recorder: the name of the person making the observation.
5. Determiner: the name of the person identifying the species concerned (This may be a different person from the recorder or the same).
6. Notes: any additional information e.g. found indoors, dead in road, feeding young.

Pulling these components together, for example:

Lacerta vivipara, Common Lizard TM173229 Thorpe-le-Soken 5th June 2003. Observed J.Bloggs, determined by P.Scales. Juvenile basking on fence.

Recording Wildlife in North East Essex

For a full list of The Society's recorders CLICK HERE

Biological recording has always been at the heart of CNHS activities and the Society’s records underpin biodiversity action plans, conservation work and site management for wildlife in the County.

How can you help?

Far from being the pursuit of a minority of ‘boffins’ recording is something that all members can get involved in. Have you seen a hedgehog in the garden, a fox crossing the road, a hummingbird hawk moth in the park? If so, did you report it to one of the Society’s recorders or just assume your observation was too commonplace?

Records of common species are just as important as those for rarities, indeed today’s commoners could become tomorrow’s rarities (e.g. House Sparrow and vice versa e.g. sparrowhawk). Perhaps you are not too sure how to submit a record, or even, exactly what a record is? To some people the term ‘record’ implies something out of the ordinary, superlative or extra-special, but nothing could be further from the truth!

Make a note of your observation in a notebook or on a tape recorder so you don’t forget it, including as many as possible of the components listed right. Sections 1-4 are most important, 5 and 6 are useful and extra information on top of these can be valuable, particularly for something unusual.

You’re almost there now! All you need to do is pass your observation on to one of the Society’s Recorders. Your record will be passed on to the Essex Biological Record Centres and the Essex Field Club County Recorders who collate the records from local societies and individuals across Essex.

Many of our Society recorders actually double as County Recorders, showing the range of expertise that we can draw on from our ranks. The records in turn may be fed into the national system of recording schemes and are eventually published in atlases and other works. Records held in the records centres are used in planning enquiries, site management and other conservation initiatives including publications.

Recorders are experts in their particular areas of interest and act as a quality control on data being submitted. This ensures that the records submitted are of the highest standard and as far as possible, contain no inaccuracies. You can request that a record be confidential, in which case it won’t be published or passed on to a third party without your permission. Recorders are usually willing to identify material, but please check with them first if submitting large numbers of specimens.

At the time of writing a pilot for a central biological records centre for the County is being trialled at Essex Wildlife Trust. It is hoped that all recorders and record centres will pool their data so that a ‘one-stop’ centre can be offered to enquirers.

Article written by Jerry Bowdrey and originally published in the Spring 2004 edition of Cervus