Having been a member of the team since last October, no one is better placed than Beth to describe what lays in store for our future long-term residential volunteers.
My time as a residential volunteer
My time at RSPB Mersehead has given me varied and rewarding experience of life on a nature reserve. On placement as part of my Natural Sciences degree, I came to Mersehead with a keen interest in animal behaviour and conservation, but little experience of its practical application. Now, at the end of my long-term placement, I have experience and a depth of knowledge in a variety of survey methods, species monitoring, habitat management and visitor engagement, as well as working within a fantastic, welcoming team.
Barnacle geese over the saltmarsh. Photo credit: B. Taylor
Volunteering over 9 months has been valuable not only to become more familiar with the reserve, but also to have the opportunity to see the changes in species and work throughout the seasons. During the summer, work is focussed on the breeding season with surveys and monitoring taking up the majority of the week’s work programme. I help with twice-weekly Lapwing monitoring, where the progression from a nesting bird to a fledged chick is recorded, giving an indication of productivity. Ongoing spawn string surveys are used to give an indication of the emerging population of Natterjack toads. It is extremely exciting work to be monitoring the UK’s rarest amphibian, and even more exciting are the night-time surveys of adult toads. Doing such regular monitoring is an opportunity to understand more of the behaviour and life histories of the animals the reserve conserves, and the literature available in the accommodation gives yet more detail.
Natterjack Toad pair in amplexus. Photo credit: B. Taylor
Lapwing sitting on a nest
I have helped with 4 rounds of wader and waterfowl, and reedbed surveys. Introduction to this standard of survey methodology has been beneficial and fascinating, learning calls, songs and the BTO codes reflecting bird behaviour. The entry of data from this monitoring and surveying has been an important part of my role, giving experience of RSPB specific systems and ways of presenting data. I have been encouraged to give my input on how certain data is recorded and think about the most efficient methods of explaining findings.
Over winter, reserve work shifts to focus on habitat management, making essential repairs, and scrub removal. I found the preparation for the next spring and summer’s species particularly rewarding, and it has made me more aware of how the reserve ecosystems function. The Natterjack toads favour a short sward in ephemeral pools. Therefore, over winter, a ditch is drained to remove predator larvae, and I helped to strim the grass in which, now filled with rainwater, we monitor spawn string development. Use and maintenance of all the machinery as been a useful skill which I have been trained and helped in. All this winter work is done alongside weekly counts of the Svalbard Barnacle Geese. One of the key species at Mersehead, the incredible sight of thousands of these flocking geese is truly incredible.
Natterjack toad habitat work. On the left, strimming of the ditch in the winter when water levels are lowered. In contrast, the right picture shows the ditch in the spring, when the ditch is full. Photo credit: B. Taylor
Depending on the long-term plan for the reserve management, larger infrastructure changes may be made. This last winter I helped remove a fence line to allow for the natural process of dune roll back and put up a fence in a compartment which will be grazed this summer. The physical skills learned in these tasks have been valuable, as has the approach to undertaking them, planning the most efficient and practical method.
On Tuesday mornings, weekly volunteers help on the reserve in a range of tasks. Getting to know the volunteers over my time here has been a real highlight and a valuable experience to learn from the range of skills they have. This has been important to consider when I have planned and/or led the work party.
Alongside the key focusses of surveys and habitat management, there are ongoing tasks which have been my duty. These include vehicle maintenance, sorting and updating inventory, and blog writing. An important public face of the reserve, taking part in the blog has consolidated the theory behind the work we do and prompted questions about the natural history of certain species, as well as an opportunity to take lots of photos! As I have become more familiar with the day-to-day reserve work, I have gained more responsibility to assess and carry out repairs, tasks, and surveys. Organising and managing my time around the weekly work plan is done with full support and help from the team.
My volunteering has been focussed on the ecological side of reserve life and due to covid, certain people-engagement activities haven’t been possible. However, I have worked with the assistant warden to create an Easter trail which was aimed at families, engaging with the nature around the reserve. Projects like this are very rewarding and I found it enjoyable to be involved with a different aspect of the reserve.
Two interpretation boards which were part of the Easter trail. Photo credit: B. Taylor
I have also had the opportunity to develop the monitoring of an invasive plant, with advice from the ecologist. I learned to use GPS equipment which has been incorporated into other areas of reserve mapping and has prompted further use of the RSPB mapping system. This has been a great learning experience, developing initial ideas through to a methodology which will be used in future years to record the species’ growth.
This placement has provided me with a huge range of experiences and support, building on knowledge and introducing me to valuable techniques used in conservation. On top of all of this, the location and accommodation are wonderful. With a variety of hills, coast and woodland within cycling distance, it is a beautiful area to explore. I have really enjoyed my time here and fully recommend the placement.
Views on various explorative walks (within cycling distance from the reserve!). Photo credit: B. Taylor.
Beth Taylor, Trainee Warden