We need you to be our eyes and ears on the ground and around the sea to help us to keep track of what is happening to our wildlife by becoming a citizen scientist.

In these monthly features we will highlight what we would love to be observed, and we would like you to help us collect valuable data on our island’s animal and wildlife.

You don’t need to get expensive equipment and every observation is valid even when you don’t find anything.

We started last year, training people up on how to set up and monitor hedgehogs via paw print tunnels.

This project hasn’t ended, and we need an extended period of data collection, so if you want to join in, see our Facebook page and website for the next workshop which will be coming up in April.

We will also be running a series of intensive training courses to help people identify ground beetles and butterflies so we can get a band of volunteers ready to help monitor these species for us with increased confidence.

We are very keen to work alongside people who are already doing monitoring whether for themselves or as a group. It’s going to be an exciting year!

Our first month’s challenge to you for this month is the arrival of frogspawn, as it does seem to be getting earlier than it used to.

Please keep an eye out in your garden ponds and when out walking by pools for the lovely lumpy masses of frogspawn in the water.

We usually expect frogspawn at the very beginning of February but there have been earlier sightings.

This will also give us an indication of frog population levels, as in the UK frog numbers have fallen by 17 % over three years.

Is it as bad here? We don’t know, but with your help we would like to find out.

Please do not take frogspawn from one pond to another, as ponds are carefully balanced mini worlds and, by doing this, you are risking spreading diseases and invasive pond weeds, which upsets this balance and ruins the pond for wildlife.

What information do we need you to give us?

We need a location, an addres and a map or GPS reference from your mobile phone.

There are many great apps you can download for this, as well as using Google maps.

We also need the date and time, your name, a contact number or email for you, in case of any queries we may have to ask.

And, if it is possible, you could send us a photograph if you can manage to take one.

You contact us by sending a message via the Manx Wildlife Trust Facebook page, or email us at [email protected].

You can also telephone us on 844432.

We may include photogrpahs and information sent to us in future citizen scientist columns.

So get out there and get searching for us!

Your observations are very important and valid and will help us to help our Manx wildlife.

The Manx Wildlife Trust is the island’s leading nature conservation charity, with more than 300 acres of land as reserves. We are promoters and champions of the wonderful wildlife and habitats in, on and around our beautiful island, and we keep a close eye on what is happening to it.

by Dawn Dickens

Biodiversity Education Officer

manxwt.org.uk