Our 5th annual  Pondwatch training event was held at the Frances Le Sueur Centre on Saturday 28th January. It was hosted by the JARG group, and featured presentations from Dr John Wilkinson (ARC UK), Chris on freshwater eels, Adam on level 3 agile surveys and Sarah on recording your sightings, plus the outdoor practical training was filmed by ITV.

00._Intro_and_Pondwatch_JE_2023.pdf

It's not too late to take part and contribute to the recording of Jersey's freshwater fauna. You can find copies of the presentations, species ID information and volunteer application forms on the Pondwatch  section of the website.

The Department of the Environment commissioned the Amphibian and Reptile Trust to analyse and prepare a report on 10 years of citizen science data collected under the Toadwatch survey.

Jersey residents were asked to take part in Toadwatch by reporting sightings of toads using ponds. Data has now been collected over 10 years (2005 - 2014).

The analysis has created an up to date toad distribution map for Jersey.  It has highlighted features of the Jersey landscape that are most important for toads and suggested areas to create new breeding ponds.

A breakdown of the types of ponds used for toad breeding overwhelmingly supports the suggestion that man-made habitats are critical for the species'' survival in the island. Ensuring these habitats are maintained and connected across the island is considered to be a critical task to conserve our toads into the future

Please find a link to this recently published report on the analysis of the data collected by Toadwatch volunteers since 2005.

http://www.gov.je/Government/Pages/StatesReports.aspx?ReportID=2442

Background

Currently we are carrying out a PhD on the “Status and conservation of grass snakes Natrix natrix and slow-worms Anguis fragilis in Jersey, C.I.” Records of grass snakes in Jersey are limited with a patchy distribution. Its status is unclear, with little information available on its ecology and population size in Jersey, there is much to be discovered. The grass snake is undoubtedly the rarest of Jersey’s reptiles. Determining the status of the species will provide insight into the need for intervention and species recovery. One of many research objectives are to investigate and model their movements, home range size, and habitat use therefore the ‘Think grass snake campaign’ needs your help.

The position

We require the support of keen volunteers to work alongside our PHD student to carry out this radio-tracking and monitoring. We are looking for people who are able to commit full regular days of independent radio tracking to up to 3 months starting ASAP. This could be 1 day a week or 5?

Volunteer activities will be focused around intensively tracking and, if necessary, searching for grass snakes and recording basic behavioral data in the field. Training will be given in radio-tracking, habitat assessment and understanding grass snake behavior. Volunteers will also be responsible for entering some of the data collected into the field database.

Requirements

Applicants will need to:

§ Have a background in biological sciences

§ Be happy to work outdoors and have some previous herpetology experience

§ Have flexibility, commitment and determination to work, under sometimes uncomfortable or frustrating conditions, combined with good physical fitness

§ Provide careful attention to data recording

§ Be able to commit minimum of 1 day per week for 3 months

§ Be resident in Jersey

§ Have transport within Jersey

This is the ideal opportunity for someone looking for practical conservation experience working with reptiles. If you wish to apply, please contact Rob ward rjw53@kent.ac.uk or telephone 07829968303

A scientist leading a campaign to save Jersey’s only native snake is asking people to take some simple measures to help the Island’s dwindling grass snake population lay their eggs safely.

Doctoral student Rob Ward of the University of Kent is working with the Department of the Environment on the ‘Think Grass Snake’ campaign, carrying out research on ways to save Jersey’s non-venomous and harmless grass snake.

The grass snake, Jersey’s rarest reptile, relies on warm humid environments, such as those found in compost and manure heaps, to lay and incubate its eggs, so protecting these nesting habitats is an important step in preventing extinction.

June and early July are one of the most important times of the year for the grass snake; the females will have mated in the spring, and are now searching for vital egg-laying sites.

Rob, who’s been tracking grass snakes since the start of spring on various sites in the Island, is encouraging people to keep an eye out for grass snakes that may be using their compost and manure heaps for nest sites, and to report sightings all year round. He is also asking for the piles not to be disturbed until October if possible, to allow the young snakes to hatch after a two month incubation period.

He said: ‘This is one of the most important times of year for grass snakes, as the next generation's chance of survival depends on finding the best conditions. As humans have modified landscapes and habitat over centuries, grass snakes have come to be largely dependent on man-made piles of rotting vegetation, such as compost and manure heaps, to provide the perfect incubation chamber for their eggs.’

Rob continued, ‘Any information from the public, no matter how small or insignificant, is extremely valuable and will make a real contribution to the protection of Jersey’s grass snakes. It all helps build a clearer picture of where they’re living and nesting and how to protect them, and will contribute towards a study which aims to stop the decline of these native reptiles.’

Sightings can be reported through the campaign website www.ThinkGrassSnake.je which has a quick, online survey for submitting sightings. The site provides facts and resources about amphibian and reptiles, and how to encourage them. There is also a dedicated telephone line 441628 (a ‘spotline’) for people to call if they see a grass snake or slow worm.

The scientist leading Jersey’s Think Grass Snake campaign is calling on Islanders to report any reptile sightings over the next few weeks.

As the days get shorter and the temperature falls, Jersey’s reptiles will soon be searching for places to hibernate over the winter and may not appear again until March or April.

University of Kent researcher Rob Ward, whose work will be instrumental in the future conservation of Jersey’s grass snakes and slow worms, is asking people to send in any reports of grass snakes and slow-worm sightings this month (October) and to keep an eye out in spring for a number of reptiles turning up in the same spot.

The information will build a picture of where our rarest reptiles choose to hibernate. The loss of these sites can have a large effect on local reptile populations.

Mr Ward said: “The more information we have about potential hibernation sites, the more we can do to protect these magnificent but elusive creatures. By recording where reptiles are spotted, we can work out where hibernation may be occurring as sightings start to tail off. Similarly in spring, the first sightings can alert us to the emergence of reptiles from hibernation.”

If you think you may have spotted any going into hibernation, please get in touch with the Think Grass Snake Campaign by calling 0044 1534 441628, or visiting www.ThinkGrassSnake.Je/about

How to tell a possible hibernation spot

• Sites include old rock walls and earth banks, root systems, mammal burrows, piles of debris, and large grass tussocks.
• Hibernation spots are normally in areas that receive some sun to avoid very low winter temperatures.
• Many creatures will share a really good hibernation site and for slow-worms this may mean hundreds all using the same spot.