27-01-22: Instructions for the University RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch(es)

Surveys from previous years - can we beat the numbers?

Many thanks for signing up to do a RSPB bird count on one of our sites between Friday the 28^th of Jan and Monday the 30^th of Jan 2022.

This post is for anyone who has signed up for one of the Kingston University RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch surveys at the last minute and so haven't got the joining instructions from us, as we are all out and about with our binoculars :)

• The RSPB website tells you how to do the surveys https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch/everything-you-need-to-know-about-big-garden-birdwatch/
• This link will take you to a sheet with a few more species that we see on our sites
• and this link will take you to a printable version of the RSPB BGBW booklet for 2022.

How the counts help birds:

1. These counts are important as they contribute to a large citizen science project which helps monitor birds in the UK and feeds into science projects. Our surveys also help the university know what species we have on our sites.

2. When we do the counts at KU, we also count the birds that we can see in the trees and gardens of the our neighbours and on the street if we can see them from our location, as they are in the area and by knowing they are there, we can make the right decisions on how we manage our habitats on our site to help them.

           In addition (click on bold text below for links):

·       if you are a staff member, each count counts as one biodiversity event for your 2022 Green Impact scheme

·       if you are a student, these events can count towards your KingstonAward.

Instructions:

·         The count takes 1 hour.

 ·         In that hour you mark the max number of any birds that you see at any one point. So say you saw 7 blackbirds in total, but you only ever saw them one at a time, as you couldn’t be certain it wasn’t the same blackbird circling around (unless you see 1 female and 1 male) you would mark down that you had seen 1 blackbird during the survey.

 ·         But say you saw 3 blackbirds at one point, and then 4 blackbirds at the same time near the middle of the survey, you would mark down that you had seen 4 blackbirds in total.

 ·         If you do use the RSPB website instead of the paper chart – please take a screen shot or a clear photo of the results and send them to me and Rachel Walls so that we can get them entered onto our records too. If you aren’t using the app, just send me the results along with the date you surveyed and the location (if you surveyed more then one)  and I will submit them to the RSPB.

 ·         Or keep a list on your phone etc. and send me an email:biodiversity@kingston.ac.uk with a screenshot of your results and the site covered.

 Sites:

These are the sites that we are surveying as part of the university. So far we have at least 1 person committed to doing one survey per site, but as different people might see different numbers of birds at different times of day, we welcome multiple survey efforts at our sites to maximise our chances of recording all the species using our sites.

Site list

Roehampton Vale

Clay Hills

Town House

Penrhyn Road forensic garden and pond

Portland Road by the blue bridge

Middle Mill – around the halls

Knights Park – river terrace

Reg Bailey building

River house

Kingston Hill

Dorich House

Tolworth Court

75 Penrhyn Road

All the best

Sivi

 

08-01-22: Come Rain Come Shine Come Bash!

 

We were back up at Kingston Hill with this hardy bunch

13-11-2021: Winter Woodland Workshop 2021

Willow Workings in the Woods

Saturday saw us back in the woods at Kingston Hill on our biannual woodland workshop event. 

We continued to build on our skills using willow to weave – and created a number of items perfect for mini Christmas presents; all while learning different basic skills.

26-28-11-21: Hedgerowing in Tolworth part 2

 Last week we were out with the fantastic team from the Conservation volunteers finishing off our first laying of our hedgerow that was planted in 2012. 

KU Biodiversity Action Group - Events October to December 2021

Hi everyone. We have a number of Kingston University Biodiversity Action Group (KUBAG) events calendar up to December 2021 for you to sign up to.  Please note booking via Eventbrite is essential for these free events. 

Kingston University's first beehive day 

We will be running our first beehive day at Kingston University. This is training for those who want to volunteer on the bee hive project with our hives from Spring 2021. Come along and learn about bees and hives, how we look after them and then undertake some practical preparation work as we prepare an empty hive for Spring 2022.

Saturday 23rd October

10am - 3.30pm

Limited to 10 volunteers.

Sign up by clicking here 

Learn to Lay Hedgerows with The Conservation Volunteers

The Conservation Volunteers will be back at Tolworth Court Sports Ground from Tuesday to Thursday on a three day hedge laying task.  During these three days we will also be undertaken habitat improvement works for slow worms by clearing selected areas of scrub from the site. You can sign up to any or all of the days.

Tues 26th - Thurs 28th of October
10am - 4pm each day
Tolworth Court Sports Ground
Sign up by clicking here

Autumn Woodland Workshop 

If you go down to the woods today, you’ll learn some new green woodworking skills. 

In previous years we have made key rings, whistles, spoons forks, bullroarers, bowl burning and created pewter ornaments. What we’ll be doing is always a mystery until the week before the event!

Saturday 13th November 

10am - 3.30pm

Limited to 10 people

Kingston Hill

Sign up by clicking here

Rhodo bashing with a pond! 

Help rid our woodland of invasive Rhododendron ponticum, with habitat management of our wildlife pond on the first event. Experienced guidance and a good workout guaranteed!

Saturday 27th November 

Saturday 4th December 

10.00am - 4.30pm 

Sign up to one or both of these events by clicking here

15-07-2021: The Big Butterfly Count Starts tomorrow!!

 

Its that time again for us to shine (even us moths)!!!!

20 and 21-04-2021 - Hedgerowing in Tolworth part 1

 

The TCV team getting ready to lay hedges at Tolworth Court