Ecology Survey Calendar
Protected Species Survey Calendar
In preparation for arranging any survey work regarding suspected or proven plant or animal species on your development site, it is important to take into consideration that ecological surveys for flora and fauna are dictated by a selection of factors, including the time of year. A variety of different ecology surveys are available throughout the year, but due to the behaviours and specifications of protected species and corresponding habitats, developers are advised to plan ahead or risk delaying their development plans.
All survey visits conducted by an ecological consultant must be undertaken within the active season of the animal or plant in question, with a desirable optimal period as the priority option and an alternative opportunity in a suboptimal period. For example, a large percentage of habitat surveys for both animals and plants are carried out between mid-April and October while other surveys may be conducted at other certain times all year round. For complete transparency, our dedicated page offers insight into the ecology survey calendar, giving you the information you need before booking with us.
Ecological Seasons
Before any survey visits are booked in, the ecological surveyor managing the process will ensure that a suitable date will fall within the designated survey season. Ideally, a protected species survey will be typically carried out within the optimum time, but if that is not possible, the suboptimum time will suffice.
More often than not, the seasonal constraints will leave you working with the early spring to late summer months, potentially pushing into early autumn but with a slim chance during the winter months. As multiple visits may be required, factoring in the potential presence of the species concerned alongside other variables such as breeding season, hibernation season and nesting season is crucial to making an assessment work inside your schedule.
Although the season will dictate the activity of present protected species, it will also often cause issues through the difference in weather conditions. Rain and wind can, for example, hamper flight paths during bat emergence and re-entry surveys (BERS) to support bat roosts. Whether an inspection involves artificial refugia, nest tubes, trail cameras, sweep netting, water samples hand searching or night searching, the results will only be reliable if the assessment is performed during the optimal or suboptimal period.
Ecological Patterns
Other than choosing the best time for extended phase 1 scoping and activity surveys on protected species based on whether or not they are seasonally constrained, alternative factors can impact at what time you opt to arrange an ecology survey.
For example, throughout the year, potential roost features in building or tree roosts may not be easily identified, and if the nesting or foraging behaviour is different based on the time of year, the data retrieved from an inspection may be inaccurate and it could affect ecological value or make it harder to classify habitats and determine presence or absence.
Changes to the geographic location can also alter the data typically required in a bat survey, otter survey, white-clawed crayfish survey or any other further surveys involving protected species, extending to eDNA surveys (great crested newt DNA surveys), pond surveys and NVC survey assessments. If dense vegetation cover has grown, the habitat type may have been forced to move, the population size may be harder to gauge, or hibernation roosts may be compromised, playing a significant role in the activity of the species and potentially even breaching relevant legislation.
In summary:
Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey
Optimal: April to October | Suboptimal: November to March | Out of Season: N/A
Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA)
Optimal: January to December | Suboptimal: N/A | Out of Season: N/A
Bat Emergence and Re-Entry Survey (BERS)
Optimal: mid-May to September | Suboptimal: April to October | Out of Season: November to March
Badger Survey
Optimal: mid-October to April | Suboptimal: May to September | Out of Season: N/A
Barn Owl Survey
Optimal: January to December | Suboptimal: N/A | Out of Season: N/A
Breeding Bird Survey
Optimal: March to June | Suboptimal: July | Out of Season: August to February
Dormice Survey
Optimal: mid-April to November | Suboptimal: N/A | Out of Season: December to March
Great Crested Newt Survey
Optimal: April to May | Suboptimal: March and June | Out of Season: July to February
Nesting Bird Check
Optimal: March to August | Suboptimal: N/A | Out of Season: mid-September to February
Reptile Survey
Optimal: April to May | Suboptimal: March, October and June to August | Out of Season: November to February
Water Vole Survey
Optimal: April to September | Suboptimal: N/A | Out of Season: October to March
For ecology surveys on botanical and invertebrate species, the survey periods will vary depending on the type of survey and the target species. That said, invasive species surveys often share the same optimal period between April and September, suboptimal period between October and mid-March, and no period outside of survey season.
Species and Surveys
In the section below, you will find a clear list of protected species that often disrupt development and the assessments designed to properly address them:
Badgers
– Phase 1 Badger Survey / Scoping Badger Survey / Walkover Badger Survey
– Phase 2 Badger Survey / Badger Activity Survey
Barn Owls
– Barn Owl Scoping Survey
– Barn Owl Activity Survey / Vantage Point Survey
Bats
– Preliminary Roost Assessment (PRA)
– Bat Emergence and Re-Entry Survey (BERS) / Presence and Absence Survey / Dawn and Dusk Survey / Bat Activity Survey
– Bat Roost Characterisation Surveys
– Transect Surveys
Birds
– Breeding Bird Check
– Breeding Bird Survey
– Nesting Bird Check
– Nesting Bird Survey
– Wintering Bird Survey
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Dormice
– Dormouse Survey / Hazel Dormouse Survey
Great Crested Newts
– Phase 1 Great Crested Newt Survey / Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) / Scoping Newt Survey
– Phase 2 Great Crested Newt Survey / Population Survey / Trapping Survey
– Environmental DNA (eDNA) Survey
Invasive Species
– Advanced Biosecurity Planning and Expert Witness Services
– Himalayan Balsam Survey
– Injurious Weed Survey
– Japanese Knotweed Survey
– Problematic Species Management Plan
– Problematic Species Audit
Reptiles
– Phase 1 Reptile Survey / Scoping Reptile Survey
– Phase 2 Reptile Survey
Water Voles
– Water Vole Survey
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Organise an Ecology Survey Within the Ecological Calendar
Even with our helpful ecology survey calendar, you may still be confused as to when to book your ecological survey in a way that fits in seamlessly with your development plans. Between bat surveys, otter surveys, reptile surveys, water vole surveys and all other types of phase 1 habitat survey, it could be difficult to distinguish whether it is best preparing for the summer months, winter months or another time of year entirely. Speaking to Midland Ecology and booking the survey visits in advance of survey season will guarantee your place and prevent any avoidable delays.
Discuss your needs with our team by filling out a contact form on our website, and from there, our ecologists can not only conduct the preliminary assessment, but if an ecology survey identifies that additional surveys may be required, Midland Ecology can continue to help with future assessments. Our team are always available to assist developers and homeowners, and the insight and expertise from our ecological consultants gives all clients an in-depth overview of present protected species and applicable next steps that will allow them to seal planning permission and enable their planning project to move forward.