Surveys > Dragonflies

Dragonfly Recorder

Dragonfly Recorder surveys are effort-related site surveys for those familiar with and/or trained in dragonfly and damselfly survey techniques and identification. Dragonfly Recorders should conduct two surveys in at least one freshwater site per annum. One survey should be completed in May or June, and a second survey should be completed between July and early September. This is so the surveys will span the flight periods of all the species that occur in Ireland.

You may survey as many sites as you wish but we ask that two surveys be completed at each site within the given periods. During each survey you are also asked to fill in a short and simple habitat quality assessment.

For those who plan on visiting the same site multiple times per year, the Dragonfly Monitor survey may be more suitable.

DOWNLOAD THE DRAGONFLY RECORDER SURVEY FORM HERE

Four-spotted chaser – Dave Wall

Dragonfly Swatch

Step 1: Get to know your Dragonflies & Damselflies

Guidance on how to identify Irish dragonfly and damselfly species is available in our Dragonflies & Damselflies section of this site. Do you have one of our handy pocket guides?  If not, you can buy them from our online shop.  You can also improve your identification skills using our online training modules in identification of Irish Dragonflies and Damselflies.

Step 2: Survey Site & Timing

Please survey any freshwater body, whether it be a lake, reservoir, stream, river, canal, bog, fen or garden pond. Be realistic about what you can cover in the time available. Please ensure that the water body is safe to access and, where the water body is on private land, please seek permission from the landowner before conducting the survey.

For the Dragonfly Recorder surveys we ask that you complete a two surveys at each site. One survey is conducted between mid May to the end of June and a second survey is completed between July and early September.

Step 3: Safety First!

Hazards

As with any wildlife survey, it pays to take account of any risks or hazards at you proposed survey site. As you will be surveying near water, you should be mindful of the risks of tripping or falling into the water. This survey does not require you to get your feet wet or enter the water under any circumstances. Only approach the waters edge if it is safe to do so, and consider wearing a life jacket or buoyancy aid if surveying near deep water.

Lone Surveying

If possible conduct the survey with at least one other person and be aware of the risks of lone surveying. Whether surveying alone or as a team, always inform someone as to where you are going and what time you expect to be back, and bring a fully charged mobile phone with you.

Weather

Wear appropriate footwear and clothing for the conditions. Be mindful of the risk of sunburn and use appropriate sunscreen and/or protective clothing and head wear.

Other

A sample list of risks and example precautions is included at the back of the survey form, these are by no means exhaustive and you should always use your own best judgement when it come to safe surveying conditions.

Pollution, Fish Kills, Fly Tipping

If, while out on survey, you notice a water pollution or fish kill incident or fly tipping issue, please use the See It? Say It  App to report it to the Environmental Protection Agency. Get the iPhone or Android App by Downloading it from the iTunes APP store or Download it from the Google Play store.

Check-Clean-Dry!

In conducting surveys, you may unknowingly be helping to spread invasive species from one water body to another in equipment, shoes and clothing. Help stop this happening by following three simple Check-Clean-Dry! steps when you leave the water.

 

Step 4: Check the Weather

Dragonflies and damselflies are most active in warm, dry, sunny, still weather. Ideally the temperature should be 15oC or more with less than 60% cloud cover. Surveys should not be conducted in temperatures exceeding 30oC (we wish!!). The weather should be dry throughout the survey. Wind speed should not exceed force 4 (the point at which small branches begin to sway).

As dragonflies and damselflies can take some time to warm up after a cold night, surveys should be conducted between 10AM and 4PM. In temperatures above 22oC, surveys can be conducted between 9:30AM and 4:30PM.

Survey transect boundaries

Step 5: Survey Method

Download and print out the Dragonfly Recorder survey form. On arriving at the site, or before setting off, please fill in the first section of the survey form with your details and the site location.

Use the most appropriate survey method for your site. If it is a small waterbody a single spot-count may suffice. If its is a larger area, walk a transect along the water’s edge, or if this is not feasible, conduct several spot counts at accessible points around the edge of the waterbody – ensuring that you do not double count animals!

Spend at least 30mins surveying each site, but the length of time you spend recording is entirely up to you – but again you should ensure that you do not double count individuals. Please note the start and end time of your survey and estimate the distance covered. You should not cover a distance in excess of 500m in any one survey.

Focus your search within 2m of the water’s edge (if safe to do so) and scan an area 5m over the water.

Record all dragonflies and damselflies seen during your survey and try and estimate of their numbers using the form provided. To simplify counts, count estimate codes are provided. Where large numbers of animals are flying with mixed species, net a sample (e.g. 10%) to determine the proportion of species present, bearing in mind that some species may be easier to net than others. If you have no net, use a pair of close focus binoculars to identify animals resting on vegetation.

Please complete the short and simple habitat survey, and take photos of the survey site and any impacts and invasive species you find.

Step 6: Data Submission

When your survey is completed, please upload your results via our online data submission form. Additional site and impact photos can be emailed to dwall@biodiversityireland.ie – please remember to state the date and location of the survey.

Interesting observations or photos can be shared via the Dragonfly Ireland Facebook page (NB: we can’t accept any records or survey data via our Facebook page).

Species queries can be posted to the Insects/Invertebrates of Ireland Facebook Page for confirmation before uploading.