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Checklist
As the run-up to the migration season begins, you might find
this checklist useful to make sure you're adequately prepared!
It’s important to get in touch with all your regular Patrollers
from previous years and advertise for new ones if necessary.
There are posters available for you to display in local shops /
community centres / etc.
When you hear back from potential
Patrollers, find out their availability, experience and get
their contact details (daytime and evening).
If you do no live particularly
near to the crossing site, try and find a local person (e.g. a
dog walker, or someone who lives or works near by) who can keep
an eye out for toads starting to move – they can then let you
know, even if they’re not able to patrol themselves.
Arrange for all the Patrollers to
visit the site in daylight to familiarise themselves well in
advance of the migration season. Perhaps organise an informal
meeting (at a local pub or café?) and then use this opportunity
to ensure all new patrollers are briefed on their task and
understand the recording forms.
Ensure everybody has read your
Risk Assessment and signed our volunteer declaration form or ARG
UK Volunteer Agreement.
Confirm availability of each of
your Patrollers - this will help if you want to draw up a rota.
.
Please see the
Health and Safety
section of the Patrol Pack - make sure you carry out a Risk
Assessment and get all Patrollers to sign a volunteer
declaration.
Patrollers are able to receive
free resources to help them with their work - we can offer items
such as high-vis vests, buckets and head torches. Please get in
touch to request an order form:
lucy.benyon@froglife.org or 01733 558844.
Toad
migrations can start anytime between late-January (southwest
England) and late-March (northeast England, eastern Scotland) so
be sure to check the local weather forecast for the first run of
consistently mild (>5°C), wet nights and make sure all
Patrollers are prepared. It will help to have someone nearby or
who can check the road regularly to inform you when the toads
are beginning to move.
Websites that may be of use
(remember to look at night time conditions):
Met
Office or
BBC
Weather.
Make sure all volunteers have the
means to record their data (even if it’s just a scrap of paper
and a pencil!) and that it is collected each night.
Remember the toads will be most
likely to move during or just after appropriate weather so the
migration may happen in several ‘waves’.
Once you have collected all the records, submit your data either
by filling in and returning the recording form or entering it
online at the end of the season .
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