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Reptile ID & Surveying Courses

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Kerfoot View Drop Down
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    Posted: 13 May 2005 at 5:52am
Hi, I'm an assistant consultant ecologist and am very interested in herpetology.  I would very much like to specialise in reptiles but haven't had much experience with the British spp.  Is anyone aware of forthcoming reptile surveying courses?  I missed the IEEM ones in April but would really like to improve my reptile skills.
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Chris G-O View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Chris G-O Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 May 2005 at 12:56pm
Hi.
Bristol University organises one every April, and we (The Herpetological Conservation Trust) run it for them. This year we're doing a second one for them on June 7. I don't know the contact number at Bristol Uni but try their website.
cheers
Chris
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calumma View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote calumma Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 May 2005 at 6:29pm
I recommend that consultants stick to specialising in species that they actually know something about. My experience of many consultancy outfits in this country is that reptiles are treated as a cash cow, with a poor level of sevice offered that does nothing to promote species conservation.

As an aside, I am so fed up with consultants hijacking courses that I offer to conservation volunteers that I am seriously considering not running any more.

Lee

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Lee Brady

Kent Herpetofauna Recorder | Independent Ecological Consultant



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jopedder View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jopedder Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 May 2005 at 9:38am
or perhaps running separate courses for trainee consultants and volunteers will alleviate your problem, rather than cancel them all together?
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calumma View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote calumma Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 May 2005 at 9:59am
I don't really want to run any courses for consultants at all. I think that consultants should be paying professional level fees and attending courses that are designed to meet their needs. Isn't that what IEEM is for? The problem is that consultants are most likely to attend the cheapest courses available.

The courses that I run are done for the fun of it, to encourage folks to go out and get involved in recording and practical conservation. They are not meant to provide guidance to consultants who then bucket the animals around the countryside.

As I have said, I get fed up with consultants wasting my time by attending courses and denying opportunities to folks who will actually give something back to the conservation community.
Lee Brady

Kent Herpetofauna Recorder | Independent Ecological Consultant



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote herpetologic2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 May 2005 at 7:00pm

Crikey Lee

you really feel strongly about these dam consultants! - so of which (all be it few) are actually interested in the animals - honest

The EARG has members who are consultants but they also actively volunteer for EARG - undertaking surveys in their spare time - eventually obtaining their knowledge and experience to obtain a survey license of their own - this ultimately helps their surveying professionally - I rather see these few consultants at training courses and help them find cresties and other amphibians in Essex as part of the activities of EARG - granted consultants do the rounds with these workshops, and survey courses - I wouldnt want you to give up your training courses/workshops as we have lots of positive feedback about your course at Wat Tyler Country Park - we will be having members of DEFRA, Essex Police and others at the 28th May course -

Please dont give up Lee -

 

JC

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calumma View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote calumma Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 May 2005 at 3:51am
Jon

Remember I work as a consultant as well, so I know that some of us have a vested interest in the conservation of the animals Unfortunately, there are very few herp consultants who contribute to recording and conservation in Kent. Those that do tend to be local experts, rather than employees of larger companies.

I am especially concerned that consultants go on one day courses and then believe that they are sufficiently qualified to obtain a licence for professional gcn work. Although you and I know that the licence merely permits the holder to legally undertake survey work, clients do not understand that point. In my experience, some consultants use the licence as proof that they are experts at undertaking the work.

Due to this and other issues I have with the current licencing system, I no longer write references for new licencees.

Lee

Lee Brady

Kent Herpetofauna Recorder | Independent Ecological Consultant



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote David Dodds Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 May 2005 at 7:11am

Why not have a dual scale of fees for volunteers and professionals? I've seen this done with some success.

Don't forget most consultants are just trying to earn a crust and probably do have a speciality where they probably do give something back to conservation.

The bat project group I'm involved in (www.batml.org.uk) recently signed up our 100th volunteer and I'd estimate 70% of our volunteers are consultants, countryside rangers, biodiversity officers and other professionals, all giving their spare time to conservation.

 

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