Surveyor (Not on a Reserve) (Pine Hoverfly Monitoring Volunteer)

The Pine Hoverfly is a very rare and endangered insect found only in the Cairngorms within the UK. The species was on the brink of extinction, but thanks to a ground-breaking conservation breeding programme it is now in a safer position. We need your help to monitor how the original and released Pine Hoverfly populations of the Cairngorms are faring in the wild.

The conservation breeding programme has been developed by the Royal Zoological Society for Scotland in partnership with the Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms project. It is now into its fifth year of releases, with over 21,000 Pine Hoverfly so far released at multiple woodland sites across the Cairngorms.

Pine Hoverfly larvae are released into specially prepared Scots Pine stumps. During August the larvae are prepared for release at the Highland Wildlife Park breeding facility. During September and October we will be carrying out essential monitoring at the release sites. You could play a vital role in the conservation of this species by getting involved in these important tasks, with data you collect helping us to determine the success of one of the most ambitious insect conservation projects ever carried out in the UK.

If you would like to volunteer for release site monitoring and haven’t done it before, we ask that you attend at least one larval sorting session at the Highland Wildlife Park. Project staff can offer a range of weekday dates to enable new volunteers to get experience of identifying Pine Hoverfly during a sorting session at the Highland Wildlife Park, this can be arranged when you apply for the role. This will give you the skills required to take part in monitoring at release sites. Following on from this, we ask that you can attend at least one survey day in Strathspey during September to October.

There are also some monitoring sites in Deeside. If you live in the Deeside area and would like to get involved with these surveys, please get in touch for more information.

This role is best suited to people living in or around the Cairngorms.

We are looking for volunteers with the following skills and experience:

• An interest in learning hoverfly larvae identification skills
• Ability to walk 1-5km through sometimes rough terrain to reach the monitoring sites
• Ability to complete surveys, record observations and communicate with project staff
• Ability to travel independently. There is the potential to arrange lift sharing in some circumstances.

This role offers the opportunity to make a direct impact for species, nature and the environment. You will have a chance to develop hands on experience and skills around surveying. An opportunity to be out in nature and benefit your own health and wellbeing, this role will suit someone who enjoys being outdoors. You will have to observe wildlife closely, which is wonderful if you take enjoyment from the natural world. Monitoring can often take you to the same places time and again, so you will see the season changes. This role offers a fantastic opportunity to develop your volunteering with the RSPB and contribute to our Saving Nature strategy by taking on this role.

For more information contact RIC Project Officer Genevieve Tompkins at genevieve.tompkins@rspb.org.uk

Visit the project hub for more information on the Pine Hoverfly

If this role is not for you, but you would like to support activities throughout all stages of the Pine Hoverfly breeding programme as well as other RZSS invertebrate conservation projects please express your interest in becoming an RZSS Biodiversity Volunteer here: www.rzss.org.uk/support/volunteer.

The Rare Invertebrates in the Cairngorms project is a partnership project involving the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, RSPB, Butterfly Conservation, Cairngorms National Park, Buglife and NatureScot.