Surveying For Dragonflies

Dragonflies and damselflies are more than just dazzling aerial acrobats — they’re also key players in healthy freshwater ecosystems. As both predators and prey, they help maintain ecological balance, and their presence is a strong indicator of water quality and environmental change. When dragonflies are thriving, it’s often a sign that our ponds, rivers, and wetlands are doing well too.

In this webinar, we’ll dive into the fascinating world of dragonfly and damselfly surveys — from straightforward techniques suitable for beginners, to more detailed methods used by seasoned recorders. You’ll get an introduction to a range of survey approaches, including:

• Point Counts: Standing at a specific point within or at the edge of a wetland and recording what you can see from that point.
• Transect Walks: Recording the dragonflies along the edge of linear or larger waterbodies.
• Exuviae Surveys: A hands-on method that involves finding the cast-off skins of emerging adults — a reliable way to confirm breeding sites.
• Species-specific Surveys: Survey methods tailored to the specific ecology, behaviour and habitat preferences of target species.
• Site Evaluation: Undertaking priority site assessments to determine if a site is of local and/or national importance.

We’ll look at the benefits and limitations of each technique, when to time your surveys, what habitats and conditions to focus on, and how your sightings can contribute to national initiatives like the British Dragonfly Society’s recording scheme.

Whether you're an amateur naturalist looking to get more involved in dragonfly monitoring or a conservation professional assessing the health of sites for dragonflies, this session will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to plan your own dragonfly surveys.

The 90-minute event will consist of a 1-hour presentation followed by a Q&A with the tutor using questions provided by the live audience.

The presentations will be recorded and shared with those who booked alongside Q&A transcripts and relevant links following the event via a password-protected website.

Skills For Ecology Webinars

Our Skill For Ecology webinars focus on technical skills useful in ecology and conservation roles, such as use of technology, field surveying and practical conservation skills.

This webinar is part of a series focusing on surveying insects:

1. Surveying For Dragonflies (Tue 23 Sep 2025 18:30 - 20:00)
2. Surveying For Pollinators (Thu 02 Oct 2025 18:30 - 20:00)
3. Surveying For Beetles (Tue 25 Nov 2025 18:30-20:00)

Dragonfly & Damselfly Specialist: Dave Smallshire

Dave Smallshire is a lifelong naturalist and former agri-environment adviser with a passion for birdwatching and dragonflies. With 40+ years of experience in entomology and conservation, he co-authored Britain’s Dragonflies, leads global wildlife tours, and actively surveys and conserves biodiversity in Devon.

Check out our online self-study entoLEARN courses that Dave teaches:

1. Damselflies of the UK: https://courses.biologicalrecording.co.uk/courses/damselflies
2. Dragonflies of the UK: https://courses.biologicalrecording.co.uk/courses/dragonflies