We are pleased to announce the results of the Big Pond Thaw 2011.
Nearly a 1000 people sent in information over the two winters of 2009/10 and 2010/11 which has given us valuable insights into the effects of the cold weather on our ponds. You can download a summary of the results here. The survey shows a clear north–south divide, with ponds in the north suffering higher frog deaths than those in the south – a reflection of the longer ice and snow cover on northern ponds.
S. Yorkshire pond that had 50 frog deaths in 2011
From all your reports, there wasn’t much evidence that making holes in the ice, brushing away snow, or running a pump made any difference to amphibian survival. Worryingly, mortalities were higher in typical ‘garden pond-sized ponds than in bigger ponds.
There is a technical summary of the results of the survey attached to this e-mail, and if you want to read the full details, the full technical report can be downloaded here.
To everyone who took part - thank-you – and we hope you will also join in the 2011 Big Pond Dip
