One question we get asked all the time by people considering studying with us is “is ecology seasonal?”. 

Understandably, if you’re going to invest in education for a career, you want to know whether it is going to be a permanent job or just a summer job. 

Of course, if you’ve ever seen ecologists out in the field, it’s usually during the warmer months. So this can lead to the belief that ecology is seasonal work. Indeed, most of the things associated with being an ecologist are also associated with summer. Going out at dusk with a bat detector, identifying plants on your hands and knees in a meadow and recording birds with a clip board.

So, what happens during the rest of the year? Is ecology seasonal and we simply stop working when the surveys finish?

The short answer is no.

While ecology is certainly seasonal, ecological consultancy is a year-round profession. Wildlife activity and behaviours follow the season, and so too does our work. In many ways, the “quieter winter months” are just as busy as the peak survey season.

Why Are Surveys in Ecology Seasonal?

In the UK our seasons are pronounced. Many species shed their leaves, become dormant, go into hibernation or migrate during the colder months as part of their life cycles. And the weather often prevents us from being able go outside to carry out work. 

Furthermore, many protected species can only be surveyed effectively during certain times of the year. Bats are active during the warmer months, breeding birds can only be surveyed during the nesting season, and many plants are identifiable only when they’re flowering.

Survey guidance has been developed to ensure that ecologists collect reliable information while minimising disturbance to wildlife. Carrying out a survey at the wrong time of year may produce misleading results or fail to detect species that are actually present.

For that reason, many ecological surveys have recommended survey windows. If a development project misses those windows, it may have to wait several months, or even until the next year, before the appropriate surveys can be completed. 

This is why good planning is so important, both for developers and for ecologists.

Spring; The Survey Season Begins

As winter gives way to spring, fieldwork starts to increase rapidly.

Surveys begin on breeding birds as they establish territories and become much more vocal. Great crested newt surveys start as amphibians return to breeding ponds. Dormice emerge from hibernation, reptiles become active again, and botanists begin looking for the first signs of the year’s flora.

For many ecologists, spring feels like the beginning of a new year. Like we ourselves are coming out of hibernation. We check equipment, begin surveys and fill our diaries up quickly.

It’s also a time when we can expect some very early starts. Dawn bird surveys often begin well before most people are thinking about breakfast.

Summer; Long Days and Late Nights

Summer is undoubtedly the busiest period for many ecological consultants.

Bat surveys dominate many of our evenings. They often require us to be on site before sunset and remain until well after dark. During the day there may be habitat surveys, botanical assessments, reptile surveys, badger surveys or other protected species checks.

The workload can be demanding. It isn’t unusual for ecologists to finish a dawn bird survey, spend the day carrying out habitat assessments or writing reports, then head back out for a bat survey that doesn’t finish until midnight.

It’s hard work, but it’s also one of the most enjoyable parts of the job. Watching bats emerge from a historic building or listening to a dawn chorus on a summer morning are experiences that never really lose their appeal. 

It is these long days though that make most of us glad that ecology is seasonal, at least to some extent. Because keeping up that kind of working schedule isn’t sustainable for long periods, no matter how much you enjoy it!

Autumn; More Than Just Shorter Days

As summer draws to a close, many people assume fieldwork stops. Autumn is busier than you might expect for ecologists. 

We can still do extended habitat surveys, hedgerow assessments and many botanical surveys before the vegetation dies back. Dormouse surveys also continue into the autumn, and it can be an excellent time to undertake woodland habitat assessments.

Autumn is also a period when many mitigation projects begin. Habitat creation, tree planting, pond restoration and Biodiversity Net Gain projects are often carried out as the weather becomes cooler and conditions improve for establishing vegetation. 

Meanwhile, we may still have reports to write from surveys carried out in the summer. Or we have results and data to analyse from surveys. 

Winter; The Office Comes Alive

If summer belongs to the field, winter belongs to the office for ecologists. 

By the time survey season finishes, we’ve often collected thousands of records, photographs, recordings, maps and field notes that need to be processed. So winter is when report writing takes the fore.

There are also other desk studies we undertake in winter. Data analysis, mapping, impact assessments and continued professional development are all winter activities for ecologists. It’s also the time when many ecological consultants prepare licence applications, advise clients on planning conditions and help design mitigation for projects due to start the following year.

Many companies also use the quieter season to update survey templates, improve internal systems and plan workloads for the year ahead. As for me, I also like to have some time off to rest and take a holiday!

Learning Never Stops

One of the biggest misconceptions about ecology is that all the work happens outdoors.

Outside the main survey season, many ecologists dedicate time to professional development. They attend training courses, improve their identification skills, learn new survey techniques and keep up to date with changes in legislation and best practice guidance.

Many also volunteer with local wildlife groups, undertake winter bird surveys, contribute biological records or work towards protected species licenses.

Ecology is a profession built on lifelong learning, and winter often provides the breathing space to develop new skills before the next busy season begins. We have over 50 online courses and many face-to-face courses to help you develop your skills and knowledge and we would love to help you. 

Working With Nature, Not Against It

One of the things I enjoy most about being an ecologist is that the seasons dictate the rhythm of the job.

Rather than every month looking the same, each brings its own challenges and opportunities. This make ecological consultancy a really varied career, no two days are the same and there’s always something interesting to learn or do. 

So, Is Ecology Seasonal?

Yes, but only the field surveys, the profession itself is anything but seasonal.

An ecologist’s year is a continuous cycle of planning, surveying, recording, analysing, reporting and learning. Every season has an important role to play, and each builds on the last.

So, if you want a career in ecological consultancy, be prepared to work in every season. But you will enjoy a varied and exciting career that follows the rhythm of the year, and doesn’t just stop when it gets cold!

Personally, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

If you’re interested in a career like this our Certificate in Ecological Consultancy is designed to give you the skills and knowledge you need to get a job, or work for yourself in ecology. We have already helped hundreds of students, so find out how this course can help you today.