New citizen science project observing Guernsey dragonflies and damselflies

Friday, 24 April 2026 17:30

Left: Male Migrant Hawker Dragonfly. Right: Male Blue-tailed Damselfly

The Nature Commission is asking islanders to survey ponds to better understand local damselfly and dragonfly populations.

Records of damselflies and dragonflies in Guernsey are limited, with only around seven species believed to breed across the island.

To build a clearer picture of these predatory flying insects, the Nature Commission is launching a new citizen science project.

Islanders are invited to take part by surveying a pond of their choice, once a month, from May to September.

Participants will record the number and species of dragonflies and damselflies they observe for a set amount of time that will depend on the size of the pond.

The Nature Commission will run training sessions to help with species identification.

Ecologist Charlotte Burgoine says the insects are an important part of the food chain.

"They feed on smaller insects, and then they themselves are eaten by animals such as our birds, and then so on and so forth as you go up the food chain.

"Dragonflies and damselflies are also a great indicator species for the health of the environment, so collecting this data will help us understand more about our habitats.

"But their numbers are declining in Guernsey.

"This is mainly due to habitat loss or mismanagement of habitats, pollution of our freshwater habitats and also fly tipping."