Steve Heaven
Conservation Evidence Volunteer
Contact details
About me
I have been interested in natural history since the age of seven that was back in 1959, I have a BSc in insects (ants) and a MSc in small mammals, the main interest being bats and Hedgehogs, sad to say most of my working life was passenger transport management, I have also been involved in wild animal rescues in the past, also an avid nature watcher.
My role
I started volunteering with the trust in 1997 and with swan research in 1998, also being employed on short term winter contracts from 2016 and until the present day, my main tasks being monitoring the Slimbridge wintering Bewick’s swans arrivals and departures, this includes bill pattern recognition, dominance and body condition during their stay, also entering Whooper and Bewick’s swan sightings onto the database and swan catches at WWT sites during the winter months.
Experience and interests
- I have carried out wild animal rescues and I have been trained in wild animal first aid.
- I have undertaken several mammal surveys in Gloucestershire and Dorset mainly on bat species and small mammals (dormouse, harvest mouse and hedgehogs).
- I carried out butterfly surveys in Dorset in the 1990s.
- I carry out the Bewick’s Swan bill recognition work, which involves identifying individual birds by the unique pattern on their bill.
- I have undertaken fieldwork since 1998, including waterbird counts, swan age assessments and assisting with swan catches.