The method
- Choose a simple question and defined area: follow a flower bed, note visitors or document change. If joining an observatory, read its protocol before planning your session.
- Use the same fields each time: area, time, duration, visible conditions, description and optional photograph. Record method changes; a longer session may yield more observations without a population change.
- Classify information by certainty. Keep a description when a species is unknown and use identification resources without treating resemblance as confirmation.
Fictional worked example
Two fictional sessions report 3 and then 7 insects beside the same flower bed. The first lasts 5 minutes and the second 20. The notebook retains both durations and avoids claiming population multiplication: observation effort was different.
The record to keep
Keep raw records, conditions, the method followed and identification corrections. Limit details revealing your private address in any public version.
Your record, step by step
For your own situation, record the following information. Check a field when it is documented; missing information still needs verification. The boxes are a reminder within this page.
This checklist does not validate your project. No entries are sent or saved.
Fictional worked case. A fictional log follows two planters for a week to separate observation from explanation.
| Element | Observation in the case | Interpretation or next check |
|---|---|---|
| Planter A | Drooping leaves observed Monday at 18:00 | Record the date without diagnosing a cause |
| Planter B | Photographed next morning in shade | The images do not describe the same moment |
| Action | A watered after the first photograph | Keep the intervention in the timeline |
| Later observation | A photographed Wednesday under the same conditions | Compare observations without automatically crediting the watering |
What this method can establish
A personal notebook is not automatically a standardised scientific survey. It cannot independently determine garden treatment or identify an edible plant.
Useful questions before you start
Should unchanged observations be recorded too?
Yes. Recording only successes or damage distorts the log. Keep dates with no change and distinguish not observed from absent.
Supporting documentation
These references support the method. Each source shows its language and consultation date; an available directory record explains its purpose.
- Vigie-Nature — choisir un protocole d’observation FR ↗
Documentation consulted on
An editorial method, a fictional example and references for further reading.