Hi everyone, it’s been a long time since my last blog and a lot has happened over the last few months. Let’s begin with September a month of woodlice, moths, minibeast hunts and politicians?!
I attended a Woodlice identification training day with CEDaR on the 3rd of September at Killough Community Centre in Co. Down, which was delivered by Roy Anderson. I had never considered learning how to identify woodlice before, but thought it might be beneficial to find out more about this group. The identification was extremely interesting and surprisingly easy to master. A group that I feel would be a great starter for people new to identification and recording.
Lots of moths and micro-moths!
Getting the public to use identification guides and keys to identify moths.
On the 11th and 12th of September Ruth Linton and I assisted Simon Gray with an event at Crom Estate in County Fermanagh for Moth Night 2015. Originally the plan was that Ruth and I would camp out on one of the islands to moth trap however as the Fermanagh weather took a turn for the worst we stayed in one of the outbuildings instead. Members of the public arrived that night to take part in the event. Simon first gave a presentation on moths and moth recording and then everyone was shown how to set up and operate light traps. We also had specimens on hand for people to have a closer look. The next morning the three of us took in the traps and identified what was caught. Despite the extremely heavy rainfall there was a great turn out. We didn’t expect many people to show up from the night before, however we were pleasantly surprised, as quite a few families attended the morning session as well!
The calm after the storm! You wouldn’t believe how wet and windy Moth Night actually was!
On the 21st and 22nd of September the Northern Ireland Environment Link were running various events at Stormont for NI Environment Week. On the Tuesday I helped to man the Green Machine at Stormont. I talked to members of the public and politicians about my traineeship with TCV and we also discussed current environmental issues. Paul Moore’s invertebrate collection was on display in the Green Machine and this turned out to be a great method of outreach. Using the specimens I was able to talk to the politicians about species which are now extinct in Ireland and species that are a conservation priority. Photographs from the event are deceivingly warm and sunny looking – it was freezing!
My first time seeing Stormont up close- very impressive!
TCV’s Green Machine all set up and ready to go.
I helped out at CEDaR’s Big Autumn Wildlife Hunt on Sunday the 27th of September. In the morning I did a moth trap demonstration, taking in traps that had been put out the night before and opening them for the public, potting any moths and allowing people to hold some of the specimens. I was also responsible for delivering four bug hunts throughout the rest of the day, which involved leading groups on a set route and checking various pitfall traps, log piles and hedgerows for invertebrates. Anything interesting was potted and taken back to a room in which microscopes had been set up, so that the children and adults could take a look at what they had caught up close. This was a big success and the children in particular really enjoyed this. The event got great feedback and families seemed to be very impressed with the day. It was fun to be a part of such a positive event and I am looking forward to helping out at next year’s Big Autumn Wildlife Hunt.
To find out more about the Natural Talent Traineeships, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, CEDaR, Butterfly Conservation and the Northern Ireland Environment Link please follow the links below:
Find out more about Natural Talent
Find out more about Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
Find out more about CEDaR
Find out more about Butterfly Conservation
Find out more about Northern Ireland Environment Link