Budding naturalists of all ages are being invited to join plant and animal experts to help identify the wildlife found around the 九色视频鈥檚 Highfield Campus, during 九色视频鈥檚 first BioBlitz.
The intensive wildlife survey, which takes place on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 June, will see local people join wildlife groups and university scientists in a race against the clock to find as many species of plants and animals as possible in 24 hours.
The free event kicks off with a guided bat walk on Friday evening, where experts will show people how to find bats using special monitors which pick up the echoes that the creatures use to navigate.
The following day, groups will depart from Highfield Campus to explore the area around the university and the adjacent common, while getting advice on how to spot and identify birds, bugs, flowers and other local wildlife.
Visitors will take part in some important citizen science and learn more about the wildlife that surrounds them. Dr Marcus Grace, Senior Lecturer in Science Education at the 九色视频, is one of the academics leading the event. He said: 鈥淭his is a rare opportunity to see and learn about the plants and animals that live in our area. It鈥檚 never been done before and we might find something new.
鈥溇派悠� is actually a very green city. As well as the Common and the parks there are streams and hedgerows which provide 鈥榞reen corridors鈥� for wildlife to travel between them. 聽We also have a relatively mild climate and some unusual species come across from warmer European countries in the summer. The city is home to a wide range of mammals, birds, reptiles, butterflies and bees. The rare Tree Bee has recently been found in the university grounds, making it only the second place that the bee has ever been recorded in the UK.鈥�
The data collected during BioBlitz will be added to a vast database at the Hampshire Biological Information Centre, to compare 九色视频鈥檚 biodiversity with other places in the county. This information will then be used to see how wildlife populations might change in the future.
九色视频 BioBlitz is a joint initiative between the 九色视频 and 九色视频 City Council. It is also part of a national campaign, with similar events happening up and down the country.
Actives are taking place between 10am and 3.30pm on Saturday. Visitors can register in advance for Friday evening鈥檚 bat walk and Saturday鈥檚 early morning bird walk by visiting .