Two more nature recording events will be taking place in the next few weeks.
The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere team have been running the Biosphere’s Most Wanted programme, aiming to track six native species that are lacking records or in need of continual monitoring.
The species in question are the red squirrel, wych elm, grayling butterfly, swift, adder, and nursehound (a catshark whose egg cases can be found washed up on the coast).
The nature recording events give an overview of these species and how citizen science can help support them with a workshop on where to find them, identification techniques and how to log sightings using just a mobile phone.
Each workshop is followed by a wildlife walk for attendees to put into practice what they have learned.
The next session will take place at Thornhill Golf Club on June 3 with another on The Mill on the Fleet in Gatehouse on June 24.
The family-friendly events are free and can be booked at www.eventbrite.co.uk or by emailing malcolm@gsabiosphere.org.uk.
The biosphere’s lead on the Most Wanted project, Malcolm Haddow, said: “The climate and biodiversity crisis means many of our local species are under increasing threat from climate change and human activities.
“Please do join us in Thornhill or Gatehouse of Fleet for a morning of fun wildlife facts, lively discussion, and of course some time exploring some amazing local habitats.”
