Western Isles Biodiversity
Events
Exploring The Wildlife Of Loch Stiapabhat
It was a typical wet and windy Hebridean morning as the organisers left South Uist for Ness, on the Isle of Lewis but slowly the sky cleared and the sun appeared. Perfect weather to be out and about and enjoying our wonderful wildlife.
The Biological Recording Activity Day held in October 2011 was part of Action Earth, a campaign organised by Community Service Volunteers (CSV) to get more people involved in practical biodiversity and environmental projects. The event was organised by Curracag (Outer Hebrides Natural History Society) to encourage people to take part in biological recording and contribute to the newly formed Outer Hebrides Biological Recording Project, and where better place to start than the only Local Nature Reserve in the Outer Hebrides.
As the emphasis was firmly on the practical, the volunteers were soon equipped with dipping nets, trays and collecting jars, and were on the reserve ready to investigate the freshwater life of Loch Stiapabhat. Age is no barrier to experiencing the thrill of discovering the wildlife beneath your feet or getting wet and muddy in the process. The volunteers, from children to senior citizens, were soon engrossed in looking at Water Boatmen, Pond Skaters and Sticklebacks and identifying water plants such as Horsetails, Marsh Pennywort and Water Mint. October may not be the best time of year for experiencing the full range the wildlife at the Loch Stiapabhat Local Nature Reserve, apart from the migratory birds of course, but it provided an opportunity to demonstrate biological recording methods and its importance in helping to protect our wildlife.
Our volunteers might have gone home muddy, but they had all discovered that biological recording is fun; it can be a family activity, you can do it anywhere and anyone can take part. You don’t have to be an expert and we can help you become a natural history recorder, all you need is enthusiasm, getting wet and muddy is optional.
If you would like to learn more about biological recording in the Outer Hebrides visit the new website: www.ohbr.org.uk. Curracag will be organising more activity days next year, so if you’d like to join in the fun check the Curracag website events page: www.curracag.org.uk/events.html.
