‘Go Wild’ is back this weekend for its fourth year running. This free festival of wildlife brings together a number of local Galway wildlife organisations to help us discover more about the wealth of wildlife on our doorstep.
The day starts bright and early with a dawn chorus at 4:30am at Silver Strand. BirdWatch Ireland’s John Lusby, who leads the dawn chorus said it is well worth setting your alarm for.
“At this time of year, dawn bursts into life with a symphony of song. Last year we had 32 species including linnets, whitethroats, stonechats and meadow pipits, and aerial displays from a colony of nesting sand martins. We also had bats and small mammals.”
At 12 midday the ‘Wild Walk’ will depart from Fisheries Field (across from Galway Cathedral ). Join our team of specialists to discover the mammals, birds, bats, invertebrates, fish, pollinators and plants living in the rivers, canals and natural habitats of Galway city and bay.
At 9pm, as dusk falls, Galway Bat Group will lead a bat walk from the Cathedral, using detectors to listen to the echolocation calls of some of our bat species, whilst watching bats in flight over the canals.
“We are aware now more than ever, of the importance of our wildlife and habitats in the health of our ecosystems. By discovering what’s on our doorstep we can better understand the natural world, and how we can make a difference to it. What better way to do this than with Galway’s wildlife organisations by your side!” said Ruth Hanniffy from Vincent Wildlife Trust. For more information see www.wildgalway2019.eventbrite.com National Biodiversity Week runs until May 26 with 50 free events taking place all over the country. See www.biodiversityweek.ie for more information.
Go Wild is supported by the Irish Environmental Network ?
For more information contact: Ruth Hanniffy at [email protected] and (087 )1233347 or visit www.wildgalway2019.eventbrite.com Vincent Wildlife Trust is a charity based in Britain and Ireland engaged in mammal research and conservation, with two staff members based in County Galway. In Ireland, the Trust’s work is centred on the bats, pine marten and Irish stoat. http://www.vincentwildlife.ie
BirdWatch Ireland is the largest independent conservation organisation in Ireland. Established in 1968, it currently has over 14,000 members and supporters and a local network of 30 branches nationwide. www.birdwatchireland.ie NEAR Health is a research project jointly funded by EPA and HSE to investigate how nature and environment can help society attain and restore health. The project’s overall aim is to design and pilot inclusive nature-based solutions to assist communities value a healthy environment, maintain healthy lifestyles and promote and restore wellbeing. www.nuigalway.ie/near-health/ Dr Heather Lally, GMIT is a freshwater ecologist and biologist teaching on the BSc Applied Freshwater and Marine Biology course at the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology. She runs aquatic macroinvertebrate workshops for kids as part of Go Wild events.
The Galway Bat Group was one of the first bat groups formed in Ireland and since 1989 has run regular bat talks and walks in Galway city and county. Its members also participate in three national bat surveys in the county organised by Bat Conservation Ireland. www.facebook.com/Galway-Bat-Group
