Ecologists and children take part in 'bioblitz' in Guernsey
Ecologists and primary schoolchildren are taking part in a "bioblitz" this week, where they record as many living things as possible within a 24-hour period.Organised by the Nature Commission in partnership with La Société Guernesiaise, the event aimed to measure how the presence of different species changed over time, organisers said.Bioblitz 2025 was taking place at L'Ancresse East, which was last surveyed in 2019, they added.The results are due to be announced to more than 300 children at the end of the week.
The recording began on Monday.On Thursday and Friday, the records will be shared with children from seven schools visiting the area.The children were hearing about the project and taking part in rock-pooling, bird watching, identifying important plants, minibeast spotting and finding out about local bats, leaders said.
Angela Salmon, head of operations and education at the Nature Commission, said: "We've got botanists, entomologists looking for all things insect, ornithologists looking at birds from dawn, and marine experts down on the beach."All this information goes into the Guernsey Biological Records Centre, so, if there are any other surveys on this site, we can see what's changing."There are so many children who are losing that connection with nature, and don't know the name of really common plants and animals. We want them to become familiar with what's here on their doorstep."Jessi Jennings is one of the Nature Commission's marine biologists recording life in the rockpools.She said: "We've seen lots of different algae, and lots of different crabs [so far]... There's a lot of life down here."Last year, the kids absolutely loved it. They couldn't get enough and, when it was time to go home, they didn't want to leave."
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