Page 12 - BBC Wildlife Volume 36 #02

WILD FEBRUARY

EVENTS Meet a celebrity
cetacean: the ‘Thames
whale’ is on display
at London’s NHM.

EVENT SPOTLIGHT

Whales of the world

Dive in and discover one of the planet’s most compelling
evolutionary journeys in this new cetacean exhibition
at London’s Natural History Museum. More than 100
specimens from the museum’s collection will be on display
for the first time, including parts of a blue whale and a
harbour porpoise. Visitors to this family-friendly event can
get up close to the ‘Thames whale’ (a northern bottlenose
whale that swam into the River Thames), listen to a whale
jukebox and see what lies inside a sperm whale’s stomach. Redstarts (male
O Until 28 February, Natural History Museum, London, adult £12.50, is pictured) breed
at Gilfach Nature
child £8.50, www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/whales.html
Reserve, Rhayader.

RESTORE BUTTERFLY HABITAT
Go green Get involved with practical conservation work on this habitat

Gary Prescott, also known as management day run by the South Wales Branch of Butterfly
the Biking Birder, will present Conservation and Brecknock Wildlife Trust. By clearing scrub
a talk on Green Birding to at Ystradgynlais, Swansea, you will be helping the threatened
the RSPB Basingstoke local marsh fritillary butterfly (below). Hand tools will be provided,
group. In 2016 Gary gained but participants can bring their own if they prefer.
the European Green Birding O 10.15am, 2 February, Ystradgynlais, free event, http://bit.ly/2hY9ZsR
crown, recording 318 species
in a year while using pedal ID winter trees
power to get around. He Learn how to identify trees
will talk about visiting every in winter by attending this
RSPB and WWT nature illustrated talk and guided walk,
reserve in the UK. organised by The Wildlife Trust
O 21 February, The Barn, for Birmingham and the Black
Hampshire, RG21 7QW, Country. You’ll be taught how to
Learn how
Whale skeleton: T rustees of NHM, London; Biking Birder: Gary Prescott; marsh fritillary: T ony Cox/Butterfly Conservation;
free for members, spot key features of deciduous
forensic experts
visitors £3.50, trees in winter and will have
help investigate
http://bit. wildlife crimes. the chance to practice your
ly/2Ar36b7 identification skills in the field
while looking out for species such
beech tree: Wildlife T rust of Birmingham and the Black Country; shark: Elias Levy; curlew: Alex Hillier
as beech and silver birch. The
event is suitable for beginners.
O 10 February, Moseley Bog and Joy’s
Wood, West Midlands, free event, booking
required, http://bit.ly/2iLmpBA
FEBRUARY EVENTS IN BRIEF

FABULOUS FUNGI CELEBRATING SHARKS BUTTERFLY UPDATES WADER WORKSHOP
Join a local group of the Marine biologist Olivia Orchart Join Butterfly Conservation for an Do you know your
Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust in will present a fascinating evening of short talks in Belfast. golden plover from
Boston for an evening overview of sharks and discuss Presentations will include the your grey plover? Join
talk by Dr Vin their representation in the re-discovery of the small blue this workshop at WWT
Fleming on the media at this Avon and a look into the Ulster Caerlaverock, Dumfriesshire, to
range of wild fungi Wildlife Trust talk Museum collection. see a variety of wader species
found in the UK. in Keynsham. 15 February, and learn from wardens.
8 February, http:// 9 February, http:// http://bit. 3 February,
bit.ly/2mVPz5p bit.ly/2ApxbI7 ly/2A4NOWd http://bit.ly/2A2CwUU
12 BBC Wildlife February 2018