Members of the public in Limerick City and surrounding areas are being invited to join wildlife experts and ecologists this weekend in Ireland’s first ever Urban BioBlitz.

Hosted by Limerick City Council, Limerick City Centre Tidy Towns Group and the National Biodiversity Data Centre, the Limerick Urban BioBlitz aims to identify and document as many wildlife species as possible over a 24 hour period, from butterflies and birds to flowers and fungi.

The BioBlitz starts tomorrow (Friday 23 August) at 5pm, and runs until 5pm the following day (Saturday 24 August). A number of public events, including bat walks, moth viewing and trapping, wildlife art workshops and a Birds of Prey display, will be held across the City.

“The primary aim of the BioBlitz is to promote the abundance of animal and plant life in Limerick City and in doing so increase public awareness of the importance of biodiversity in urban areas,” said Sinead McDonnell, Environment Awareness Officer with Limerick City Council.

“Biodiversity is all living things from the tiniest insect to the largest tree on view on People’s Park. Our health, economy and quality of life depend on a healthy environment rich in biodiversity. Here in Limerick City, its presence is everywhere, in our parks and gardens, by our roadsides, and in our rivers and streams. The BioBlitz gives everyone a chance to enjoy and explore the glorious wildlife of the City,” she added.

Limerick City Council is inviting members of the public to record the wildlife they see around the Limerick City area between 5pm on Friday and 5 pm on Saturday. Recording sheets will be available at the Urban BioBlitz Hub at Limerick City Art Gallery on Pery Square, and should be returned before 4.00pm on Saturday, where the records will be added to the National Biodiversity Data Centre’s national database.

Dr. Liam Lysaght, Director of the National Biodiversity Data Centre will be joining the team in Limerick for the BioBlitz.

Individual Events

Individual events taking place during the 24-hour period include a Bat Talk by NPWS Conservation Ranger, Elaine Keegan in a city location at 7.15pm on Friday. On Saturday, there will be a moth viewing and trapping event in People’s Park and Westfields at 11.30am followed by Art workshops for families with a wildlife based theme in the Hub (Limerick City Art Gallery) from midday to 1.30pm, and  Birds of Prey Display by Animal Magic in the Peoples Park from 11.30 to 3.30pm.

Volunteers interested in participating in the Limerick City Urban BioBlitz should call Sinead on 061-496367 or email smcdonnell@limerickcity.ie.