SHEFFIELD nature enthusiasts dug out their binoculars and pulled on their sturdiest boots for a marathon day of environmental activities.
The Sorby Natural History Society marked International Biodiversity Day with a day of walks, workshops and displays at Shirebrook Valley Local Nature Reserve, near Woodhouse, Sheffield.
The epic event began at 7am with a bird-ringing workshop, giving visitors the chance to see how birds are ringed and recorded.
Kevin Bower, from Sorby Breck Ringing Group, demonstrated the delicate task of ringing a chiff chaff. The technique is used in the study of wild birds by attaching a small, individually-numbered metal or plastic tag to their legs or wings.
The group set nets specially designed to catch birds without injuring them, then checked their fat levels, feathers and gender, and weighed the birds before ringing them.
All the data the group collected was passed on to the British Trust for Ornithology, who use the information to observe bird migration patterns, territories, age of birds and population changes.
The group's bird song expert Roger Butterfield led a walking talk on how to identify birds from their different calls, while Joan Egan gave a talk on mosses and lichens, showing visitors a wide variety of specimens under a microscope before leading a walk to find examples in the valley.
Kids enjoyed meeting creepy crawlies from beetles to butterflies on a stroll with insect enthusiast Derek Bateson, who showed the youngsters how to use 'sweeping and beating' techniques to collect the creatures.
The event also continued into the night, with a workshop on bat-watching, as well as an opportunity to search the Shirebrook Valley ponds for nocturnal newts.
The day of activities was organised alongside Sheffield Council's Parks and Countryside Ranger Service.
Sorby Breck Ringing Group is holding another bird ringing demonstration on Saturday June 5 at Williamthorpe Ponds, Holmewood, Chesterfield, from 7am to 10am. Meet at the sewage works car park, off Park Road, Holmewood. Booking is essential - call 08456 058058.
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