Bioblitz by the Sea
Saturday 10th August 2024
Meet outside Scottish Seabird Centre, The Harbour, North Berwick, EH39 5SS
Various times between 11am-4pm
Follow event links for tickets and details.
Fringe by the Sea Official Charity Partner, Scottish Seabird Centre are excited to be teaming up with scientists and nature organisations from around Scotland to deliver Bioblitz by the Sea, an action-packed celebration of marine and coastal wildlife. We will work together to discover and record as many animals and plants as possible, and we need your help! Come and join us for a mix of bookable and drop-in activities, outdoor events and talks that will help you to discover and protect our amazing marine environment. Look around our information stands and hear from experts about how collecting data can help to protect wildlife and wild places.
Drop-in to the Scottish Seabird Centre anytime between 11.00AM-4.00PM to explore information stalls and family-friendly activities hosted by the Scottish Seabird Centre team and other brilliant environmental organisations. Help contribute to species records by borrowing equipment and identification guides to help you set off in search of your own species.
Birds for Beginners
Join our Conservation Officer for a relaxing 45-minute bird-watching tour along the coast to find out more about the seabirds, shorebirds, and garden birds that can be spotted around Scotland. Suitable for adults/older children.
SCOTTISH SEABIRD CENTRE 11.00AM (45 MIN) £5
Discover the amazing wildlife that can be found in the rockpools of North Berwick. Enjoy a brief talk followed by a guided ramble along the nearby rocky shore.
This event is perfect for anyone with an interest in marine creatures, wearing wellies, and spending time outdoors! Prepare to be amazed by the variety of life and the different adaptations of the creatures you meet, from scuttling crabs to beautiful anemones and seaweeds. This event is suitable for ages 5+ and participants under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Friendly, quiet dogs are welcome, but we ask they are kept on a short lead throughout.
Location: Participants will meet a member of the team outside the Scottish Seabird Centre then head to the rocky shore on East beach, a short walk away from the building.
What will we provide? Trays, buckets and alcohol hand-gel. A full health and safety briefing will take place before heading to the shore and members of the team will be on hand throughout to provide information and help participants find and identify species.
What do you need to bring? Wellies, walking boots or shoes with good grip, clothing appropriate for the weather outside, a drink and any medication you may need.
Accessibility: Unfortunately, this event is not suitable for wheelchair users or pushchairs. Access to the shore involves a short walk (~200m) consisting of footpaths and sandy beach. Once on the shore, surfaces will be uneven and slippery and require extra care when crossing. We will always try to adjust the pace and the route to make sure that everyone is comfortable, but please let us know in advance if you have questions or concerns. You can direct queries to conservationprojects@seabird.org.
SCOTTISH SEABIRD CENTRE 12.00PM (45 MIN) £5
Join North Berwick in Bloom to discover the wildflowers of the Scottish coast in this outdoor session for beginners. Learn how to identify some of Scotland’s coastal wildflowers,
discover why they are important for people, and learn more about the role that they play in the wider ecosystem.
What do you need to bring? Sturdy boots or shoes, clothing appropriate for the weather outside, a drink, any medication you may need, a mobile phone, sun protection (good weather days).
Accessibility: We will be on the move for around 45 minutes during this event, and the route may include steps, some gentle slopes, uneven sand, rocky ground, and slippy surfaces. We will always try to adjust the pace and the route to make sure that everyone is comfortable, but please let us know in advance if you have questions or concerns. You can direct queries to conservationprojects@seabird.org.
Ages 16+.
SCOTTISH SEABIRD CENTRE 1.00PM (45 MIN) FREE/TICKETED
Join the Marine Conservation Society for a closer look at seaweeds, our ocean superheroes. Enjoy an introduction to the Big Seaweed Search, an easy-to-follow citizen science survey, and learn how why it’s important to keep track of seaweeds around the UK and what they can tell us about our changing climate. Head down onto the shore to explore and record the seaweeds you spot there, plus any other exciting rockpool creatures. This event is suitable for ages 13 + but under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult.
What do you need to bring? Sturdy boots or shoes, clothing appropriate for the weather outside, a drink, any medication you may need, a mobile phone, sun protection (good weather days).
Accessibility: We will be on the move for around 45 minutes during this event, and the route may include steps, some gentle slopes, uneven sand, rocky ground, and slippy surfaces. We will always try to adjust the pace and the route to make sure that everyone is comfortable, but please let us know in advance if you have questions or concerns. You can direct queries to conservationprojects@seabird.org.
SCOTTISH SEABIRD CENTRE 12.00PM (45 MIN) FREE/TICKETED
Whale and Dolphin Watching for Beginners
Ever spotted a fin in the water and wondered what it was? Join us to learn more about some of the amazing whale, dolphin, and porpoise species found around the Scottish coast and discover how our partners at Whale and Dolphin Conservation are working to protect them.
SCOTTISH SEABIRD CENTRE 3.00PM (45 MIN) FREE/TICKETED
Moths and Butterflies of our Coasts with Katty Baird
There are many beautiful moths and butterflies to be found along our coast. Join local moth expert Katty Baird to learn more about these important insects and the work being done to help them. There will be a short talk followed by a chance to enjoy up close some of the moths caught in light traps set in the local area the previous night. 30-minute talk followed by 15-minute Q&A. Suitable for ages 10+
11.00AM (45 MIN) £3
TALK: Island Life: Wildlife & Conservation on our Local Islands
Come and join us for a 30 minute talk to delve into the wonderful wildlife on some of the islands off the East Lothian coastline: The Lamb, Craigleith, and Bass Rock. Discover why these places are so important for seabirds during the summer months and learn more about the other wild animals that call these islands home throughout the year. Find out what it’s like to work on the islands and discover more about the important efforts being made to protect and preserve these special places.
This in-person talk will be delivered by Emily, Conservation Officer at the Scottish Seabird Centre.
30-minute talk followed by 15-minute Q&A
Suitable for ages 10+
1.00PM (45 MIN) £3
TALK: Discover the shallow seas beyond the rockpools with Snorkel Wild!
Join Genine, Founder of Snorkel Wild, as she shares her passion for Snorkpooling, an activity that combines snorkelling and rock-pooling along the South East Coast of Scotland.
See and learn more about the fascinating sea creatures and beautiful seaweeds that inhabit the rockpools and the waters beyond. Genine will offer tips and guidance on how to discover these underwater wonders for yourself, ensuring you can plan your own Snorkpooling adventures with confidence.
30-minute talk followed by 15-minute Q&A
Suitable for ages 10+
3.00PM (45 MIN) £3
TALK: Plastic, the sea and me with Caitlin Godfrey, Marine Conservation Society.
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) are at the forefront of marine conservation in the UK, campaigning for cleaner, healthier and better-protected oceans. The problem of marine plastic pollution is one of the greatest challenges the ocean faces, with an estimated 11 million tonnes of plastic entering the ocean every year. The Marine Conservation Society have been tackling marine plastic pollution for decades through campaigning work and our citizen science survey Beachwatch. Come along to the Scottish Seabird Centre at 2pm to hear more about this issue and find out how you can get involved in helping to clean up our seas.
30-minute talk followed by 15-minute Q&A
Suitable for ages 10+
2.00PM (45 MIN) £3
