This article is from page 36 of the 2007-06-05 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 36 JPG
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field identification of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) at sea and from remains washed up on shore including skull characteristics. The course, on at the Shannon Dol-
phin and Wildlife Centre on Mer- chants Quay in Kilrush, will also look at ways of recording cetaceans and the validation procedure for ac- cepting records.
The centre has a large collection of skulls, bones and other interesting cetacean on display and the work- shop will also examine these.
Dr Simon Berrow of the Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Foundation and IWDG co-ordinator will lead the workshop and he explained what people could expect to see.
‘The group has a large sighting and
stranding project so we do courses all over the country. I recently saw a minke whale and a basking shark off Loop Head. This time of year there could be dolphins, porpoises, hump- back or killer whales.”
He added that he hoped that ordi- nary people would “contribute to knowledge and conservation” by voluntarily reporting and recording information.
The workshop will start at 10am in the centre with introductory infor- mation and weather permitting, will include an afternoon trip to Loop
Head and Kilcredaun Head to prac- tice whalewatching in the field. The workshop ends at around 5pm.
Participants are asked to bring bin- oculars or a telescopes if they own them as well as any interesting bones or material they might have found washed up on the shore.
The cost of the course is €25 for members of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and €40 for non members
For more details contact Dr Simon Berrow on 086 8545450 or email si- mon.berrow@1wdg.ie.