© Pint of Science, 2025. All rights reserved.
Join us for a night of fascinating animal behaviour. Discover why European hedgehogs are an excellent flagship species for British wildlife, why some long-tailed tits become babysitters for their relatives, and whether birds use scent to recognize family members. From hedgehogs to feathered friends, these talks will explore the surprising ways animals navigate social life.
A series of talks and interactive activities by researchers from the University of Sheffield, organised by PhD students Madhumitha Rajendran and Bronte Elliott.
A series of talks and interactive activities by researchers from the University of Sheffield, organised by PhD students Madhumitha Rajendran and Bronte Elliott.
Why do birds help their neighbours to raise their kids?
Jennifer Morinay
(Researcher, Biosciences )
Helping each other is not a behaviour restricted to humans or primates. In the long-tailed tits (small birds), some individuals play the nanny for their nephew and nieces: when they fail to reproduce one year, they redirect their energy to help bring food to offspring of family members. Jennifer explains why some decide to be nannies and others prefer not to and how important that is to understand social behaviours in humans as well.
Smelly relatives: do birds sniff out their kin?
Joey Baxter
(PhD student, Biosciences )
When we think about communication in birds, we often picture their striking plumage or beautiful song. However, birds also use scent to share information. Long-tailed tits, a familiar sight in UK gardens, often give family members a helping hand when they’re raising chicks and Joey is investigating whether these birds use their sense of smell to recognise their relatives, by studying a smelly substance they produce called preen oil.
Hedgehogs as a Flagship Species for British Biodiversity
Gracie Adams
(PhD student, Biosciences)
Flagship species are ambassadors for their habitat. Think tigers, pandas and…European hedgehogs! Nationwide efforts to reverse the rapid decline in hedgehog numbers don’t just save Britain’s favourite mammal; they help a multitude of other species and habitats, improve people’s quality of life and, the best part is, EVERYONE can play a part! Come along to learn about how hedgehogs are ambassadors for biodiversity in the UK and how YOU can help!
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Other The Lescar events
2025-05-19
Climate Change and Ecosystem Shifts
The Lescar
303 Sharrow Vale Rd, Sheffield, S11 8ZF, United Kingdom
2025-05-21
The Birds and the Bees
The Lescar
303 Sharrow Vale Rd, Sheffield, S11 8ZF, United Kingdom