The big weekend quiz from Aberdeen City Council Countryside Ranger Service

Aberdeen City Council Countryside Ranger Service manages countryside sites, promotes biodiversity and has provided some great questions for this week’s quiz...

The Aberdeen City Council Countryside Ranger Service aims to promote biodiversity in the city and offers educational opportunities for people of all ages and abilities.

It manages countryside sites throughout the city, including Local Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Rangers work with volunteers on conservation and site maintenance, and run a varied outdoor events programme.

The rangers can facilitate outdoor learning sessions for groups on a wide range of topics, teaching people about the local environment, biodiversity and conservation. Popular subjects include pond dipping, mini-beast hunts, shelter building and tree study.

For more information, visit aberdeencity. gov.uk/services/leisure-culture-andparks/countryside-ranger-service Here, the service has put together a quiz to test your knowledge of the countryside.

1. Which of Aberdeen’s four Local Nature Reserves is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest?

A. Kincorth Hill

B. Den of Maidencraig

C. Scotstown Moor

2. What is Aberdeen’s smallest native bird?

A. Blue tit

B. Goldcrest

C. Firecrest

3. What are these – stinkhorn, fly agaric, cep, dyer’s mazegill?

A. Fungi

B. Mosses

C. Flowers

4. Which of these is a moth? A. Orange-tip

B. Smoky wainscot C. Small tortoiseshell

5. In Doric, what is a “Foggy Bummer”? A. Honeybee

B. Ladybird

C. Bumblebee

6. What links these – bell, damselfly, tit, bottle?

A. Fly

B. Green

C. Blue

7. What animals support Aberdeen’s coat of arms?

A. Leopards

B. Lions

C. Unicorns

8. What are baby red squirrels called?

A. Pups B. Kittens C. Squirrelings

9. The lichen Xanthoria parietina is what colour?

A. Yellow-orange

B. Blue-purple

C. Light grey

10. What defends itself by spitting a foul-smelling oil?

A. Fulmar

B. Soldier beetle

C. Striped millipede

11. Which orchid will you find growing in wet or damp locations?

A. Early purple orchid

B. Northern marsh orchid C. Pyramidal orchid

12. Name a flower you will find in spring? A. Primrose

B. Cow parsley

C. Rose

13. What tree will you find growing close to rivers?

A. Willow B. Rowan C. Corsican pine

14. What do shrews and whales have in common?

A. They live in the sea

B. They live on land

C. They are mammals

15. What was rare in Aberdeen 10 years ago but is now doing well?

A. Herring gull

B. Roe deer

C. Red squirrel

16. Which insect has jointed wings? A. Ants

B. Hover flies

C. Mayflies

17. How do butterflies and moths get the colours and patterns on their wings?

A. It all comes from what they eat B. The flowers they visit

C. Scales on the wings

18. Name an animal you will not find in a rock pool.

A. Crab

B. Toad

C. Jelly fish

19. What should be in the countryside? A. Plastic

B. Trees

C. Glass

20. What things can you do to help wildlife?

A. Take your litter home

B. Leave only footprints

C. Both of the above

21. What bird is commonly known as a peewit?

A. Oystercatcher

B. Lapwing

C. Redshank

22. How many full-time Countryside Rangers does Aberdeen City Council have? A. 10.4

B. 2

C. 3.6

23. To what length can a North Sea bottlenose dolphin grow?

A. 1.2m (3.9ft)

B. 2m (6.5ft)

C. 4m (13ft)

24. What rare Aberdeen resident used to be known as sweet mart due to the smell of its droppings?

A. Pine marten

B. Sand marten

C. Beach marten

25. What tree has the family name Corylus?

A. Ash B. Scots pine C. Hazel

26. Nether Don once had a commercial net-fishing site, but what did they catch? A. Atlantic salmon

B. Langoustines

C. Carp

27. How many native members of the mustelid family can still be found in Aberdeen?

A. One

B. Three

C. Five

28. What is the highest point in Aberdeen? A. Mount Keen

B. Brimmond Hill

C. School Hill

29. Which of these birds walks underwater in search of food? A. Oystercatcher

B. Shoveler

C. Dipper

30. What is the tallest bird sometimes seen in Aberdeen?

A. Grey heron

B. Common crane

C. Cormorant

HABITAT: Den of Maidencraig Local Nature Reserve boasts grassland, wetland and woodland, and is excellent for pond dipping.

Keep your eyes peeled and you may be lucky enough to spot a plethora of wildlife in and around Aberdeen.

Rangers Duncan and Rob going strimming, left, and Ranger Simon building a fire.