Thank you to everyone who participated in the Spring Biodiversity Scavenger Hunt!

We hope you enjoyed exploring the site’s biodiversity. Maybe it even inspired you to take your own nature walks on the site, too.

Congratulations to Felix Schlepper (EP-AIP), who answered each question correctly and was selected in the prize draw. The CAGI Choco Pass will allow him and a plus one to spend a day sampling chocolate from shops all over Geneva.

Many thanks to the Site and Civil Engineering department, who developed the biodiversity walk website, and the CAGI Cultural Kiosk at CERN and Geneva Tourism who provided the prize.

You can find the solutions below.

Solutions

1. Eighteen species of which type of plant can be found across the CERN sites?
   A: Orchid. 18 different species were observed during the inventory conducted in the spring of 2022.
2. Which snake can be seen slithering near LHC Point 6? No need to worry, it is harmless and, if threatened, will play dead.
   A: Grass snake. Recognisable by its light collar located on the back of its head, the grass snake is a harmless snake that is often found near bodies of water.
3. Which species has yellow translucent wings and can be found near Crozet? It is not a dragonfly, even if it may look like one.
   A: Sulphur Owlfly. The Sulphur Owlfly is typically found in meadows and grassy areas where it preys on small insects, thus playing a crucial role in controlling arthropod populations.
4. Which bird, found on the Prévessin site, has the impressive multitasking skills of eating, sleeping and even mating in mid-flight?
   A: Common Swift/Black Swift. Observed at the Prévessin site, black swifts are known to spend most of their lives in flight.
5. Which common bird sings alongside a beautiful experiment?
   A: Common nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos). This bird is often considered a symbol of nature and music, highlighting the serene and beautiful environment surrounding Point 8 of the LHC.