Support Citizen Science and The Riverwood Conservancy in our 2022 Spring BioBlitz
UPDATE: Our 2022 Spring BioBlitz has now concluded.
Throughout our Spring BioBlitz, citizen scientists recorded over 2,600 observations of 529 different species at Riverwood. The Riverwood Conservancy’s Board of Directors generously pledged to donate $4 to the organization for every species observed during the BioBlitz, meaning this project raised $2,116 for TRC’s environmental work!
Our prize winners are:
Most species observed: vcbull, 209 species observations, 157 of them research grade
Randomly selected participant: cflorentino
Best photograph, as voted on by a panel of TRC volunteers: Red Squirrel and Squill by ninjafrog
Congratulations to our prize winners, thank you to our Board of Directors for their philanthropic connection to the BioBlitz, and thank you to all our 2022 Spring BioBlitz participants for making this such a successful project!
Thanks to the support of Climate Impact, and with help from citizen scientists like yourself, we hope to grow our knowledge of Riverwood’s plants and animals, and the impact that climate change has on their populations through our Spring BioBlitz, which runs from April 15 to May 15. We’ll also be giving away prizes to BioBlitz participants, and every species observation you record will make a difference in supporting our essential environmental work.
Every observation you make raises funds for The Riverwood Conservancy!
Thanks a generous pledge from our Board of Directors, every species observation you record during the 2022 Spring BioBlitz will raise $4 for The Riverwood Conservancy!
At the end of the BioBlitz, we’ll tally up the number of species observations, and a grand total of $4 per species observation will be donated to TRC. We’re aiming to have approximately 500 species observations for a total donation of $2,000. The more species observations you record, the more you’ll be helping our conservation work and nature education programs!
Prizes
The account with the most SPECIES observations will win an Armstrong bird feeder, one bag of Armstrong Gourmet Blend bird seed, and a Seed Scooper.
The account that posts the best photograph, as voted on by a panel of TRC volunteers, will win a signed copy of Predators of North America by Dave Taylor.
One randomly selected account will win a Baltimore oriole saucer feeder.
Leave No Trace
We request that all who take part in this BioBlitz to follow the Leave No Trace principles. Please ensure that you:
– Plan ahead and prepare
– Stay on designated paths
– Dispose of waste properly
– Leave what you find
– Respect wildlife
– Be considerate of others
What is a BioBlitz, anyway?
A BioBlitz is a temporary event which focus is to determine a specific area’s range of biodiversity. Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth; it is a great way to understand the health of our ecosystems. Citizens like yourself go out into nature and observe and record plant and animal species, and then report them using technology or simpler means like pen and paper. All of the information reported by citizens is then compiled to develop a broader understanding of what species resides in that particular area during any time of year.
How do I take part in the BioBlitz?
We are using the iNaturalist app to submit, record, and keep track of the ongoing BioBlitz. Watch leaderboards and keep up to date with images that have been submitted and species that have been seen. You must join our project to take part in the BioBlitz.
Joining from your phone
– Download iNaturalist application (available for free from Google Play or the App Store)
– Create an account
– Click “More” > “Projects”
– Search “TRC Spring BioBlitz 2022” or find our BioBlitz page here
– Join the project
Joining from your computer
– Visit the iNaturalist website
– Create an account
– Click “Community” > “Projects”
– Search “TRC Spring BioBlitz 2022” or find our BioBlitz page here
– Join the project
How do I make observations and add images?
For help uploading images and getting started head to the iNaturalist getting started page.
What do I make observations of?
Anything and everything you see in nature at Riverwood! For this BioBlitz we are looking for three things in each observation:
An image. This can be a species of plant or animal you came across while visiting Riverwood, or it can be a track left behind by a species, like a nest, footprint, scat, fur, or leaf.
A location. This will be automatically inputted for you attached to your images. For this BioBlitz, all submissions must be made at Riverwood.
A date and time. This is typically automatically attached to your images. For this BioBlitz, all submissions must be made between April 15 and May 15, 2022.
Good luck and happy nature spotting!
