Campuses:
BioBlitz 2012 is just around the corner!Friday, June 8, 5 p.m. - Saturday, June 9, 5 p.m.
Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, Bethel, MN
BioBlitz is a 24-hour survey in which the public helps scientists find all the plants and animals at a specific location. Part contest, part festival, part educational event and part scientific endeavor, Minnesota BioBlitz brings together scientists from across the state in a race against time!
Each year, BioBlitz attracts hundred of families and scientists from around the state who use sonar detectors, bug lights, live traps and laptops to count and chronicle an area's flora and fauna. BioBlitz 2012 will take place at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve, where the western prairies, northern evergreen forests and leafy forests of the east all converge in a remarkable combination of plants and animals over nine square miles.
Volunteers of all ages and skill levels can take part, working alongside biologists to collect plants and insects and live-trap animals, which are identified before being released back into the wild.
All events are free of charge and open to the public. All participants should check-in at the main building. Below is a tentative list of activities that will be available. No pre-registration is needed for the events, however a few activities will have limited space and sign-up and check-in will be available at the Cedar Creek Main building during the BioBlitz. More activities may be added as the event draws near, so be sure to check back!
5 p.m.-dusk Beginner BioBlitz trail (ongoing, self-guided)
5 p.m.-10 p.m. ExploraDome programs in main building (on-going)
7 p.m. Cedar Creek Artist in Residence talk
8 p.m. Evening animal survey - bats, frogs
9 p.m. -11 p.m. Evening insect collecting
6 a.m. Bird Walk
8 a.m.- 4 p.m. Beginner BioBlitz trail (ongoing, self-guided)
8 a.m. Mammal Survey - small mammals
9 a.m.-5 p.m. BioBlitz Resource Fair (main building)
9 a.m. Snake Walk (limited to 10, sign up day-of)
10 a.m. Fish survey - location TBD
11 a.m. Ants
Noon Insect sweep netting
1 p.m. Geocaching
2 p.m. Camera trap retrieval (limit 6, sign up day-of)
3 p.m. TBD
4 p.m.-5p.m. Species Identification and number countdown
The site has no paved trails, so be prepared to walk on uneven surfaces. Participants should bring their own sunscreen, insect repellent and drinking water, and wear clothes and shoes that are comfortable for walking in tall grass. If you plan to participate in aquatic activities, be certain to wear clothing (or a swimsuit) that can get wet. For safety reasons, we cannot allow bare feet.
from Minnesota BioBlitz Coordinator Jennifer Menken
Q. What is the Minnesota BioBlitz?
A. BioBlitz is an intensive 24-hour survey to find all the plants and animals at a specific location and a 24-hour survey in which the public helps scientists find different plants and animals. Designed as part contest, part festival, part educational event, part scientific endeavor, Minnesota BioBlitz brings together scientists from across the state in a race against time.
Q. What's the goal of Minnesota BioBlitz?
A. The goal is to count as many species of plants and animals in a particular area within a 24-hour time frame. But BioBlitz is also designed to increase the public's awareness of the variety of life in their immediate neighborhood.
Q. What can a participant expect to see?
A. We usually hear the word "biodiversity" in regard to rainforests with their vast number of species. Yet the diversity of life in our own backyards is phenomenal. We take for granted clean water, fertile soil, and air to breathe. Yet these are all the result of working ecosystems filled with species that perform these tasks. While species range greatly depending on the location, expect to see everything from lake trout to red fox at this year's site.
Q. What happens to the data collected at Minnesota BioBlitz?
A. BioBlitz generates a list of species found at a chosen location, a first step in successful natural resource management. Minnesota BioBlitz has the potential to identify species that should be monitored or controlled. It may identify unique aspects of the area that might otherwise not have been known. This information along with recommendations from the scientists is supplied to the host site.