(Nature Conservancy Canada)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

AUGUST 1-5

National event encourages citizens to contribute to conservation and biodiversity knowledge

Jul 31, 2024 | 10:02 AM

The fourth annual Canadian Big Backyard Bioblitz runs from August 1-5 and encourages citizens to get out into nature while contributing to scientists’ collective species knowledge.

The national event, hosted by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), asks residents to take photos of as many plant and wildlife species in their immediate area as they can within the event period.

Citizens can participate solo or with a group, and as often as they want.The Big Backyard BioBlitz is described as a family-friendly activity, no matter a person’s level of knowledge about nature. Organizers say every observation can help conservation groups and scientists understand the state of local biodiversity, track at-risk species and even tackle invasive ones.

During last year’s event, officials say nearly 10,000 participants logged close to 60,000 observations across the country, with the most frequent being monarch butterflies, which are classified as endangered globally.

In Alberta, officials note that participants logged over 4,500 observations. From past years, these have included yellow warbler, plains bison, moose and persius duskywing, a butterfly species considered extirpated in eastern Canada.

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Participants can use their smartphones, tablets or digital cameras to snap photos or record audio of birds, insects, plants and other species wherever they happen to be, and then upload them to the event’s online database.

Registration can be completed and more information can be found at backyardbioblitz.ca. Once registered, participants will receive step-by-step instructions on how to participate, tips for taking great shots, fact sheets about nature near them, and be entered into a draw for a Big Backyard BioBlitz prize pack. Participants can also download learning activities from the website’s Kids’ Corner, such as scavenger hunt bingo, word searches, colouring pages and other activities for kids.

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