BioBlitz
Table of Contents
Introduction
"A BioBlitz, also written without capitals as bioblitz, is an intense period of biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within a designated area. Groups of scientists, naturalists, and volunteers conduct an intensive field study over a continuous time period (e.g., usually 24 hours). There is a public component to many BioBlitzes, with the goal of getting the public interested in biodiversity. To encourage more public participation, these BioBlitzes are often held in urban parks or nature reserves close to cities.[1] Research into the best practices for a successful BioBlitz has found that collaboration with local natural history museums can improve public participation.[2] As well, BioBlitzes have been shown to be a successful tool in teaching post-secondary students about biodiversity. [3]" - Wikipedia: BioBlitz
Benefits of a BioBlitz
Citizen Science
This refers to activities and practices that serve to both encourage the regular public to get more involved with and supportive of science, while at the same time helping to gather important data for specific scientific purposes.
Small, one-time events like BioBlitzes can serve as a "gateway drug" that stoke people's enthusiasm for science and encourages them to find more ways to get involved with their local science communities.
Click the Citizen Science button to find citizen science projects in your region (or even globally!). You can also scroll down to the Organizations section to find science organizations and programs helping to promote citizen engangement around the world.
Social Events Promote Mental Health Benefits
Outside Events Can Work Like Green Prescriptions
BioBlitz Locations
A BioBlitz can be done pretty much anywhere, but the following are places that are commonly used, or that may make sense depending on the goal of your BioBlitz.
Public or Private Gardens
Your local museum may have gardens and choose to host a BioBlitz to keep track of insect or plant populations over time.
Communities can use their public green spaces to see how their community's actions (such as mowing and pesticide use) impact their local wildlife.
Green roofs may not host many large animals, but they can be an important haven for pollinators including insects and birds. A large roof, say on top of a museum, school, or other large building may be big enough to allow for a bioblitz.
National Parks & Nature Reserves
These can benefit greatly from a large BioBlitz group. Data gathered can help park managers see how well their conservation efforts are working, and if any interventions (such as invasive weed management) are needed to help maintain the park's biodiversity healthy.
Teachers
If you want to get your students pumped up about, and familiar with your local wildlife, a BioBlitz can be a great way to help them jump in!
You may want to collaborate with an existing organization, maybe take a school trip to on of your local parks or museums, but a school yard can work just as well. In fact, you and your students might be surprised at what you find there.
If you find very little life outside, then that information could be an indicator to focus future activities that boost biodiversity before your next BioBlitz.
Make sure to keep notes of which species were found, their numbers, and any other relevant data, so you can see how this data changes each year. You and your students may also be interested in wildlife monitoring, for example with bird watching or wildlife camera traps.
BioBlitzes by Location
International
The Great Southern BioBlitz (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist. As we are international, in Spanish we are known as 'Gran Biobúsqueda del Sur', while in Portuguese we are known as ''."
Africa
The Great Southern BioBlitz (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist."
Angola
The Great Southern BioBlitz (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist."
Botawana
The Great Southern BioBlitz (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist."
Congo
The Great Southern BioBlitz (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist."
Kenya
The Great Southern BioBlitz (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist."
Mauritius
The Great Southern BioBlitz (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist. As we are international, in Spanish we are known as 'Gran Biobúsqueda del Sur', while in Portuguese we are known as ''."
Mozambique
The Great Southern BioBlitz (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist."
Namibia
The Great Southern BioBlitz (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist."
South Africa
The Great Southern BioBlitz (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist."
Tanzania
The Great Southern BioBlitz (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist."
Uganda
The Great Southern BioBlitz (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist."
Zambia
The Great Southern BioBlitz (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist."
Zimbabwe
The Great Southern BioBlitz (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist."
Asia
Hong Kong
In Traditional Chinese this has been referred to as: 生態速查 (Ecological quick check).
Hong Kong BioBlitz 香港生態速查 (facebook page)
Malaysia
MY Garden Birdwatch offers a count sheet with photos and bird names.
Europe
Alien CSI Bioblitz 👽 "a citizen science project to engage society in invasive species monitoring. Welcome to the second edition of the Alien CSI Bioblitz, a 3-days event across Europe! Join and help us to detect as many invasive alien species as possible!"
Hungary / Magyarország
Ireland / Éire
BioBlitz: Celebrating Ireland's Wildlife "Island BioBlitz will see Cape Clear (Oileán Chléire), Bere Island (Oiléan Béarra), Inis Mór, Clare Island (Oileán Chliara) and Tory Island (Oileán Thoraí) competing against each other to see which island can record the most species"
Turkey / Türkiye
Alien CSI Bioblitz 👽 "a citizen science project to engage society in invasive species monitoring. Welcome to the second edition of the Alien CSI Bioblitz, a 3-days event across Europe! Join and help us to detect as many invasive alien species as possible!"
North America
Canada
Get to Know BioBlitz[18] started in 2010 to celebrate the international year of biodiversity. In a partnership with Parks Canada there were many sites all across Canada which celebrated bioblitzes on the international day of biodiversity (May 22).
British Columbia
Burnaby Lake Regional Park: BioBlitz " This bioblitz has much public participation with many activities including pond-dipping, nature walks and meeting live animals up close. The species count currently stands at 488, including a Western Screech Owl, Red-legged Frog, Brassy Minnows and Common Fern which, despite its name, had never been found in the area before."
Ontario
Ontario BioBlitz "Bringing together species experts, citizen scientists, as well as the general public and a host of volunteers, the Ontario BioBlitz links a series of biodiversity inventory events across Ontario that aim to showcase the species richness we can find right in our own backyards. The flagship GTA event sees 400+ participants each year. The event takes place over a 24-hour period all within in a local watershed—the Don River Watershed for 2015. The Ontario Bioblitz is a program led by ROM Biodiversity along with its partners from the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario (BIO), the Canadian Wildlife Federation, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ontario Nature, the Toronto Zoo and the Toronto Region Conservation Authority."
New Brunswick
México
Rancho Komchén de los Pájaros does an annual bioblitz using iNaturalist
USA
Hawaii
Several schools including elementary schools in Hawaii run annual bioblizes with their students. At least one does them in the Summer and the Winter.
Oceana
The Great Southern BioBlitz (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist."
Australia
Bush Blitz "is Australia’s largest nature discovery program Around three-quarters of Australia’s biodiversity is still waiting to be discovered by science. Bush Blitz is a unique cross-sector partnership that organises expeditions to document plants and animals across Australia."
The Great Southern BioBlitz (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist."
New South Wales
The Atlas of Life in the Coastal Wilderness has run three successful bioblitzes – in Bermagui 2012, Pambula 2014 and Mimosa Rocks National Park 2014. The Atlas of Life works in association with the Atlas of Living Australia (the national biodiversity database)
Tasmania
takayna BioBlitz The Bob Brown Foundation runs an annual takayna BioBlitz in Tasmania, Australia. The takayna BioBlitz is a festival of science in nature, held in one of the world's last truly wild places. This event brings together scientists, experts, naturalists and members of the public for a weekend of environmental scientific discovery.
Victoria
Melbourne BioBlitz "Help us discover and document the unique animals, plants and fungi that call Melbourne home.
Over the past few years, we have brought experts and members of the community together through our BioBlitz events to discover, document, and learn about the species that call our city home."
Western Australia
The Woodland Watch Project "Based in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt Region, WWF-Australia's Woodland Watch began in 2000 to enhance the conservation of tall eucalypt woodlands on private lands in the Western Australian Wheatbelt. Woodland Watch was created in response to a need to arrest the decline of woodlands within the Wheatbelt. Eucalypt woodlands in this area of Western Australia have been cleared throughout most of their original range (approximately only 3% of some of the woodlands still exist)."
Fiji
The Great Southern BioBlitz (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist."
New Caledonia
The Great Southern BioBlitz (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist."
New Zealand
The Great Southern BioBlitz (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist."
Landcare Research, in conjunction with colleagues in other institutes and agencies, held BioBlitzes in Auckland in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2008; and in Christchurch in 2005. A BioBlitz was planned for early April 2009 in Christchurch. Other New Zealand BioBlitzes have been held in Hamilton and in Wellington.
The first marine BioBlitz occurred on the Wellington South Coast over a month, since a marine BioBlitz is trickier weatherwise than a terrestrial one.
In March 2012 Forest and Bird organised a BioBlitz on the Denniston Plateau on the West Coast of the South Island. It is the site of the proposed Escarpment Mine Project.[37]
Vanuatu
The Great Southern BioBlitz (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist."
South America
The Great Southern BioBlitz (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist. As we are international, in Spanish we are known as 'Gran Biobúsqueda del Sur', while in Portuguese we are known as ''."
Argentina
Gran Biobúsqueda del Sur (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist."
Bolivia
Gran Biobúsqueda del Sur (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist."
Brazil
Grande BioBlitz do Hemisfério Sul (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist."
Chile
Gran Biobúsqueda del Sur (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist."
Colombia
Gran Biobúsqueda del Sur (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist."
Ecuador
Gran Biobúsqueda del Sur (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist."
Paraguay
Gran Biobúsqueda del Sur (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist."
Uruguay
Gran Biobúsqueda del Sur (GSB) "is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.
The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist."
Resources & Guides
Asia
Hong Kong
Europe
UK
The National History Consortium: Run Your Own BioBlitz "Want to run your own BioBlitz event? We’ll help you get the most out of it. Take a look at our guidance and resources for putting on a successful wildlife recording event."
Organizations & Networks
Europe
Alien CSI Bioblitz 👽 "a citizen science project to engage society in invasive species monitoring. Welcome to the second edition of the Alien CSI Bioblitz, a 3-days event across Europe! Join and help us to detect as many invasive alien species as possible!"
UK
North America
Canada
Info to Check Through & Organize
Pakistan
The first BioBlitz in Pakistan was organized at Hazarganji Chiltan National Park on April 15, 2023, by The First Steps School.[38]
Poland
The first BioBlitz in Poland was organized in Sopot in May 2008 by the Polish Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences.[39]
Portugal
Faro was the first city in Portugal to have a BioBlitz, in October 2009.
Singapore
The Singapore National Parks (NParks) Community in Nature (CIN) program have been running BioBlitz in various parks and gardens across Singapore to coincide with the International Day for Biological Diversity.[40]
Slovenia
Slovene's first BioBlitz took place on May 19/20, 2017, in Draga (in central Slovenia).[41] The event was conducted during the project "Invazivke nikoli ne počivajo: Ozaveščanje o in preprečevanje negativnega vpliva invazivnih vrst na evropsko ogrožene vrste" and supported by the Slovene Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning. The event was held in cooperation with Societas herpetologica slovenica, the Botanical Society of Slovenia, the Centre for Cartography of Fauna and Flora, and the Slovene Dragonfly Society. During the event, 124 experts participated and 1,588 different species were found.[42]
BioBlitz Slovenia 2018 was held in Rače (in northeastern Slovenia) on June 15/16. Altogether, 71 experts from 21 different organisations participated, and at the end of the 24-hour event 934 species or higher taxon were identified.[43] BioBlitz Slovenia 2018 was organised by four NGOs: Societas herpetologica slovenica, the Slovene Dragonfly Society, the Botanical Society of Slovenia, and the Centre for Cartography of Fauna and Flora.
A third BioBlitz Slovenia took place on May 17/18, 2019, in the Lož Karst Field.[44] As a part of the project "Še smo tu – domorodne vrste še nismo izrinjene", it was supported by the Slovene Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning. Eighty experts participated and 899 different species were found.[45] BioBlitz Slovenia 2019 was organised by three NGOs: Societas herpetologica slovenica, the Slovene Dragonfly Society, and the Centre for Cartography of Fauna and Flora.[46]
The results of the events are published in print and on-line media and journals, also together with the list of species.[47] BioBlitz Slovenia became a traditional annual event and has its own webpage.[48]
Spain[edit]
In Formentera (Balearic Islands), during the Posidonia Festival 2008, there was a bioblitz.[49]
Barcelona (Catalonia) hosts a BioBlitz yearly since 2010, organized by Barcelona City Council, University of Barcelona and Natural History Museum of Barcelona, in collaboration with several naturalist and scientific societies. First BioBlitzBcn was held in June 2010 at Laberint d'Horta and Parc de la Ciutadella. Second in October 2011 at Jardí Botànic de Barcelona. Third in May 2012 at Jardí Botànic Històric.
The university of Almeria organizes the AmBioBlitz in April yearly since 2018, with the collaboration of CECOUAL (Centre of Scientific Collections of the University of Almería) and Observation.org [50]
The Pablo de Olavide University, from Seville, will host in April 2021 its first BioBlitz in collaboration with Observation.org and Biological Station of Doñana-CSIC[51]
Sweden[edit]
Sweden's first BioBlitz was organized in Röttle (Gränna) on the 4th and 5 August 2012.[52]
On the 7th and 8 September 2012 a BioBlitz was organized in Fliseryd near the river Emån.[53] A total of 345 species were reported in this former industrial site on islands in the river.[54]
Sweden's fourth BioBlitz will be organized in Högsby on June 5 and 6 2014.
Taiwan[edit]
Taipei 228 Peace Park 2008 BioBlitz on December 20, sponsored by Taiwan Forestry Bureau and National Taiwan Museum, found more than 180 plants, 11 birds and 1 mammal.
Trinidad & Tobago[edit]
Tucker Valley Bioblitz 2012 was the first bioblitz in Trinidad and possibly the Caribbean. It was organised by Mike G. Rutherford, curator of the University of the West Indies Zoology Museum (UWIZM) with help from the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club (TTFNC) and was sponsored by First Citizens Bank. The 24-hour event found 654 species – 211 plants and 443 animals.[55]
Arima Valley Bioblitz 2013 was based at the Asa Wright Nature Centre. The event found 139 vertebrates, 247 invertebrates, 30 fungi, 7 diatoms and 317 plants making a total of 740 species.[56]
Nariva Swamp Bioblitz 2014 was based at the Forestry Division Field Station near Bush Bush Forest Reserve, the teams found 742 species.[57]
Charlotteville Bioblitz 2015 was the first event to take place in Tobago. Based at the Environmental Research Institute Charlotteville (ERIC) there was a large marine component and all together 1,044 species were recorded.[58]
Port of Spain Bioblitz 2016 took the event to the nation's capital and included a Nature Fair with over 20 local NGOs, government organisations and charity groups putting on a biodiversity and environmental display. 762 species were found in and around the city.[59]
Icacos Bioblitz 2017 was the final event organised by Rutherford and took the bioblitz to the far south-west of Trinidad and recorded 769 species.[60]
Toco Bioblitz 2018 was organised by a committee made up of TTFNC members and staff from the University of the West Indies Department of Life Sciences from the St. Augustine campus. The north-east corner of Trinidad yielded 906 species records.[61]
United Kingdom[edit]
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Natural History Consortium host the National BioBlitz Network hosting free resources for running a BioBlitz event and the national BioBlitz Calendar.[63] www.bnhc.org.uk
Examples of regions and organisations which have held BioBlitz events include:
First UK Marine BioBlitz undertaken by the Marine Biological Association and the Natural History Museum together with other partners. Wembury, South Devon 2009[64]
Bristol – Organised by Bristol Natural History Consortium
Northumberland – Organised by Northumberland Biodiversity Network
New Forest National Park – Organised by New Forest National Park Authority
Swansea – Organised by Swansea City Council
Cairngorms – Organised by Cairngorms Biodiversity
Dundee – Organised by Dundee City Council
Leicester – Organised by Leicester City and County Council
Isle of Wight – Organised by Isle of Wight Council
London – Organised by OPAL
Derby – Organised by Derby City Council
Brighton – Organised by Sussex Wildlife Trust
Bath – Organised by Bristol Natural History Consortium
Mothecombe, Devon, – Marine and coastal BioBlitz – Organised by OPAL and the Marine Biological Association[65]
Jersey – Organised by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
Fife – Organised by Fife Coast and Countryside Trust and "Celebrating Fife 2010"
Cambridge – Organised by Cambridge University
Lincolnshire – Organised by Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust
Nottingham – Organised by Nottinghamshire Biodiversity Action Group
Flintshire – Organised by Flintshire County Council
North Ayrshire – Organised by North Ayrshire Council
Lancashire – Organised by Lancashire Wildlife Trust
Kent – Organised by Kent Wildlife Trust
Corfe Mullen – Organised by Corfe Mullen Nature Watch
Cornwall – Organised by ERCCIS
North Devon – Organised by Coastwise North Devon.[66]
Sandford – Organised by Ambios
Mount Edgcumb – Marine and coastal bioblitz organised by the Marine Biological Association[64]
United States[edit]
Alaska: The Chugach National Forest and Alaska Department of Fish & Game-Diversity Program organized the first BioBlitz in Southcentral Alaska on July 23 and 24, 2011, to coincide with the International Year of Forests.
Arizona: More than 5,500 people, including 2,000 students and 150 scientists, attended the 2011 Saguaro BioBlitz, (October 21–22) and discovered 859 species during the 24 hour inventory period. Included in that total were more than 400 species, mostly invertebrate animals and non-vascular plants, which were previously unknown in the park. The accompanying Biodiversity Festival had an integrated art program that included pieces featuring local species, created by local students, seniors, and artists.
California: The Santa Monica Mountains NPS/National Geographic Society BioBlitz (May 30–31, 2008) was accomplished through collaboration with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, California State Parks, and Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department. Six thousand participants discovered more than 1,700 species during the 24 hour inventory period.
California: The San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research hosted a BioBlitz in the San Dieguito River Park on the North Shore of Lake Hodges in Escondido April 25–26.
California: The San Diego Natural History Museum began hosting a yearly BioBlitz starting in 2008. The 2008 BioBlitz was held in Balboa Park and in 2009 the event was held at Mission Trails Regional Park on May 1–2.
California: The Santa Barbara Botanic Garden organized a BioBlitz of its natural spaces in May 2007.
California: Golden Gate National Recreation Area: On March 28–29, 2014, participants in the BioBlitz at Golden Gate Park sites, including Pt. Reyes National Seashore, Muir Woods National Monument, the Presidio of San Francisco, Mori Point, and Rancho Corral de Tierra observed and recorded biodiversity in habitats ranging from the redwood canopy to windswept beaches. Highlights included the first ever canopy survey of redwoods at Muir Woods, the first-ever, park sighting of a climbing salamander in Muir Woods; sightings of great horned, spotted, barred and saw-whet owls; and a mountain lion at Corral de Tierra.
Colorado: The National Wildlife Federation has been providing a toolset based on the eNature.com species data in the Denver/Boulder metropolitan area since 2004. Results are online.
Colorado: On August 24–25, 2012, more than 150 scientists joined forces with 5,000 people of all ages and backgrounds to seek out the living creatures in Rocky Mountain National Park. Inventories took place in various ecological life zones, including ponderosa pine forests, the subalpine region, the tundra, and mountain meadows. Among the overall total of 490 species discovered, 138 were previously unknown to be in the park. A companion festival at the Estes Park Fairgrounds advanced and celebrated public awareness of biodiversity.
2016 Connecticut BioBlitz scientists at work
The Center for Conservation and Biodiversity and Connecticut State Museum of Natural History have held nine BioBlitz events since 1999.[67] The current record for a single Connecticut BioBlitz was set June 3–4, 2016 in a 5-mile radius around the Two Rivers Magnet School in East Hartford, where 2,765 species were recorded in the 24-hour period.[68] Many of the organisms sighted in the 2016 BioBlitz were documented in an online iNaturalist project.[69] The previous record was set in 2001 at Tarrywile Park in Danbury, where 2,519 species were recorded in the 24-hour period.[70][71]
District of Columbia: A BioBlitz at the Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens in Washington, D.C. in 1996 found approximately 1000 species.
Washington, D.C. 2007: The National Geographic Society held a BioBlitz in Rock Creek Park on May 18–19. The event was later on a segment of the TV series Wild Chronicles which airs on PBS. Participants included J. Michael Fay, Sylvia Earle, and Boyd Matson. The first National Park Service/National Geographic Society BioBlitz took place on May 18–19, 2007. A wide breadth of taxonomic groups was examined, including amphibians and reptiles, invertebrates, birds, fish, fungi, mammals, plants, insects, and more. The total number of species found was 661 over a 24-hour period.
Florida: In Manatee County, the local government's Department of Natural Resources (formerly Conservation Lands Management) has sponsored annual BioBlitz events, every spring since 2007. The surveys rotate between the county's different parks and preserves. This event, however, involves only a 12-hour survey instead of the standard 24-hour.
Florida: On April 30-May 1, 2010, 2,500 citizen scientists worked with their professional counterparts to explore life in one of the nation's largest marine national parks, Biscayne National Park. More than 800 species were found, including a number of species rare to the park, such as the mangrove cuckoo, and silver hairstreak butterfly. Also, 11 species of lichen and 22 species of ants were found that had not previously been documented in the park.
Illinois: The Field Museum of Natural History and other organizations held a BioBlitz in Chicago in 2002. There are several bioblitzes in parts of the forest preserves of Cook and Lake County.
Indiana: Indiana Dunes National Park – On May 16-16, 2009, more than 150 scientists, assisted by 2,000 grade school students and other members of the public, explored the sand dunes, lake shore, forests, wetlands, prairie, and streams of the recreation area. The excitement persevered through driving rain and high winds and resulted in the discovery of more than 1,200 species.
Louisiana: The NPS/National Geographic Society BioBlitz at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve (May 17–18, 2013), brought together leading scientists and naturalists from around the country and local citizens of all ages. Inventories included herpetofaunal counts, aquatic and terrestrial invertebrate inventories, avifauna observations, and native and non-native plant surveys. Participants also used technology, such as tree cameras and smartphones, to record and understand the diverse ecosystems of this unique national park. At the time of the event's closing ceremony, 458 species had been identified, including a rare Louisiana milk snake, 288 plants, and 122 invertebrate species.
Maine: The Maine Entomological Society[72] and other organizations have been holding Entomological BioBlitzes at Acadia National Park every summer since 2003. Results of the 2003-2011 blitzes were summarized by Chandler et al., 2012,[73] showing that 1,605 species representing 348 families of insects were taken and identified over the 8-year period. Many were new to the Park fauna, and a significant number were also new to the known state fauna.
Maryland/DC/Virginia, 2006: The Nature Conservancy sponsored a Potomac Gorge BioBlitz where more than 130 field biologists and experienced naturalists volunteered their expertise in an effort to see how many species they could find. During a 30-hour survey period from Saturday, June 24, through Sunday, June 25 their surveys revealed more than 1,000 species.
Maryland: Jug Bay BioBlitz was sponsored by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission's (M-NCPPC) Patuxent River Park staff and rangers, May 30–31, 2009.
2006 collaboration between the Boston Museum of Science and the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History. The first bioblitz in a series sponsored by the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation. The first bioblitz to utilize CyberTracker and NatureMapping technologies for data collection.
On June 25–26, 2010, a BioBlitz was held in Falmouth, Massachusetts, using town conservation land and adjacent land owned by the 300 Committee (T3C), Falmouth's land trust. Surveys for 15 taxa were planned. About 120 volunteers participated. Preliminary estimate of 930 species found but this number is likely to increase as data are finalized. Full results to be published later in 2010 on the T3C website.
On September 29, 2010, the TDWG Techno/BioBlitz[74] was held alongside the Annual Biodiversity Information Standards Conference in Woods Hole.
On July 8, 2019, the Great Walden BioBlitz was held at Walden Pond, Massachusetts, surveying a five-mile radius around Walden Woods. Organized by Peter Alden in honor of E.O. Wilson's 90th birthday and the 30th Massachusetts bioblitz, public participants were encouraged to explore Walden Woods and Minute Man NHP using the iNaturalist phone app to help document species.[75]
Minnesota: A group of organizations including the Bell Museum of Natural History has sponsored BioBlitzes in natural areas in or near the Twin Cities yearly in June since 2004.[76]
Missouri: Sponsored by the Academy of Science of St. Louis, partners from the public, academic and corporate sectors collaborate on the Academy of Science-St. Louis BioBlitz at urban parks, such as Forest Park in St Louis . Held at least once a year since 2006, the academy's BioBlitz has hosted future BioBlitz leaders from throughout the country and is a signature event of one of the oldest Academies of Science in the USA. www.academyofsciencestl.org
Odiorne Point State Park: The Seacoast Science Center has been hosting an annual BioBlitz! in September since 2003. The park's diversity of coastal habitats provides BioBlitzers the opportunity to find marine, freshwater and terrestrial species. The Center compiles and maintains each year's data.
Squam Lakes. 2008. The Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in collaboration with Squam Lakes Association and Squam Lakes Conservation Society in cooperation with the Holderness Conservation Commission, the US Forest Service Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, UNH Cooperative Extension, Plymouth State University, NH Fish and Game Department, and Ecosystem Management Consultants.
New Jersey State
Highlands, NJ
Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook Unit, 2011. On Sept. 16–17,[77] science students, along with park staff and over 150 volunteers, located nearly 450 species, mostly birds, terrestrial plants and invertebrates.
Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook Unit, 2015. On September 18–19, the American Littoral Society, in partnership with the National Park Service, hosted the second Sandy Hook BioBlitz.[78] Over 150 scientists, naturalists, and volunteers raced against the clock to identify as many species as possible. This BioBlitz found 75 birds, 12 fungi/lichen, 21 fish, 2 reptiles/amphibians, 44 marine invertebrates, 2 insects, 13 mammals, 15 aquatic plants, and 87 terrestrial plants.
New York State
Central Park, 2003. This BioBlitz found more than 800 species, including 393 species of plants, 78 of moths, 14 fungi, 10 spiders, 9 dragonflies, 2 tardigrades, 102 other invertebrates, 7 mammals, 3 turtles, 46 birds and 2 frog species. s.[79]
Central Park, 2006. In collaboration with the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation, the Explorers Club, the American Museum of Natural History and the Boston Museum of Science. This is the first bioblitz in history to incorporate the collection and analysis of microorganisms.
Central Park, 2013. On August 27–28, 2013 a BioBlitz at Central Park was held in partnership with Macaulay Honors College of CUNY. With help from the Central Park Conservancy over 350 Macaulay students worked with nearly 30 scientists and cataloged more than 460 species.[80]
New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, 2014, September 6 and 7, in partnership with Macaulay Honors College of CUNY.[81]
The Saw Mill River watershed in Westchester County, September 2009. Groundwork Hudson Valley, leading the Saw Mill River Coalition, conducted a Saw Mill River BioBlitz on September 25–26 with more than 50 scientists from a wide variety of fields. A concurrent conference on the health of the river was held at Pace University in Pleasantville that was open to the public and had activities geared for children. Funded by a grant from Westchester Community Foundation with additional support from US EPA and NYS/DEC Hudson River Estuary Program. Major co-sponsors joining the effort were Westchester County Parks, Recreation and Conservation; Teatown Lake Reservation; Pace University's Department of Biology and Health Sciences; Pace University's Academy for Applied Environmental Studies; Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society; Greenburgh Nature Center; and the Saw Mill River Audubon.
North Carolina: The North Carolina Botanical Garden in collaboration with the Morehead Planetarium sponsor an annual bioblitz in September on garden-owned property.
Ohio: The Geauga Park District has hosted an annual BioBlitz at different park district properties since 2003.
Oklahoma: The Oklahoma Biological Survey hosted an annual BioBlitz at different locations around Oklahoma starting in 2001. Their 2010 BioBlitz will be held on October 8–9 at Kaw Lake in north-central Oklahoma with a base camp at Camp McFadden.
Pennsylvania: Phipps Conservatory hosted a Bioblitz on June 10, 2018, in Pittsburgh.
Rhode Island: Rhode Island Natural History Survey has conducted a BioBlitz at a different site in the state every year since 2000, including a "backyard bioblitz" held in 2020, during COVID. Rhode Island BioBlitz may be the longest running annual BioBlitz in the world. In the 23 events through 2022, the average participation is 163 and the average species count is 1022; the record participation of 302 people and the record species count of 1,308 species were both in the Jamestown Rhode Island BioBlitz of 2012.
Vermont: The Vermont Institute of Natural Science held a BioBlitz in 2004 at Hartford.
Washington: BioBlitzes conducted using NatureTracker software on PDAs for conservation planning.[82]/
Wisconsin: The Milwaukee Public Museum (MPM) hosts an annual BioBlitz program that began in 2015. MPM events have occurred at Schlitz Audubon Nature Center in Milwaukee (2015), Grant Park in South Milwaukee (2016), Fox River Park in Waukesha (2017), Lake Farm County Park/Capitol Springs Recreation Area in Madison (2018), Riveredge Nature Center in Saukville (2019), and Whitnall Park in Franklin (2020). The non-profit Biodiversity Project held three Great Lakes BioBlitzes with support from the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program and NOAA in 2004. The sites were Riverside Park in Milwaukee; Baird Creek Parkway in Green Bay; and Wisconsin Point in Superior.
Also needs to be sorted through:
Australian Bird Count (ABC)
Bush Blitz an Australian Government variant of the concept co funded by BHP Billiton and with the participation of Earthwatch Australia[83]
Christmas Bird Count (CBC) (in the Western Hemisphere)
Seabird Colony Register (SCR)
Tucson Bird Count (TBC) (in Arizona, US)