Celebrate Bioblitz Week 2025 with Nature at McMaster!

September 21-28 is Bioblitz Week 2025!

Migrating birds are passing through the city every day, wildflowers are blooming, and wildlife is taking advantage of the last warm days before the winter. With all this biological activity, it is the perfect time to get out and observe some amazing wildlife.

But what if you don’t know the difference between a wasp and a bee, or can’t tell a tree swallow from a barn swallow? Fortunately, there are lots of great resources available to develop your nature knowledge while contributing to scientific data collection. One of the most exciting ways to do this is participate in a Bioblitz!

What is a Bioblitz?

A Bioblitz is an effort to observe as many species as possible in a specific location and over a specific period of time. For example, a neighbourhood group might organize a Bioblitz at a local park on a particular afternoon. Event attendees would record species counts, along with the time, date, behaviour, and weather information. An event like this would collect data on when and where species are found, which contributes to a better understanding of wildlife abundance, distribution, and behaviour.

A Bioblitz may also have an educational or interpretive component, where experts discuss ecology, species identification, and data collection methods throughout the event. In the example given above, the neighbourhood group might call in a bird expert to help identify bird calls. Virtual Bioblitzes, where participants coordinate online to observe species at particular locations or across an entire region over a period of time, can make Bioblitzes more accessible.

Because Bioblitzes provide an opportunity to observe a wide variety of species and get observation and identification tips from experts, they are a great way to expand your knowledge of local biodiversity.

Nature at McMaster Bioblitz Events

Nature at McMaster has a community bioblitz event planned for Bioblitz Week on September 27. See the link below and join our event!

• September 17, 18 – Clubfest Campus Bioblitz (link)
• September 27 – McMaster Forest Community Bioblitz (link)

Nature at McMaster also has availability to run bioblitzes for other groups. If you are a group organizer that would be interested in collaborating on a bioblitz, please reach out to us at nature@mcmaster.ca!

Bioblitz Tools

A variety of tools and equipment can help to observe a wider range of species at a Bioblitz. Some useful tools include:

• Binoculars and telescopes
• Nets (for insects and fish)
• Cameras
• Field guides
• Jars/containers/aquariums
• Magnifying lenses
• Moth light traps
• Identification apps like iNaturalist, Seek, and Merlin

How to Get Involved

A Bioblitz is an amazing opportunity to learn more about nature, and Nature at McMaster has the perfect opportunity for you! During Bioblitz Week, we will be organizing multiple bioblitz events for a variety of audiences. If you are a campus or external group, contact us to inquire about organizing a bioblitz for your group. If you are are a McMaster student, check out our table at Clubfest to join our campus bioblitz (link). Otherwise, please join us at our public McMaster Forest Bioblitz on Saturday, September 27!

If you missed our bioblitz events, there will always be other bioblitz opportunities. Conservation organizations will often run bioblitzes, so research what organizations are active in your area and you may find a group that hosts Bioblitzes. Spring and fall are particularly popular times of year to run a Bioblitz, so keep an eye out at those times. However, if you can’t find any organizations in your area hosting Bioblitzes, another option is to host your own! You can reach out to local experts and land managers to find people in your area with interest and expertise, and advertise to local groups like naturalists’ clubs and hiking groups. For further reading on hosting your own Bioblitz, check out the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s resources:

https://cwf-fcf.org/en/resources/downloads/booklets-handouts/Bioblitz_in_a_Box_EN.pdf

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<h2>September 21-28 is Bioblitz Week 2025!</h2> <p>Migrating birds are passing through the city every day, wildflowers are blooming, and wildlife is taking advantage of the last warm days before the winter. With all this biological activity, it is the perfect time to get out and observe some amazing wildlife.</p> <p>But what if you don’t know the difference between a wasp and a bee, or can’t tell a tree swallow from a barn swallow? Fortunately, there are lots of great resources available to develop your nature knowledge while contributing to scientific data collection. One of the most exciting ways to do this is participate in a Bioblitz!</p> <h3>What is a Bioblitz?</h3> <p>A Bioblitz is an effort to observe as many species as possible in a specific location and over a specific period of time. For example, a neighbourhood group might organize a Bioblitz at a local park on a particular afternoon. Event attendees would record species counts, along with the time, date, behaviour, and weather information. An event like this would collect data on when and where species are found, which contributes to a better understanding of wildlife abundance, distribution, and behaviour.</p> <p>A Bioblitz may also have an educational or interpretive component, where experts discuss ecology, species identification, and data collection methods throughout the event. In the example given above, the neighbourhood group might call in a bird expert to help identify bird calls. Virtual Bioblitzes, where participants coordinate online to observe species at particular locations or across an entire region over a period of time, can make Bioblitzes more accessible.</p> <p>Because Bioblitzes provide an opportunity to observe a wide variety of species and get observation and identification tips from experts, they are a great way to expand your knowledge of local biodiversity.</p> <h2>Nature at McMaster Bioblitz Events</h2> <p>Nature at McMaster has a community bioblitz event planned for Bioblitz Week on September 27. See the link below and join our event!</p> <ul> <li>September 17, 18 – Clubfest Campus Bioblitz (<a href="https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/nature-at-mcmaster-campus-bioblitz-2025">link</a>)</li> <li>September 27 – McMaster Forest Community Bioblitz (<a href="https://www.eventbrite.ca/cc/mcmaster-bioblitz-collection-4241333">link</a>)</li> </ul> <p>Nature at McMaster also has availability to run bioblitzes for other groups. If you are a group organizer that would be interested in collaborating on a bioblitz, please reach out to us at nature@mcmaster.ca!</p> <h4>Bioblitz Tools</h4> <p>A variety of tools and equipment can help to observe a wider range of species at a Bioblitz. Some useful tools include:</p> <ul> <li>Binoculars and telescopes</li> <li>Nets (for insects and fish)</li> <li>Cameras</li> <li>Field guides</li> <li>Jars/containers/aquariums</li> <li>Magnifying lenses</li> <li>Moth light traps</li> <li>Identification apps like iNaturalist, Seek, and Merlin</li> </ul> <h3>How to Get Involved</h3> <p>A Bioblitz is an amazing opportunity to learn more about nature, and Nature at McMaster has the perfect opportunity for you! During Bioblitz Week, we will be organizing multiple bioblitz events for a variety of audiences. If you are a campus or external group, contact us to inquire about organizing a bioblitz for your group. If you are are a McMaster student, check out our table at Clubfest to join our campus bioblitz (<a href="https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/nature-at-mcmaster-campus-bioblitz-2025">link</a>). Otherwise, please join us at our public McMaster Forest Bioblitz on Saturday, September 27!</p> <p>If you missed our bioblitz events, there will always be other bioblitz opportunities. Conservation organizations will often run bioblitzes, so research what organizations are active in your area and you may find a group that hosts Bioblitzes. Spring and fall are particularly popular times of year to run a Bioblitz, so keep an eye out at those times. However, if you can’t find any organizations in your area hosting Bioblitzes, another option is to host your own! You can reach out to local experts and land managers to find people in your area with interest and expertise, and advertise to local groups like naturalists’ clubs and hiking groups. For further reading on hosting your own Bioblitz, check out the Canadian Wildlife Federation’s resources:</p> <p>https://cwf-fcf.org/en/resources/downloads/booklets-handouts/Bioblitz_in_a_Box_EN.pdf</p>

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