Date/Time
Date(s) - 27/09/2025
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Join Us on September 27 for a Community Bioblitz!

Migrating birds are passing through the city every day, fall wildflowers are blooming, and wildlife is taking advantage of the last warm days before the winter. With all this biological activity, it is a perfect time to get out and observe some amazing wildlife. To celebrate Bioblitz Week, Nature at McMaster is hosting a public bioblitz event at McMaster Forest Nature Preserve!

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. These efforts help to collect data on when and where species are found, which can be used by scientists and land managers to support research and conservation efforts. A Bioblitz may also have an educational or interpretive component, where experts discuss ecology, species identification, and data collection methods throughout the event. 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.

Event Details

The Nature at McMaster Community Bioblitz will take place on Saturday, September 27 at McMaster Forest Nature Preserve (1105 Lower Lions Club Rd, Hamilton, ON L9H 5E3) from 12 pm to 5 pm. This event is open to the public. Any and all are welcome, so invite your friends!

There will be an early morning bird census before the main event period. During the main event, there will be three bioblitz sessions. Each session will have the option of joining multiple groups led by different experts, and attendees can choose the expert whose focus interests them the most. Since there will be three sessions, attendees will be able to explore and observe a variety of categories of wildlife.

To join the main event, please arrive at 12:00 pm for registration and introduction. After this point attendees can come and go as they please.

Please register for the Bioblitz at Eventbrite! (link)

Event Schedule:

• 7:30 am – Morning Bird Census
• 12:00 pm – Introduction
• 12:30 pm – Session 1
• 2:00 pm – Session 2
• 3:30 pm – Session 3
• 4:30 pm – Question and Discussion Period

The Community Bioblitz will include:

• Birding
• Plant and insect identification
• Introduction to online resources for species identification (iNaturalist, Seek, Merlin etc.)
• Introduction to using field guides
• Groups led by experts on bird, plant, and insect identification

What Should I Bring?

Come prepared for an exciting day in a beautiful natural area! As you prepare for the event, please make sure to bring the essentials listed below:

• Check the forecast the day of the event and dress for the weather
• Wear long pants, socks, and durable shoes to reduce the risk of poison ivy rashes and tick bites
• Bring plenty of water and snacks, as there is no potable water access on site

There is also no bathroom access on site, so please plan your day accordingly.

Some other supplies you may want to bring include:

• Binoculars
• Camera
• Hand lens
• Field guides
• Notebook and pencil/pen
• A phone with the iNaturalist, Seek, eBird, and/or Merlin apps installed

Accessibility

This event is open to the public and to people of all levels of nature experience. However, the McMaster Forest Nature Preserve trail network is composed of narrow, uneven dirt trails with multiple hills, which could pose an accessibility issue for some people. There are four benches spaced at intervals along the trail network, but no bathrooms or potable water access available on site. Please contact us if you have any accessibility questions or concerns for this event.

iNaturalist Details

To collect nature observations made during this event, Nature at McMaster has created an iNaturalist project. To see observations made during the event as well as a leaderboard for most observations and most species observed, you can join the project by following the instructions below.

For the Android App

Open the iNaturalist app. Select the menu on the top left. Then, select “Projects”. On the Projects page, there will be a search option on the top right (symbolized with a magnifying glass). Seach up “Nature at McMaster Community Bioblitz 2025” and look for the title that matches the search and select it. On the Nature at McMaster Community Bioblitz 2025 page, select the “Join” button to join the project. This page will display the leaderboard, including your observations.

For the Apple App

Open the iNaturalist app. Select “Projects” on the bottom right. Once on the “Projects” page, type “Nature at McMaster Community Bioblitz 2025” into the search bar. When the project comes up in the search, click on it. On the “Nature at McMaster Community Bioblitz 2025” project page, click the “Join” button.

For Desktop

Open the iNaturalist website. Type “Nature at McMaster Community Bioblitz 2025” into the search bar on the top left, next to the iNaturalist logo. If necessary, filter your search for Projects. Once the project comes up, click on the “About” option to be taken to the Nature at McMaster Community Bioblitz 2025 project page. On the top right of the project page, click the “Join” button. This page will display the leaderboard, including your observations.