BioBlitz Canada 150 Results

Mixed Woods Plains Ecozone

  1. Rouge National Urban Park BioBlitz
Toronto, Ontario
June 2425, 2017
  • Flagship BioBlitz
  • 1,995 participants, including:
  • 295 volunteers
  • 278 experts
  • On iNaturalist:
  • 1,051 species recorded
  • 5,549 observations
  • 52 observers
/
  1. BioBlitz du Centre de plein air de Beauport/ Beauport Outdoor Centre Bioblitz
Quebec City, Quebec
September 12, 2017
  • Flagship BioBlitz
  • 905 participants, including:
  • 14 volunteers
  • 23 experts
  • On iNaturalist:
  • 214 species recorded
  • 312 observations
  • 3 observers

  1. National Capital BioBlitz de la Capitale nationale
Gatineau Park
Gatineau, Quebec
June 1011, 2017
  • Community BioBlitz
  • 616 participants
  • On iNaturalist:
  • 453 species recorded
  • 868 observations
  • 15 observers
/
  1. BioBlitz du parc du Cap-Saint-Jacques Park BioBlitz
Montreal, Quebec
April 8, 2017
October 2122, 2017
  • Community BioBlitz
  • 57 participants
  • On iNaturalist:
  • 109 species recorded
  • 109 observations
  • 1 observer

  1. rare-Norval Community BioBlitz
Norval Outdoor Education Centre
(Upper Canada College)
Norval, Ontario
October 1, 2017
  • Community BioBlitz
  • 185 participants
  • On iNaturalist:
  • 477 species recorded
  • 1,024 observations
  • 33 observers
/
  1. Thousand Islands BioBlitz
Landon Bay Centre
Thousand Islands National Park
Ontario
June 1617, 2017
  • Community BioBlitz
  • 158 participants
  • On iNaturalist:
  • 812 species recorded
  • 1,627 observations
  • 9 observers

  1. RBG/C2E BioBlitz
Royal Botanical Gardens
Hamilton, Ontario
July 2122, 2017
  • Community BioBlitz
  • 433 participants
  • On iNaturalist:
  • 1,082 species recorded
  • 2,961 observations
  • 37 observers
/
  1. Blitzing the Moraine 2017  Nobleton BioBlitz
Nobleton, Ontario
July 89, 2017
  • Community BioBlitz
  • 81 participants
  • On iNaturalist:
  • 398 species recorded
  • 457 observations
  • 7 observers

  1. rare Community BioBlitz 2017
rare Charitable Research Reserve
Cambridge, Ontario
July 1516, 2017
  • Community BioBlitz
  • 222 participants
  • On iNaturalist:
  • 940 species recorded
  • 1,690 observations
  • 50 observers
/
  1. Norfolk Forest Important Bird and
    Biodiversity Area BioBlitz
Ontario
June 1718, 2017
  • Science-Intense BioBlitz
  • 50 participants, including 40 experts
  • On iNaturalist:
  • 1,474 species recorded
  • 3,827 observations
  • 28 observers

summary

  • 4,702 participants
  • iNaturalist:
  • 4,302 unique species
  • 18,424 observations
  • Most observed species = Red-eyed Vireo
  • 301observations ofspecies at risk encompassing 46 different species:

Thursday, January 25, 2018

  • Bird's Foot Violet
  • Golden-winged Warbler
  • Goat's Rue
  • Crookedstem Aster
  • Eastern Meadowlark
  • Eastern Musk Turtle
  • Roundleaf Greenbrier
  • Cerulean Warbler
  • Bank Swallow
  • Common Hoptree
  • Prothonotary Warbler
  • Broad Beech Fern
  • Tricolored Bat
  • Louisiana Waterthrush
  • Gray Ratsnake
  • Chinook Salmon
  • Rainbow Trout
  • Bridle Shiner
  • Northern Myotis
  • Little Brown Myotis
  • Cucumber-tree
  • Eastern Milksnake
  • Butternut
  • Least Bittern
  • Wood Thrush
  • Barn Swallow
  • Eastern Hognose Snake
  • Northern Map Turtle
  • Banded Killifish
  • American Columbo
  • Rusty Blackbird
  • Grass Pickerel
  • Blanding's Turtle
  • Acadian Flycatcher
  • Bobolink
  • Monarch
  • Flowering Dogwood
  • Eastern Wood-pewee
  • Common Nighthawk
  • Spotted Wintergreen
  • Common Snapping Turtle
  • Chimney Swift
  • American chestnut
  • Canada Warbler
  • Eastern Whip-poor-will

Thursday, January 25, 2018

  • Most observed SAR = Monarch Butterfly

Highlights

Rouge National Urban Park BioBlitz

First record of the Slimy Sculpin (Cottus cognatus) in the Rouge watershed in 26 years. The species is ranked Secure[1] by NatureServe; however, it and other sculpins, including the more common Mottled Sculpin (Cottus bairdii) are threatened by the relatively recent invasion of the Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus).

The Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingii), an iconic and charismaticendangered species of the Rouge Watershed, was spotted.

The Crested Vertigo (Vertigo pygmaea), a species that is locally vulnerable with a NatureServe ranking of Imperilled to Vulnerable[2], was spotted.

Six of the eight bat species found in Ontario, including two species listed as endangered both federally and provincially  the Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus) and the Northern Myotis (Myotis septentrionalis) were spotted.

The Black Purse Web Spider (Sphodros niger), first recorded in the Toronto area at the 2013 Rouge BioBlitz (crossing the road near Base Camp at 3 a.m.), was documented and photographed again this year.

BioBlitz du Centre de plein air de Beauport/Beauport Outdoor Centre BioBlitz

Last week, we also received an email from our expert at the Quebec Insect Collection, Marie-Chantal Emond, who informed us of the presence of at least one new species: "I have another species to include to the results of the BioBlitz. This is a very pretty bug of the Reduviidae family, called Empicoris vagabundus. This species is very rarely harvested, it is a first record for the Quebec Insect Collection.

RBG/C2E BioBlitz

Through bat surveys, we now have confirmed species with nearly all of Ontario’s bats represented.

Approximately 400 species were added to the Royal Botanical Gardens’ pre-existing species list.

Blitzing the Moraine 2017  Nobleton BioBlitz

Volunteers were fascinated by what they could all find within a few hundred metres, from the mushrooms hiding in the leaf litter to the century-old trees. One group made sure to properly say “Hello” to a massive Hemlock with a hug!

Early birders identified four species-at-risk birds: Barn Swallow, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Bobolink and Eastern Meadowlark.

rareCharitable Research Reserve Community BioBlitz 2017

With the BioBlitz Canada 150 event, another ~300 species were added to rare Charitable Research Reserve’sspecies list, of which approximately one-third were discovered via BioBlitz events over the past three years.

Norfolk Forest Important Bird and Biodiversity Area BioBlitz

A rarity found during the BioBlitz, a Dickcissel, was later identified as the first nesting record in the Long Point Birding Area (which encompasses the Norfolk Forest Important Bird Area).

testimonials:

«À refaire!»

Gabriel

Bioblitz du Centre de plein air de Beauport, Québec (événement phare)

Beauport Outdoor Centre Bioblitz, Quebec City (Flagship event)

«Votre circuit sur les eaux est extraordinaire; j'ai pu photographier pour la première fois le Chevalier solitaire et le Pluvier semi-palmé.»

Emmanuel

Bioblitz du Centre de plein air de Beauport, Québec (événement phare)

Beauport Outdoor Centre Bioblitz, Quebec City (Flagship event)

“The BioBlitz was amazing. It was 24 hours of fun and exploring in one of the most biodiverse areas in Ontario with some incredible experts, and it was just a blast. I would do it again in a heartbeat; I can’t wait for the next one.”

Liv Monck-Whipp, Nature Conservancy of Canada

Norfolk Forest Science-intense BioBlitz, ON

“We weren’t quite sure what to expect when we signed up for the BioBlitz, but it turned out to be both an enjoyable and highly educational afternoon! We’ll never look at the forest or our backyard the same way again  and that’s a good thing!”

Robert Freedman, Ontario

rare-Norval Community BioBlitz

«J'ai adoré écouter le Monsieur faire le son des chouettes et des hiboux. J'ai aussi beaucoup aimé entendre les chauves-souris et quand les gens utilisaient l'appareil pour les écouter. On a aussi vu des lucioles.»

Nahia, 6 ans et demi

BioBlitz de la Capitale nationale, Gatineau, QC (événement communautaire)

National Capital BioBlitz, Gatineau, QC (Community event)

«Félicitations pour l’organisation du BioBlitz de la capitale nationale. En tant que scientifique participant à l'évènement, j’ai pu constater à quel point les gens étaient intéressés d’en apprendre sur la diversité du vivant au parc de la Gatineau et l’importance de la conservation. Entre autres, les participants ont adoré découvrir une entomofaune nocturne méconnue et contribuer au relevé d’espèces de papillons et autres insectes.»

Philippe, Scientifique

BioBlitz de la Capitale nationale, Gatineau, QC (événement communautaire)

National Capital BioBlitz, Gatineau, QC (Community event)

«J’ai eu une très belle expérience à gentiment « chasser » les papillons avec ma mère et ma nièce de 5 ans. Je ne me souviens plus de tous les noms, mais j’en ai vus des jaunes, orangés, bleus et blancs. Merci d’avoir organisé ce BioBlitz!»

Roxanne, Résidente de la région de la capitale nationale

BioBlitz de la Capitale nationale, Gatineau, QC (événement communautaire)

National Capital BioBlitz, Gatineau, QC (Community event)

“Truth be told, I am a BioBlitz junkie. I am in awe of the experts and get a huge rush from the kids, and not so little kids, discovering something new. An hour and half in we had only gone about 400 metres into the forest. The look of shock on everyone’s faces that so much time had passed and how little ground we covered and how much we had seen, and the dawning realization that there is so much life around us if we only stop to look!”

Donna L., Ontario Master Naturalist

Blitzing the Moraine 2017 (Community event), ON

“I love how the community embraces the BioBlitz and gets involved. It’s important to be here each year to catalogue change and growth.”

Heather Cray, Waterloo, University of Waterloo PhD candidate

rare Charitable Research Reserve Community BioBlitz, ON

“It was so much fun at the BioBlitz when we caught dragonflies and fish! I also thought it was very fun when we learned about birds (I loved that part). I am very happy I went!”

Kathryn Kizell, age 11, Brockville

Thousand Islands Community BioBlitz, ON

“I liked the bird walk, especially the big (peregrine) falcons. The caterpillars were good, too.”

Kiki Olivier Tailfeathers, age 6, Gananoque

Thousand Islands Community BioBlitz, ON

“The BioBlitz at Norval was a great day. I saw all sorts of different types of organisms including salamanders, praying mantises, grasshoppers and all sorts of bugs. My favourite part of the day was holding a praying mantis. We searched in several different habitats and found interesting things wherever we looked. The experts were very kind, patient and never hesitated to help us identify whatever we found.”

Alex Barclay Sharpe, age 9

rare-Norval Community BioBlitz, ON

“This was my third BioBlitz but I still learned some new things, like a group of owls is called a parliament and the largest falcon, a Gyrfalcon, is found in Canada.”

Matthew, age 12, Burlington, ON

Royal Botanical Gardens/Coots to Escarpment Community BioBlitz, ON

“One thing I love about BioBlitzes is how everyone can learn things at their level. And the best question that gets me excited like a kid on Christmas morning: ‘WHAT IS THIS WEIRD AMAZING INSECT I JUST CAUGHT?!’”

Jay Fitzsimmons, Terrestrial Ecosystems Science Specialist, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Peterborough, ON

Rouge National Urban Park Flagship BioBlitz, ON

“My group of beginner birders really appreciated not being "told" what each new bird was. They were instead given the chance to use skills to figure out all the new species. They came away with a sense of accomplishment and contributed to the data collection for the BioBlitz.”

John Hannah, Teacher and Guided Blitz Leader, Hamilton, ON

Royal Botanical Gardens/Coots to Escarpment Community BioBlitz, ON

“I feel strongly that experts must pass on the skills of the "process" of species identification. There is no better way to do this than during a BioBlitz.”

John Hannah, Teacher and Guided Blitz Leader, Hamilton, ON

Royal Botanical Gardens/Coots to Escarpment Community BioBlitz, ON

“I call our BioBlitz (“BioBlitz Canada” for this year) my best weekend of the year. For me and my daughter, those 24 hours are not just a family event. It is time spent within nature, learning about different species and being surrounded by amazing people who love biodiversity. I enjoy every minute spent with people whose eyes are sparkling during those walks through forests and meadows, along rivers and wetlands.”

Nicky Kraynyukova, naturalist and mother of an aspiring natural scientist, Thornhill, ON

Rouge National Urban Park Flagship BioBlitz, ON

“If my family hadn't been BioBlitzing, we likely wouldn't have spent time searching for and identifying the animals and plants. My kids want to do it again! Since then, they've even been BioBlitzing parts of our yard on their own because they had so much fun!”

Doug Tozer, Bird Studies Canada

Norfolk Forest Science-intense BioBlitz, ON

“I joined a BioBlitz session on lichens. It was fabulous! Prior to today, I didn’t know anything about these complex organisms; it was very interesting.”

Kae Elgie, Waterloo

rare Charitable Research Reserve Community BioBlitz, ON

“I have loved bugs for as long as I can remember. However, it was not until I spent two weeks chasing after bugs at a biological station that my eyes were opened to the beauty and the vast diversity of the insects (and all other living things) in this world. Programs like BioBlitz Canada provide the same opportunity (in just 24 hours!!) for us all to learn, to see, to understand, to discover, to share our passion and to pass on our knowledge.”

Jessica Fang, Biologist with the Toronto Region Conservation Authority, Toronto, ON

Rouge National Urban Park Flagship BioBlitz, ON

“This event showcased the importance of sharing and communicating science through social media and apps like iNaturalist.”

Amanda Bichel, Bird Studies Canada

Norfolk Forest Science-intense BioBlitz, ON

“I have a new favourite app with iNaturalist!”

Crystal Allan, Grand River Conservation Authority

Norfolk Forest Science-intense BioBlitz, ON

“I was particularly impressed with the big role that iNaturalist played in the weekend. It really empowers amateur naturalists and citizen scientists to log research-grade data, in the field. It’s amazing to see how easily the data is shared, and how quickly the [iNaturalist] community is able to assist with species identification. I was very glad to see so many people signing up for, and using it.”

Owen Lucas, Peterborough, Summer Student

rare Charitable Research Reserve Community BioBlitz, ON

“Through our Canada 150 BioBlitz, we have engaged a good new group of citizen scientists, collected some very helpful observations that will aid in management planning across this very significant landscape. We also strengthened the bonds that connect our EcoPark System partners. Our group is keen to see the Canada 150 BioBlitz concept expand and grow in the coming years. We definitely want to be a part of this national movement going forward.”

Barbara McKean, Head of Education, Royal Botanical Gardens, Hamilton, ON

Royal Botanical Gardens/Coots to Escarpment Community BioBlitz, ON

LINKS

BioBlitz Canada 150 project on iNaturalist

Virtual BioBlitz Canada 150 project on iNaturalist

Website

Thursday, January 25, 2018

[1] Secure (S5): NatureServe Subnational (Provincial or Territorial) Conservation Status Rank (SRank)

[2] Imperilled to Vulnerable (S2-S3): NatureServe Subnational (Provincial or Territorial) Conservation Status Rank (SRank)