Residents have a chance to contribute to the region's ecological knowledge and the chance to earn prizes for doing it through this year's BioBlitz.
The BioBlitz is an annual community effort, in which participants during a specific time frame record as many species of animals, fungi and plants as they can, and upload their findings to the iNaturalist phone app to give researchers a better understanding of what species can be found the region.
The local effort is organized by the Yellow Point Ecological Society.
Nikki Toxopeus, society board member, told the News Bulletin that the initiative is a wonderful way for community members out to learn about their local area.
"Getting to know what's in your area can help you love it more and want to protect it more," Toxopeus said. "In the past, bioblitzes were very much led by biologists … but now we have this online app called iNaturalist which is an open-access platform, free, that you can just upload your pictures and have access to a whole scientific community that helps you identify what you found."
To participate, residents are asked to take photos of animals, fungi and plants, or audio recordings of animals, between April 25-28, then upload the files to iNaturalist between April 29-May 4. The ecological society will examine the data and post results on May 15.
Previous categories from 2024 included the most observations and the rarest species, although Toxopeus said this year the categories haven't yet been selected. Prizes include naturalist books and nature-themed greeting cards.
"The first year our prize winner was an 11-year-old kid who outperformed the whole community in terms of his identifications and observations," she said. "He's helping to organize this year."
The area of study includes south Nanaimo, Cassidy and Ladysmith. Woodley Range Ecological Reserve is off-limits, and private lands still require permission to enter.
The area for this year’s BioBlitz. (Yellow Point Ecological Society/iNaturalist)
While people are welcome to contribute on their own schedule, two group walks are scheduled. One is on Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. at Ladysmith's Holland Creek trail head on Dogwood Drive, led by Jen Moss from Friends of Holland Creek. On Sunday, April 27, at 10 a.m. a walk is being held at the Cable Bay trail head on Nicola Road, led by Jain Alcock-White of Champagne Hill Botanicals.
Toxopeus said the walks are a way of meeting local biologists and naturalists, as well as contributing to the protection of the environment.
"The information you upload to iNaturalist will help us identify endangered and special species that will help us protect our local areas more. It will also help us find out new invasive species and how we are managing to control the invasive species," she said.
People can find out more information at http://yellowpointecologicalsociety.ca/2025/01/25/welcome-to-the-yes-bioblitz-2025.
