Organizing a bioblitz in the age of iNaturalist

[Bev Wigney]

Hi everyone,

As some of you know, I now live in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia.  A few fellow naturalists have been discussing organizing a bioblitz to survey a location in our area  -- it looks as though we will be doing this on the weekend of June 21 - 22.  

My question to the members of the eastern Ontario naturelist is -- how are bioblitz events being done in the age of iNaturalist?  I read the info page from the Kingston Field Naturalist blitz and see that there is no collecting -- which was what we wanted to follow as well -- but how are things done now -- are participants taking their photos and uploading them at the time or after they are finished and have a high speed net connection?  Does anyone still set up an area for field guides, microscopes, etc.. or is that all passé?  Has anyone got any thoughts on all of this?  I'm in the process of figuring out the logistics for this, so would appreciate any input.  

thanks

bev wigney

Round Hill, NS (near Annapolis Royal)

[rmb...@istar.ca]

Hi Bev,

Each participant fills out a sheet with the common and latin names,
and what type of habitat in which the organism is found. We indicate
if the organism has been uploaded to iNat, so it can be
double-checked. And hangdangit, I just threw out a battered tally
sheet from last year or I'd scan and send it to you. A committee goes
through the lists to create a final tally, experts on birds, plants,
insects etc. go through the lists and pick out their specialties.
When I submitted my lists, I had a notebook where I wrote stuff down,
and then sorted them out and put them on separate tally sheets to make
it easier for the committee members, plants on one page, birds on
another, etc.

If it's a small group doing the Bio Blitz, I think it's possible to
create an iNat page just for that event, and give each participant the
password to upload to just that page. On my personal pages on iNat I
used the file names for the photos BB and put a note, for example
BB101robin, then I know they're separate from my other iNat
observations. I'm at a board meeting tomorrow night, I'll ask someone
on the board who is setting up the Bio Blitz to bring me or send me a
tally page and then I can upload it here for you to see.

Rose-Marie

> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "NatureList" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it,
> send an email to naturelist+...@googlegroups.com.
> To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/naturelist/CAD_MH0OGbT5voHFznPV268W0L0hm35JD8GCQkO%3DZ736gmFCzDw%40mail.gmail.com.
>

[Bev Wigney]

Thanks, Rose-Marie,

I would appreciate seeing what the tally page looks like, and also, if there is an "info page" that is handed out to participants explaining what they are supposed to do -- how to deal with observations not uploaded onto iNat, that kind of thing would be helpful.  Do they still set up an area for bringing things for identification?  I'm thinking that if people are being told not to collect or touch things, then this is either all just observed or photographed.  Anyhow, whatever info you think is relevant would be quite welcome.  

bev

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/naturelist/20250506110241.1929329f2rq4eyz5%40webmail.ca.inter.net.

[rmb...@istar.ca]

I'm heading out for an appointment, I'll give further details when I
get back this afternoon. There's a whole lotta stuff that our
committee does to ready the site and set up for the event. I'm hoping
Anne Robertson, who has been our stalwart leader for our Bio Blitzes
and who has put many, many hours into organizing them, can weigh in on
some suggestions.

>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/naturelist/20250506110241.1929329f2rq4eyz5%40webmail.ca.inter.net
>> .

>>
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> Groups "NatureList" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it,
> send an email to naturelist+...@googlegroups.com.
> To view this discussion visit

> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/naturelist/CAD_MH0OLdLTpiWZLRrPMT6YtkQ_7iVGpLRK_RAQwkpSVeYhMrQ%40mail.gmail.com.
>

[Bev Wigney]

Thanks, again, Rose-Marie.

No great rush as we're several weeks away from our planned date.  This will definitely  be more casual than the KFN bioblitzes, but it's good to get some idea of how they are done in the age of iNaturalist!!  :)

bev

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/naturelist/20250506112011.12396sl3eahy5pyj%40webmail.ca.inter.net.