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Second Sunshine Coast BioBlitz, May 23 and 24, 2009 Come take a closer look at Nature and Celebrate International Day for Biological Diversity!
Click here for a MAP of BioBlitz activities and survey locations
Help us spread the word! Click here for a printable BioBlitz poster.
BIOBLITZ BASE CAMP: The BioBlitz Base Camp is the hub of the BioBlitz, equipped with microscopes, computers, and other scientific tools of the trade. The base camp will be the place were insects are pinned, fungi sorted, and pond water examined. It will be where identifications take place, species are recorded, discoveries are made, and the tally of species is recorded. Community members will have the opportunity to interact with scientists at the Base Camp and also join the experts out into the field as they undertake a variety of field sampling activities.
BIOBLITZ ACTIVITIES AND SURVEY LOCATIONS: On Friday May 22, there will be a pre-Blitz get-together at 7PM at the Grasshopper Pub (12671 Hwy 101). On Saturday May 23, BioBlitz survey areas will include Pender Hill, Francis Point Provincial Park, Francis Point Provincial Marine Park, Lily Lake, Madeira Park Government Dock, and Madeira Park Urban Centre. At 7PM, Bernard Hanby, co-author of Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest, will provide a special slideshow presentation at the Madeira Park Community Hall. Evening and night-time BioBlitz activities will include First Nations story-telling, head lamp forest walks, owl calling, batting, moth trapping, and much more. On Sunday May 24, the day will start off with a pancake breakfast at the Iris Griffith Centre. Sunday BioBlitz survey areas will include Ruby Lake Lagoon Nature Reserve, North Thormanby Island and Iris Griffith Centre Wetlands. Click here for a detailed schedule and description of survey activities and locations.
GET INVOLVED: If you would like to volunteer, or become an event sponsor, taxonomic group leader or guest speaker, please contact BioBlitz Coordinator Kattie White by phone at 604-740-2542 or by email at igcbioblitz@uniserve.com
WHAT TO BRING: Camera, headlamp, binoculars, field guides, gumboots, your favourite nature quote, and all the biological enthusiasm you can manage!
HOW TO GET THERE: Please click here for BioBlitz driving directions and ferry schedules.
The Second Sunshine Coast BioBlitz is generously sponsored by Sunshine Coast Community Foundation, BC Nature - Federation of BC Naturalists, The Hamber Foundation and the Province of BC.
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WHAT IS A BIOBLITZ?: A BioBlitz is a 24-hour count of everything that grows, creeps, crawls, hops, flies or slithers. Part contest, part festival, part educational event, and part scientific enterprise, a BioBlitz brings together scientists, naturalists and community members to count as many species as they can in a 24-hour survey.
WHEN AND WHERE? The Second Sunshine Coast BioBlitz will take place on the weekend of Saturday May 23 - Sunday May 24, 2009 to coincide with the worldwide "International Day for Biological Diversity" (May 22). On Saturday May 23, the BioBlitz Base Camp will be located in the heart of Madeira Park's urban centre, in front of the Copper Sky Cafe (12904 Madeira Park Road) and across the street from the community centre. On Sunday May 24, the Base Camp will move to the Iris Griffith Interpretive Centre (15386 Sunshine Coast Highway). 
KIDS' ACTIVITIES: The BioBlitz is a wonderful, fun activity for children of all ages. In addition to helping to search for creatures, kids will also enjoy face painting, touch tanks, and the Robert Bateman Get to Know Contest. 
