Brockville Bioblitz
The Friends of Mac Johnson Wildlife Area invite you to be part of the CRCA Brockville Bioblitz.
What is a Bioblitz?
Our Bioblitz plans to be a 24 hour period of time when specialists and enthusiasts come together at Mac Johnson Wildlife Area, (MJWA - just north of Brockville, ON) to identify and record as many different species of plants and animals as possible. The MJWA is owned and operated by the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority. Contact Claire Lefrancois: 613-342-9364
What a Bioblitz can do!
• Fun for Specialists and the Community. Everyone knows that crawling around in the woods and fields looking at plants and animals is about as good as it gets.
• Bring out the Specialists. A one day event is about the only way (short of paying) that a local area can get good taxonomic information for some groups of species.
• Identify Rare and Unique Species/Groups. By bringing together the best in the field, their insights can be used to identify uncommon or special habitats for protection and management. In some cases rare species may be uncovered.
• Document Species Diversity. The lists of species generated for the site, while incomplete, are an excellent starting place for inventories. With such talent in place information will be added even for well covered species such as birds. For example, on the Kenilworth Expedition several new bird species were added to the park list, despite being birded by local ornithologists for years.
• Media Attention! Bring together an eclectic stew of colorful mycologists, ornithologists, lichenologists, bacteriologists, herpetologists, ichthyologists, entomologists, and botanists. Sprinkle well with other suspected misanthropes and you will have reporters eating out your hand. Put that same group's publications out as bait and you won't get nary a nibble.
• Create Synergy. Bring together naturalists from various locations; add enthusiasts, the public, media and volunteers, and you have the makings of an exciting community event!
• Learning opportunities for the Community. What a day! What an opportunity to learn from experts!
• Support the MJWA Master Plan vision: This inventory will help create the foundation for other possible projects at the wildlife area. Some ideas edited from http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/blitz.html
How to get involved:
1. Contact Claire Lefrancois (613-342-9364) to discuss your interests and share ideas.
2. Sign up to take part in the planning and/or identifying:
a. Be an Ambassador: This is a VERY IMPORTANT JOB for which anyone can volunteer! Learn about the event and spread the news to everyone you know.
b. WEBSITE SUPPORT - ASAP: We need site space (ei: BrockvilleBioblitz.ca), a web
designer, and support. The most important aspects are a) to have a site that can be found easily; b) that there is a section where organizers can post up-to-date information; and c) the ability to post new, downloadable information as details are made available.) Here is an amazing example: http://www.northbranchnaturecenter.org/bioblitz/index.html
c. Taxon Leaders: act as team leaders
i. Help gather a team of survey experts and maintain quality control.
ii. Set the strategy for the team and determine who does what. (The objective is to determine how many species you have, not to put a name on each species.)
iii. Communicate with team on all aspects of the survey. Other communications about logistics can be done by the Bioblitz organizers.
d. Survey Experts: work "on the ground" to collect and count species.
e. Logistics/Survey Teams Support: planning for team needs (ie: computers, microscopes - scientists to bring their own if possible), power, extension cords, power strips, use of nature centre, tents/tables/chairs, general set-up
f. Signage/site-maps/parking: planning (road signs, on-site location/activity signs, visitor and surveyor parking), preparing, posting, on-site guidance (site-maps can be coordinated with the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority)
g. Educational Activities and/or co-coordinator: Along with the interactions between visitors and the scientists, educational activities will enhance the event. We invite EEN members from the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve and other organizations to deliver share their knowledge/programs with the public. A co-coordinator is also required.
h. Advertising: Help get the word out to the public and officials through radio, television, newspapers, posters, flyers, signs and other creative means.
i. Press Contact: a spokesperson for media speaking and information distribution. Creation of media package, press releases, follow-up with press by phone, relaying the results of the Bioblitz with a press release of results
j. Fund Raising/Donations: Items that may need to be rented (tents, tables, chairs, toilets, microphone and speaker), food for the volunteers (possibly Friday dinner, Saturday breakfast and lunch, drinks, coffee, snacks), and other expenses (i.e.: signs, maps, prizes, copy paper, trail tape, sanitizer) need to be considered.
k. Food: planning (environmentally friendly practices, menu, eating implements, garbage, recycle), preparing, serving
l. On-Site Communications/recording: planning, tally board
m. Post-Bioblitz reporting: Prepare the list of species that were found, noting interesting or unusual species. Amalgamate any expertsí recommendations on how to improve or maintain the park.
n. Camping/Lodging Co-ordinator: There will be individuals joining us from out of town. We need to plan for their needs and make the information available.
o. Registration: planning, check-in table (sign-in sheet, maps of MJWA, datasheets for recording, information table)
p. Announcers/MC: planning presentations, making periodic announcements throughout the event and for the closing ceremony/awards
The Friends of Mac Johnson Wildlife Area: are a group of local volunteers who assist the CRCA to plan and implement a variety of conservation and education projects. This will be our first BIOBLITZ and the success of the event depends upon the involvement of the entire community -- and beyond.
