Elling Eide Preserve - Group Bioblitz & Picnic

Activity

Volunteers will gather at the Elling Eide Center to collect observations of living things, including plant, animals, and fungi, using their cell phones and one of two citizen science apps: iNaturalist or eBird.

Bioblitzes are a type of citizen science activity when the community joins together to document as many types of living thing within a specific area, during an intensive, usually 24-hour, time period. At the Eide Preserve, projects established in both eBird and iNaturalist will accumulate the data to create research-grade data, tracking species richness, abundance, and phenology over time. Ultimately, this information will guide land management decisions at the Eide Preserve and conservation decisions more widely. If you have any expertise in any certain taxa - plants, birds, insects, etc - we especially need your participation.

Following the bioblitz, interested guests are invited to join a potluck picnic, described below.

Schedule

9:00 - 9:30 Orientation and Overview

9:30 - 11:30 – Bioblitz - Self Guided Observations

11:30 - 12:30 – Potluck picnic

Difficulty

This activity will be easy, but will require walking on uneven surfaces and trails. Vehicles are generally prohibited throughout the property.

Do you have certain limitations or concerns you want to share? Accomodations or alternative events may be possible - please share your needs with Lee at [email protected].

Cell-phone App Training

Prior experience with iNaturalist or eBird is strongly encouraged. We are available for questions, but we do not intend to provide extensive instructions. Beginners are encouraged to use iNaturalist, not eBird, and to watch video tutorials ahead of the event, found here: https://inaturalist.freshdesk.com/en/support/solutions/folders/151000547795. If there is stong interest on the day of the event, an extended orientation may be offered for beginners, after experienced people are "let loose" on the preserve.

Facilities

Yes, there is a bathroom and picnic tables onsite.

Inclement Weather

If the forecast includes rain, we will send a follow up email with further instructions.

Potluck Picnic

After the event, we will share a potluck picnic. Eide Center staff will bring veggie and beef hotdogs and grill them. Please bring a side dish if you are able (not required). Cut fruit may be served from our tropical fruit orchard.

Attire

Volunteers are required to wear closed-toe shoes. For most activities, long pants are strongly encouraged. Please bring adequate water, snacks, sunglasses, hats, sunscreen, bug spray, etc, in order to be comfortable.

Questions?

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Lee Amos at or [email protected].

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Host or Publisher Elling Eide Center