Pacific Spirit Bug Walk

Explore the often-overlooked world of insects, spiders, and other tiny organisms you may not have even heard of. Whether you're a curious newbie or a seasoned bug enthusiast, you will notice fascinating and sometimes surprisingly beautiful critters in their natural habitat.

The walk is part of Metro Vancouver residents' contribution to the City Nature Challenge, an annual global event to observe and record the biodiversity of living things. You can record your observations on the citizen science site iNaturalist. Together, community members will help identify what we've seen.

Bring your phone loaded with the free iNaturalist app, which is available in Android and iPhone versions. You may wish to bring a standalone camera too. And if you have macrophotography gear, great! The key to a successful afternoon, though, will be your sense of wonder.

We'll gather where the Lily of the Valley Trail meets Blanca St, opposite W 12th Ave.

Let's uncover the mini marvels of Pacific Spirit together. See you there!

Info: The team will welcome you to the City Nature Challenge. We will offer some iNaturalist tips and advice on how best to take identifiable photographs of small critters.

Info: You may split up into small groups or head off on your own, as you prefer. Fellow enthusiasts will eagerly admire your finds. Several seasoned naturalists will be ready if you'd like help navigating iNaturalist or figuring out what on earth you're looking at.

Info: In a church basement that looks like a '50s diner, we'll have a chance to review our observations together over a few snacks (no alcohol). There'll be Wi-Fi and a digital projector for showing some of our most surprising or puzzling photos on a large screen.

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Host or Publisher Alan Yoshioka