The Elling Eide Center Team-Challenge Bioblitz

The Elling Eide Center (eidecenter.org) opens the gates to its private research preserve on little Sarasota Bay for a one-day event: The Elling Eide Center Team‑Challenge BioBlitz, Saturday, May 2. This community-driven biodiversity survey invites members of the public to explore the Center’s 72‑acre coastal preserve and contribute to long‑term conservation research. Individuals or teams of up to six will act as “citizen scientists” for the day, using the iNaturalist phone app to document as many species as possible within the Preserve, generating research‑grade data that will guide land management and ecological decision making for years to come.

Bioblitzes are a type of citizen science activity when the community joins together to document as many types of living things within a specific area, during an intensive, usually 24-hour, time period. The Elling Eide Center Team‑Challenge Bioblitz is a community-driven biodiversity survey where individuals or teams of up to six people will use the citizen science platform iNaturalist to document their observations.

Observations will be aggregated together for the Preserve, creating research-grade data that will help us track species richness, abundance, and phenology over time. Ultimately, this information will guide land management decisions at the Eide Preserve and conservation decisions more widely.

Participants of all ages are invited to attend. Please note, those under 16 must have an adult guardian present and with them for the duration of the event. Each team needs at least one device with the iNaturalist app installed in order to participate.

If you have expertise in any certain taxa - plants, insects, mollusks, etc - we especially need your participation!

Schedule

● 6:30 AM - Gates Open - Event Begins*

● 6:50 AM - Sunrise

● 12:00 PM - Lunch Provided

● 7:00 PM - Gates Close - No Entry or Re-Entry

● 7:30 PM - Wine and Cheese Social

● 8:04 PM - Sunset

● 8:30 PM - Event Concludes - All guests required to exit the Preserve

*Participants may arrive or return any time between 6:30 AM - 7:00 PM

Team Prizes

We are excited to award prizes in the following categories. All scientific prizes are based on research-grade, species-level observations recorded within the Preserve boundaries during the event and uploaded into iNaturalist by 11:59 PM on May 4th, 2026.

Most Significant Discovery — Top Award

Awarded to the team that documents a species of greatest distributional significance to the Preserve — specifically, a species listed in the Florida State Wildlife Action Plan that represents a confirmed range extension or first record for this area. Conservation rank alone is not sufficient; the finding must represent a genuine distributional surprise relative to known county or regional records.

All candidate observations must be verified by a qualified expert before the prize is awarded. This prize may go unawarded in a given year if no qualifying observation is confirmed.

Teams are encouraged to flag any unusual or unexpected finds to Eide Center staff on the day of the event.

Prize:

• Catered BBQ at the Preserve for the winning team and up to 20 guests.
• Honorary Friend of the Preserve Membership: One-year honorary membership in the team’s name, awarded as a single membership per winning team regardless of team size. The team designates one member to hold the membership. A Friend and one guest may explore the Preserve at their leisure.

Most Species Observed - Overall

Awarded to the team that documents the highest number of distinct species across all taxa. Observations must reach research grade with a species-level identification.

Prize:

• Private walking tour of the Preserve for the winning team and up to 10 guests.
• Honorary Friend of the Preserve Membership: One-year honorary membership in the team’s name, awarded as a single membership per winning team regardless of team size. The team designates one member to hold the membership. A Friend and one guest may explore the Preserve at their leisure.
  

Most Species Observed — Insects, Arachnids & Mollusks

Awarded to the team that documents the highest number of distinct species within the iNaturalist iconic taxa of Insects, Arachnids, and Mollusks. These groups are chronically underrepresented in biodiversity data and are a research priority for the Preserve. Observations must reach research grade with a species-level identification.

Prize:

• Private walking tour of the Preserve for the winning team and up to 10 guests.
• Honorary Friend of the Preserve Membership: One-year honorary membership in the team’s name, awarded as a single membership per winning team regardless of team size. The team designates one member to hold the membership. A Friend and one guest may explore the Preserve at their leisure.
  

Best iNaturalist Observation

Awarded to the individual or team that submits the single most outstanding iNaturalist observation from the event. Judges will evaluate entries on three criteria:

A. Photo quality — clarity, composition, and diagnostic value

B. Accuracy and completeness of identification

C. Richness of observation notes — habitat description, behavior, associated species, or other relevant context

Submission requirement: To be eligible, the observation must be shared as a public post on Instagram, Facebook, or a similar platform, tagging the Elling Eide Center and using the event hashtag #EideBlitz2026. The social media post serves as the submission mechanism; judges will review the linked iNaturalist observation.

Judging: Judging will be conducted by Elling Eide Center staff following the event. The winning observation and post will be featured in Elling Eide Center communications.

Photo use consent: By submitting an entry, participants grant the Elling Eide Center permission to reproduce and use the submitted photograph in marketing, educational, and promotional materials, with photographer credit.

Prize:

• Honorary Friend of the Preserve Membership: One-year honorary membership in the team’s name, awarded as a single membership per winning team regardless of team size. The team designates one member to hold the membership. A Friend and one guest may explore the Preserve at their leisure.
• Winning photo and observation featured in Elling Eide Center communications.

Difficulty

This activity will be easy, but will take place outdoors and 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? Accommodations may be possible - please share your needs with Lee at [email protected].

Cell-phone App Training

Participation will require a smartphone with the iNaturalist app. Prior experience with iNaturalist is strongly encouraged. We are available for questions, but extensive instructions/training will not be provided.

Beginners are encouraged to watch iNaturalist video tutorials ahead of the event, found here: https://inaturalist.freshdesk.com/en/support/solutions/folders/151000547795.

Facilities

A restroom is available onsite, along with seating areas for rest.

Inclement Weather

This is a rain or shine event. In the event of inclement weather, please dress accordingly and bring/wear rain protection. We will move check-in and our meal under cover.

Attire

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

Questions?

Contact Lee at [email protected]

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