Latest news with #BioBlitz
CTV News
31-07-2025
- Science
- CTV News
Citizen scientists wanted: Montrealers encouraged to explore nature during Big Backyard BioBlitz
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is calling on everyone to help scientists better understand the biodiversity around them for the Big Backyard BioBlitz campaign. (Laurence Brisson Dubreuil/CTV News) A nature challenge happening across Canada is calling on everyone —including Montrealers — to help scientists better understand the biodiversity around them. The Big Backyard BioBlitz, launched by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), runs until Aug. 4. The idea is simple: step outside, spot something wild, and snap a photo. From balconies in the Plateau to wooded trails in the Laurentians, participants are being asked to document the plants, animals, and fungi they encounter. Big Backyard BioBlitz The Big Backyard BioBlitz runs until Aug. 4, 2025. (Laurence Brisson Dubreuil/CTV News) 'You don't have to be a biologist or a nature expert to join in,' said Jensen Edwards, spokesperson for the NCC. 'The BioBlitz is really accessible to everybody. In fact, one of the most rewarding parts is how much people learn just by taking part.' Participants can upload their sightings to the NCC's website or use the free iNaturalist app, which helps identify what they're seeing. The app uses image recognition to offer suggestions, and then experts step in to verify the results. 'There are way more people out there with smartphones than there are conservation scientists,' Edwards said. 'This really helps scale up the research, and together these observations are a big help.' Jensen Edwards, spokesperson for the NCC. Jensen Edwards is a spokesperson for the Nature Conservancy of Canada. (Laurence Brisson Dubreuil/CTV News) According to Edwards, many participants naturally gravitate toward more familiar species. 'People are great at spotting birds, mammals,' he said, 'but when it comes to insects and fungi, they're often overlooked species,' despite them playing a huge role in ecosystems. The NCC launched the BioBlitz in 2020. Since then, nearly 200,000 nature observations have been submitted across the country. While some of the sightings are fairly common, others have caught Edwards' attention. 'Last year, someone off the coast of Gaspésie spotted a blue whale,' he recalled. 'Another person west of Calgary photographed a whooping crane. Just 100 years ago, there were fewer than 20 of those left in Canada.' Still, Edwards emphasized that the most valuable contributions aren't necessarily the rare ones. 'Even the most everyday observations can tell scientists a lot,' he said. In Quebec, where rapid urban development and climate change are threatening native ecosystems, every data point helps researchers track how species are adapting — or disappearing. The observations collected during the BioBlitz feed into a growing national database, helping scientists map species migration, identify at-risk habitats, and better understand how to protect Canada's natural landscapes. Edwards said the challenge also has benefits for those taking part. 'People just end up deepening their relationship with nature,' he said. 'They start to pay more attention, they gain an understanding of what lives around them and that leads to caring more about conservation.' Whether it's a squirrel in Jeanne-Mance Park, a mushroom in Mount Royal, or a bird perched outside your apartment window, Edwards encourages everyone to document it.
New Indian Express
16-06-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
Nature challenge identifies 1,820 taxa in Coimbatore
Sundar Muruganandhan, Coordinator of CNC 2025, said, "The City Nature Challenge is a global initiative designed to bring people closer to nature while promoting citizen science. It encourages individuals from all walks of life to actively participate in documenting biodiversity, serving as a powerful platform to deepen our connection with the natural world and support conservation efforts." "What made this year's event notable was the vibrant participation of students from schools and colleges. Their involvement reflected a growing awareness and interest in biodiversity among youth. Additionally, BioBlitz offers valuable insight into a city's biodiversity and emphasises the importance of preserving natural ecosystems," said S Saravanan of WWF. This collective effort not only strengthened community bonds but also reinforced the city's commitment to conservation and environmental awareness.
The Courier
10-06-2025
- Science
- The Courier
What you can expect to see and do at Carnoustie Bio Blitz this month
There will be much more than birdies and eagles around for nature lovers at Carnoustie's golf courses this month. Carnoustie Golf Links is staging its second BioBlitz on June 19 and 20. The free, family-friendly event is encouraging the community to step out onto the course and into the wild. Participants will have the chance to join experts and experience the biodiversity thriving at Carnoustie. And it will offer everything from hands-on activities to guided walks for folk curious to learn more about the wildlife on the links. They might see everything from dolphins off the Angus coast to a glimpse of Britain's smallest butterfly. Highlights include: The first BioBlitz was a huge success in 2024, with over 230 different species recorded. Among almost 50 species of birds were 'red list' varieties such as skylark and curlew. It also recorded two species of bat – Daubenton's and brown long-eared – at the links for the first time. The Open Championship venue has secured a number of awards for its focus on the environment. In 2024, it was the winner of the Sustainability Award at the inaugural Golf Course Awards. Its website features a nature trail guide on what golfers and walkers might see around the Championship, Buddon and Burnside courses. Anyone wishing to take part in the BioBlitz can register their interest at The Small Blue is Britain's tiniest resident butterfly and on the red list of under-threat species. But Carnoustie links and the surrounding area is a local stronghold due to the presence of its sole food source, kidney vetch. The butterfly larvae live only in the flower heads. Efforts to keep the plant thriving on the local coastline are helping the Small Blue population. In a separate development, Carnoustie Golf Links this week confirmed its purchase of town centre eatery Maxibell's. The Park Avenue restaurant closed last August before being offered at auction. Links bosses are drawing up plans to re-open the premises as soon as possible.
Irish Independent
01-06-2025
- Science
- Irish Independent
Wexford families roll up their sleeves for ‘bio blitz' at popular OPW site
With the public's assistance, members of the Office of Public Works took to the grounds to collect as much information as possible on the many different plants and animals in the area, but it was a race against time to find and record the various species over just one day. The Bio Blitz took place from 3 p.m. on Friday, May 23 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 24, and the staff at the park were delighted to see families, nature lovers, and curious explorers of all ages join the expert scientists and naturalists for the guided walks and hands-on workshops. The activities that took place on Friday included a native tree talk; woodland and grassland plants, and a late night bat walk. On Saturday, there was a Dawn Chorus led by Glynn Anderson; an insect safari; bird bingo; Lilliputian Flora, and bees and pollinators; pond dipping, and a meadow walk with head gardener, Kevin Naughton. Speaking about the event, Gerry O'Neill explained that hosting the Bio Blitz 'was all new' to himself and other staff in the park, which was coordinated by the National Biodiversity Centre in Waterford. However, he added, 'it was great to see the turnout, we had great numbers with over 40 people for some of the activities, and we're looking forward to building on those events as people of all ages enjoyed them.' The botanists made their way into areas of the grounds, such as Slieve Coillte, to collect other sample of data while the events were taking place throughout the 24-hour blitz, in an effort to study as much information from the site as possible, given it may have been trickier for the public to access. 'Everyone was so enthusiastic and it was great to see how well the public reacted to the event. It was certainly worth the effort when everyone came together,' Gerry concluded. The official results from the Bio Blitz are still in progress.
Winnipeg Free Press
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
What's Up: Jim Hescott, Taste of Asia, BioBlitz, tribute to R.E.M.
SUPPLIED Jim Hiscott is a button-accordion virtuoso. SUPPLIED Jim Hiscott is a button-accordion virtuoso. Are you spending too much time watching Instagram reels? Tonight, focus your attention on the infectious tunes of Newfoundland reels instead. Unlike the videos churned out according to soulless algorithms, reels are — from a traditional musician's perspective — danceable folk tunes derived from centuries of cross-national rhythmic pollination and intergenerational performance tradition. Reels from Newfoundland, Ireland, Ukraine, Mexico, Basque Spain and the Red River Valley converge in the 10th and final concert of DreamPlay Small Concerts' second season, an hour-long program built to suit the interpretations of button-accordion virtuoso Jim Hiscott. A longtime music producer with CBC whose compositions have been performed by the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the St. Catharines, Ont.-born Hiscott will be joined at the WAG by Chris Anstey, bassist Gilles Fournier, multi-instrumentalist/percussionist Daniel Roy and Glenn Buhr. Best known as a first violinist for the WSO since 2005, as a St. John's native, Anstey's first language is Newfoundland fiddle, says DreamPlay artistic director Buhr, who will play piano, guitar and tambourine. 'It's a joy playing this music from everywhere,' Buhr says. — Ben Waldman JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS fFILES Taste of Asia moves to Memorial Boulevard this weekend. JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS fFILES Taste of Asia moves to Memorial Boulevard this weekend. The third annual Taste of Asia Festival is moving to a new and bigger venue. Previously held at The Forks, the free outdoor event is taking over Memorial Boulevard for two days of food, entertainment and cultural programming. More than 100 vendors and a dozen food trucks will be stationed on the street, which will be closed to traffic. Memorial Park will be dotted with bouncy castles, a performance stage and cultural displays from China, India, Japan, the Philippines and elsewhere. Live performances will be running throughout the festival, culminating in a daily Asian Pop Showdown from 7 to 9 p.m., featuring dancing and singing from local K-Pop enthusiasts. — Eva Wasney MATT GOERZEN / THE BRANDON SUN FILES BioBlitz will record as many plant and animal species as possible Saturday at Assinboine Park. BioBlitz will record as many plant and animal species as possible Saturday at Assinboine Park. What's a BioBlitz, we hear you ask? A BioBlitz is a collective voluntary effort to record as many plant and animal species as possible within a designated location and time. Community volunteers are invited to explore Assiniboine Park at their leisure, documenting their observations on data-sharing portal iNaturalist. The information gathered can be used to inform conservation strategies and decisions related to park planning. While the event is open to volunteers of all ages, a cellphone with data service is required for those who wish to participate. Children under 16 must be supervised by an adult caregiver. Volunteers are not required to stay for the duration of the event; they can come and go anytime between noon and 3 p.m. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. Advance registration is encouraged for planning purposes, but walk-ups are also welcome. To register, visit BioBlitz. Check in at the Cargo Bar patio near the duck pond upon arrival. — AV Kitching IAN MCCAUSLAND PHOTO From left: Jay Turner, Jeff Derksen, Todd Hunter and Wes Gerbrandt of Oddfellows Local IAN MCCAUSLAND PHOTO From left: Jay Turner, Jeff Derksen, Todd Hunter and Wes Gerbrandt of Oddfellows Local Good cover bands often thrive on putting their own spin on the originals, but it's usually DJs who take the most pleasure in exploring the deep cuts, the bootlegs and the B-sides. Oddfellows Local (Jay Turner, Jeff Derksen, Todd Hunter and Wes Gerbrandt) seem to be working in that DJ spirit with their upcoming tribute show to R.E.M., exploring the band's art-rock years of the '80s, leading up to their breakthrough album, Document. Those were the years — think the albums on the IRS label: Murmur, Reckoning, Fables of the Reconstruction and Life's Rich Pageant — when the eventual stadium-rock stars experimented with jangle pop and college rock, while vocalist Michael Stipe mumbled and waxed cryptic, producing some of their most interesting and vital work. Oddfellows Local, an obvious allusion to R.E.M.'s track Oddfellows Local 151 from Document, performs two sets at the May 25 Sidestage show. Proceeds go to Manitoba Mutts Dog Rescue. — Conrad Sweatman
