We are all aware that bio-diversity isn’t something that started 100 years ago right?
At any rate I’m not going to complain, bio-diversity is a brilliant and important thing, well worth celebrating even if trying to tie it into the centenary seems a little forced.
From the 25th to the 27th of October, the ACT will be holding the first ever ACT Centenary Bioblitz. It will be taking place up in the Black Mountain Nature Reserve, and seems to be some sort of biological scavenger hunt.
Awesome!
Black Mountain is a haven to at least 100 bird species, 500 plant species and 5000 insect species, proving that you don’t have to travel to an exotic faraway jungle to explore rich biodiversity. The ACT Centenary Bioblitz presents an unprecedented opportunity for all Canberrans to document and celebrate the rich diversity of plant and animal life in our bush capital’s centenary year.
“The Bioblitz will bring together scientists, naturalists, amateur photographers, students, families and members of the public working to discover and record as many species of flora and fauna as possible within a short timeframe. A mixture of wildlife experts and citizen scientists are central to the Bioblitz concept,” said Ms Rachel Marks, the Project Coordinator from the Molonglo Catchment Group.
This family-friendly event is designed to foster a deeper appreciation of our natural heritage and will plant the seed of future stewardship initiatives. Rare and uncommon species may be discovered, allowing citizen scientists to make genuinely profound contributions to our understanding of Australian wildlife.
“Many of the world’s most prominent scientists got their first taste of science as children by participating in citizen science projects. The Bioblitz exemplifies the notion that science does not always happen within the confines of a lab; rather, it is exciting, fun and unintimidating,” said Dr John La Salle, Director of the Atlas of Living Australia.
“Beginners through to experts are all welcome to participate in this large-scale wildlife scavenger hunt. All data and photos captured will be logged into an encyclopaedia of all the known living things in Australia, the Atlas of Living Australia.
“Experts are on hand to assist with species identification in guided field trips known as ‘surveys’. You don’t need any specialist knowledge or skills – just some observational skills and an interest in nature. Even if you miss out on a survey, there’s still plenty to see and do at the CSIRO Discovery Centre during the Bioblitz weekend,” said Dr La Salle.
For more information about how to register, visit www.csiro.au/bioblitz.
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