Parks Canada BioBlitz
What will you discover?
Want to connect with nature? Get your kids outside?
'Bio' means life and 'blitz' means to do something quickly and intensively. In a BioBlitz, experts team up with the public to find targeted species, within a set area, over a defined period of time.
Parks Canada BioBlitz events contribute to the protection of Parks Canada's heritage places, though scientific biodiversity discovery and experiences for Canadians to connect to these places.
Get involved - events in 2018
Atlantic
Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site
July 7 to 8, 2018 - Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site
Choose how you will participate: attend seminars, head out on your own, or team up with scientists to record as many species of plants and animals as you possibly can. It’s a whole new way for you and your family to connect with nature and with Kejimkujik!
Cape Breton Highlands National Park
All species BioBlitz
July 21, 2018 - 7 am to 11 pm - Warren Lake, near Ingonish
Team up with scientists to find as many living creatures as possible. Join experts on surveys and other fun activities to learn about biodiversity in the park.
Quebec
Forillon National Park
Forillon Forest Fire Bioblitz
July 1, 2018 - 9 am to 9 pm - Forillon National Park Recreational Centre
Discover the positive side of forest fires: their importance in boreal forests, their use by Indigenous peoples, and as a Parks Canada ecosystem management tool.
Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park
Saguenay-St. Lawrence BioBlitz
September 15, 2018 - Marine Environment Discovery Centre, Baie-Sainte-Marguerite and Baie-Éternité
Would you like to contribute to Marine Park knowledge? Participate in this citizen science activity! Who knows you could make some amazing discoveries concerning the Marine Park’s biodiversity! Share your observations using the iNaturalist application.
Ontario
Point Pelee National Park
All species BioBlitz
July 21 to 22, 2018 - 12 pm (July 21) to 12 pm (July 22) 24 hours - Point Pelee National Park Visitor Centre, Leamington, Ontario
Help Point Pelee National Park celebrate it’s 100th birthday by contributing to the ecological legacy of the park. Join the 24 hr BioBlitz and experience nature like never before.
Pukaskwa National Park
12 pm, August 10 to 12 pm, August 11 24 hours - Pukaskwa National Park
Ever want to be a scientist for a day? Come join Parks Canada team members and other experts as we search for and identify species together! What new plants and animals will you discover?
Alberta
Waterton Lakes National Park
Butterfly Bioblitz!
10 am to 2 pm - Monday, July 16 - Waterton Lakes National Park
Here’s your chance to help us catch, count and release these beauties unharmed. Join the experts and be a citizen scientist. No experience necessary. Great for families. Last year, despite the persistent thundershowers, volunteers collected over 89 butterflies from 10 different species! Let’s top that!
Space is limited for this very popular family event, so be sure to sign up by email
wlnp.volunteer@pc.gc.ca
British Columbia
Fort Rodd Hill & Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites
Guided nature walks
Traditional plant walk & Coast Salish Pit Cook - October 13; Mushroom walk - October/November 2018 (tbd)
Walks will typically start at 10:30 am or 1:30 pm
Join us at different times of the year for a series of BioBlitz-themed natural history walks that are timed with what's in season.
Events are drop-in and will be advertised on our website, Facebook and Twitter.
Volunteer
Volunteer as a Survey Leader
Are you a professional scientist or naturalist with a high level of knowledge of a taxonomic group? Parks Canada needs you to lead species survey groups and educate the public about biodiversity. Your efforts will contribute to the protection of Parks Canada’s heritage places.
Volunteer as a Survey Assistant
Are you an interpreter, naturalist or student specialist with outdoor education experience or an intermediate knowledge of a taxonomic group? Parks Canada needs you to assist survey leaders and the public on species surveys and possibly lead family activities. Deepen your knowledge, working with experts and share your enthusiasm interacting with the public.
Volunteer as an Event Assistant
Are you someone with lots of energy and enthusiasm and a willingness to learn? Parks Canada needs help with the operation of Basecamp. Gain experience for your resume and have the satisfaction of knowing you’ve contributed to something worthwhile.
Volunteer as an Event Photographer
Are you a professional or amateur photographer? Parks Canada needs volunteers to capture the essence of a BioBlitz. Share your creativity and skill with the world and spread the word about the importance of biodiversity.
2017 BioBlitz events - You made a difference!
Thank you to all the Parks Canada 2017 BioBliltz participants, volunteers, partners, collaborators, and Indigenous communities that contributed to the success of the 32 BioBlitz events last year.
The data collected through these events supports ecological integrity monitoring, provides valuable species and habitat information, and supports other Parks Canada conservation projects.
These events not only collected valuable ecological data, they also created opportunities for meaningful experiences connecting people with nature and Parks Canada places.
Thank you for contributing to Parks Canada’s conservation efforts.
Parks Canada BioBlitz in 2017 summary
32 events held across 29 Parks Canada places
BioBlitz Culture Camp - Inuit youth learning from Elders about nature and culture of their traditional land - Tuktut Nogait National Park
237 newly recorded species almost 100 years after it was established as a National Historic Site - Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site
434 visitors virtually explored marine life during 6 hours of live video from scuba divers - Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park
99% of participants surveyed reported an increased understanding and appreciation of local biodiversity - Rouge National Urban Park
Value of BioBlitz events
- Creates opportunities for meaningful experiences connecting with nature
- Provides valuable species and habitat information
- Raises awareness of culturally important species
- Supports long-term ecological integrity monitoring
- Generates ecology snapshots before and after wildfires and controlled burns
- Fosters an increased appreciation of biodiversity
Record your discoveries with the iNaturalist app
Parks Canada has been working with partners to support the development of iNaturalist.ca, a bilingual, interactive online record of the amazing variety of life in our country. Anyone in the world can explore the photos, make species identifications or add comments on the website. The result is an exciting network of scientists and the public, creating data to support conservation decisions.
iNaturalist.ca, not just for BioBlitz events - you can use iNaturalist.ca to capture your observations of plants or animals at any time, whether you are walking in the city, hiking your favorite trail or camping with friends.
Visit iNaturalist.ca to sign up and download the smartphone app!
Past discoveries - 2015-2016
See how past participants identified and discovered plants, animals, and more. You can also find current and previous Parks Canada BioBlitz events on iNaturalist.ca by searching for “Parks Canada” in the Projects tab on the iNaturalist.ca App or website.
- Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Sites: Participants found a new type of mushroom never before recorded in British Columbia.
- Gulf Islands National Park Reserve: Participants found eight types of bats, including the little brown bat, a species at risk.
- Fundy National Park: Participants identified thirty-three new plants for Fundy National Park.