BioBlitz
Calling all citizen scientists!
Join us for a 24-hour ecological treasure hunt June 9 and 10 on St. Patrick’s Island. All are welcome to come down and participate in this family friendly event.
A BioBlitz is a major biological event that invites members of the public to help search for all plant and wildlife species in a specific and concentrated area.
Why BioBlitz?
10 years ago, Calgary Municipal Land Corporation (CMLC) the city-owned developer, began the revitalization of St. Patrick’s Island as a key placemaking and sustainability strategy in the redevelopment of East Village. The reclamation of the island has created both a thriving ecosystem of native species and a popular nature destination for human visitors.
Before the island’s redevelopment in 2013, CMLC engaged Dr. Steven Handel of Green Shield Ecology to conduct a BioBlitz to assess the island’s biodiversity. Now, 10 years later, CMLC has invited Dr. Handel to return to the island to evaluate how the biodiversity of the island has changed – through flooding and redevelopment – in the last decade.
What are the goals of the BioBlitz?
A permanent record of species present ten years after the last count.
A public event to learn about and experience the biodiversity right in the city’s urban core.
Strengthen the community connections among universities and general public citizens who share interests in a more ecological Calgary region.
Celebrating the Bow River, its plants and wildlife, and natural amenities to complement the cultural pleasures of the city.
What to expect
Confluence Plaza on St. Patrick’s Island will act as the home base of activities. Show up anytime during our set hours to participate in the experience in one of the following ways:
Observe and catalogue the BioBlitz – go with an expert to a zone and help look for biodiversity
Join a nature talk and tour of St. Patrick’s Island with Nature Calgary
Explore the Nature Expo featuring booths from the participating educational institutions and Nature Calgary
Calendar of Events
WHERE
Confluence, Plaza, St. Patrick’s Island - 1300 12 Street N.E.
WHEN
June 9 | 4pm - midnight
4:00pm - 9:00pm - Nature Expo booths open (insect and fish displays, St. Patrick’s Island booth)
4:00pm - Bird walk
Historical Ecology of SPI walk
4:30pm - Malaise traps installed for flying insects
6:00pm - Mammal live traps set
Malaise traps inspected for flying insects
7:00pm - Bird walk
Plant walk
Bat walk
9:00pm - Moth & nocturnal insect monitoring begins
Bat monitoring begins
Minnow traps set
10:00pm - Bat acoustical survey
Moth monitoring continues
10:30pm - Bat walk
11:00pm - Moth monitoring continues
June 10 | 6am - 4pm
6:00am - Bird walk
9:00am - 4:00pm - Nature Expo booths open (bee, insect, fish, and aquatic insect displays, Nature Calgary, St. Patrick’s Island booth)
9:00am - Plant walk
Historical Ecology of SPI walk
Aquatic insect collection
Minnow trap collection
10:00am - Bee walk
Terrestrial insects walk
10:30am - Fish seining
11:00am - Plant walk
Aquatic insect walk
Fungi walk
Citizen Science/Nature walk
12:00pm - Bee walk
Terrestrial insects walk
12:30pm - Fish seining
1:00pm - Citizen Science/Nature walk
Aquatic insect walk
2:00pm - Bee walk
Terrestrial insects walk
3:00pm - Plant walk
Bird walk
June 11 | 10am - 1:30pm
10:00am - Mosses and lichen walk (starting from The Rise)
1:00pm - Mosses and lichen walk (starting from The Rise)
Partners & Researchers
Green Shield Ecology, in partnership with Nature Calgary, the below Universities and other local organizations, will bring their expertise to BioBlitz 2023.
Green Shield Ecology Steven Handel, PhD, event coordinator
Christina Kaunzinger, PhD, field manager
University of Calgary Prof. Robert Barclay (mammologist)
Prof. Mindi Summers (pollinators)
Prof. Susanna Visser (plants, fungi)
Justine Doll (plants)
Jocelyn Morasch (plants)
Nature Calgary John McFaul, President
Ms. Sandy Davis (mosses, other bryophytes)
Matt Wallace (birds, history of the island)
Mr. Karl Bergman (plants and mushrooms)
Bird and plant docents, TBD
Mount Royal University Prof. Dorothy Hill, Chair of Biology Dept.
Ambrose University Prof. Matthew Morris (fish)
Nature Conservancy of Canada Mr. Craig Harding, program manager
ABI Environmental Services Dr. Diane Edwards (insects, plants)
Prof. John Swann (insects, aquatic invertebrates)
Alberta Native Bee Council Samantha Morrice
Alberta Native Bat Program Susan Holroyd
W Architecture Ms. Barbara Wilks
Civitas Inc. Mr. Scott Jordan
CMLC is the developer of East Village, St. Patrick’s Island and The Culture + Entertainment District.