Niagara College will host a Fall BioBlitz on Thursday, November 1 with special guests from the World Wildlife Fund and other community organizations.
The event, which is open to the college community and the public, will take place between noon and 6 p.m. at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus. Organized by the College’s Office of Sustainability, the BioBlitz aims to help participants connect with the outdoors while identifying plants and animal species for the College’s biodiversity inventory.
“Our bi-annual BioBlitz events provide students, staff, and the community an opportunity to connect with nature on a deeper level and learn about all of the wildlife they have right in their backyards,” said NC’s sustainability engagement officer Amber Schmucker.
WWF-Canada’s lead specialist in species conservation, Pete Ewins, will be attending as well as other employees. WWF marketing and engagement specialist Kathy Nguyen noted that this week, the WWF released its Living Planet Report 2018 and the results were “eye opening.”
“Unsustainable human activities have caused a 60 per cent decline in world wildlife populations in less than a generation. Students have a really important role to play in helping turn things around,” she said.
“The BioBlitz with Niagara College is one way students can connect with nature where they live and learn. As the leaders and decision makers of tomorrow, initiatives like the BioBlitz and our Living Planet @ Campus program, help foster a valuing of nature and sustainability that students can take with them into the workplace and beyond.”
Expert scientists will lead ‘citizen scientists’ on hikes around the property while identifying and cataloging bugs, birds, amphibians, mammals and plants.
WWF specialists will lead a General Identification Hike and Tour of NC’s Pollinator Gardens, beginning at noon.
Friends of the Bruce Trail will lead Hiking 101, an introduction to the activity with a picturesque walk along the Wetland Ridge Trail (2-3 p.m.).
The Ontario Access Coalition will present a Climbing and Bouldering Talk – a stepping stone for participants to discover some of the outdoor activities the Niagara region has to offer (1-2 p.m.).
For those interested in learning more about birds, NC grads will help them spread their wings with an Introduction to Birding hike (5-6 p.m.). Or, participants can turn over a new leaf with a Plant Identification Walk led by the NC chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration (3-4 p.m.).
Indoor workshops will also be available, such as Make Your Own Winter Birdfeeder and Make Your Own Paracord Bracelet.
The event is free and everyone is welcome to participate – for a single activity or for the duration of the six-hour event. The BioBlitz activity room, and meeting spot prior to each activity, will be N002A, located inside the cafeteria/ Student Commons area at the NOTL Campus.
The mini fall BioBlitz will take place rain or shine (although the schedule may be altered due to rain with additional indoor workshops). While the College’s main BioBlitz takes place during the spring, this mini fall BioBlitz aims to help prepare participants for the larger event.
