Birdsong, binoculars, and boots in the mud: that’s how Niagara College will kick-off this year’s Spring Bioblitz on Sunday, April 11.
The free, family-friendly event will welcome community members to join NC students and faculty to capture biodiversity at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake – a UNESCO-designated World Biosphere Reserve.
“Bioblitz is among our favourite community events at Niagara College because it turns curiosity into real research,” explains Taryn Wilkinson, Manager of Sustainability at NC. “Our volunteers help us identify and catalogue everything from tiny insects to larger mammals, which is valuable data that helps us track changes in our ecosystem over time.”
Participants can choose from sessions led by local experts on birding, biodiversity, plants, benthic and macroinvertebrates, an Indigenous knowledge exchange, and more. Lunch will be provided for registered participants.
With forecasts calling for another hot, dry summer, Katie Bristow, Sustainability Program and Outreach Coordinator, says it will be interesting to see how this winter’s cold, snow, and rain shape the species recorded during the Bioblitz.
“One of the great things about Bioblitz is that we have data going back over 11 years that can help NC students view wildlife trends in connection with weather changes,” said Bristow.
Bristow says that while daylight remains consistent from year to year, a prolonged winter has the potential to disrupt the timing of insects and caterpillars that birds rely on to feed their young.
Delainey Stevenson, a student in the Environmental Technician (Co-op) program, was drawn to NC after attending her first Bioblitz three years ago.
Passionate about the environment, Stevenson said she first learned about the Bioblitz while searching online for outdoor events after moving from Hamilton.
“I had never been to the campus before and didn’t even know a campus like this existed,” she said.
During her first Bioblitz, Stevenson said one activity stood out.
“I’ve enjoyed the birding walks each year, but the Benthics have to take the win by far. That part specifically is what drew me to attend NC.”
Benthics are small organisms like tiny bugs and creatures that live in bodies of water like lagoons and wetlands. At the Daniel J. Patterson Campus, NC students have the unique opportunity to study these organisms right in their own backyard. Located at the edge of a restored wetland system, the campus is a living laboratory where students in the School of Environment and Horticulture can gain hands-on experience studying aquatic ecosystems.
Stevenson added that the NC students involved in the annual community event also left a lasting impression.
“The students that took part in the Bioblitz were also very educated and kind which also made the program seem welcoming.”
A representative from WWF-Canada will also be on site to share information about WWF programs, including the Living Planet Leader certification, to which NC is a signatory.
To register, visit: niagaracollege.ca/sustainability/students/bioblitz
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