(Well ... it will be back at the end of March 2012. This time it is in the Auckland Botanic Gardens, Manurewa)
WHAT?
BioBlitz is a two-day scientific race against time.
It’s fascinating, fun, family-friendly and its free!
The goal is to find and count as many species as possible in 24-hours searching time in a large urban park or reserve. We expect to find 1000-1500 species. This requires many teams of scientific experts. (In fact you seldom find so many biologists in an urban park but we don’t count each other). Each team specialises in one group of organisms or micro-organisms, and you’d be hard pushed to find something they don’t know about their group.
WHEN?
Friday 30th March 9 am – 11 pm
Saturday 31st March 7 am – 5 pm.
WHERE?
“Base camp” will be in a large marquee in the North West area of the gardens. Pedestrian and vehicle access is best from the Everglade Drive northern entrance to the Gardens, via Manakau / Redoubt Road motorway off-ramp.
Base camp is the hub of activity where identifications are made, species tallied, and public get to look down microscopes, chat with scientists, and 'ooh' and 'aah' over the beautiful, the curious and the downright thrillingly ugly. Field trips (guided walks) depart from here.
There will be the usual guided ‘walks & talks’ with experts, including the ever-popular night time events: moths with ‘Dr Robert’ (who uses a super bright special lamp to lure them in) and the nocturnal walk with ‘spider woman Grace’ (most spiders come out to hunt at night and their eyes shine in the torch light).
WHO CAN COME?
Everyone!
BioBlitz is suitable for people of all ages. It is a family friendly event. There is no charge.
- If you intend going on a ‘walk & talk’ with a scientist, please wear sensibl
e shoes and clothes. If you are coming on one of the ‘after dark’ excursions, please wear sensible warm clothes and bring a torch (families should bring several torches if possible).
- Specialist scientific equipment is loaned especially for the event. This equipment is very expensive and should be treated with care and respect at all times.
- Young children should be supervised by an adult.
- Dogs should be on leads and supervised by an adult.
- The Botanic Gardens & all that lives there must be treated with care and consideration.
WHO IS ORGANISING BIOBLITZ?
Landcare Research is a Crown Research Institute (CRI). We’ve been involved in organising BioBlitz events in New Zealand since 2004, and we partner with Auckland Museum, universities, other CRIs, local government, the Department of Conservation, and people from interest groups so that we get as many biologists participating as possible.
The principal organizers of BioBlitz 2012 are Landcare Research, the Auckland Botanic Gardens and the Manakau Beautification Charitable Trust. The Auckland Museum and DOC are represented on the organizing committee. Forest and Bird Society, Ornithological Society, the Botanical Society, University of Auckland, Unitech, Oratia Native Plant Nursery, and WaiCare are also participating.
BioBlitz events are conducted in many countries. We’d love to hear from others involved in BioBlitz events in other countries!