Niagara College's BioBlitz offers insights on native species

Nature lovers, including scientists, community members and amateur enthusiasts, will converge on Niagara College’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake this Saturday, April 15, to spend the day with expert scientists as they identify plants and animal species native to Niagara.

Bioblitz is a free, family-friendly event where citizen scientists explore the campus grounds – a UNESCO-designated World Biosphere Reserve at the base of the Niagara escarpment – to identify and catalogue bugs, birds, amphibians, mammals and plants, Niagara College said in a news release.

Volunteers will come together this Saturday at the eighth annual event with the common goal of identifying as many species as possible to create a baseline for researchers and the local community to monitor biodiversity over time.

“We look forward to welcoming the local community into Niagara College’s living lab – the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake – for the eight annual Spring Bioblitz,” said Taryn Wilkinson, manager of sustainability at the college.

“Our campus is a place to explore, learn and innovate in all aspects of sustainability and the environment, and citizen scientists are needed now more than ever as climate change and pollution affects species and their habitats across Niagara.”

The day runs from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes bird and insect hikes, including a family-friendly option, a fly-making and fly-casting session with Trout Unlimited, a community clean-up with Home Depot - St. Catharines, and a campfire with NC's Indigenous Education.

H&M St. Catharines will be collecting garments as part of their textile recycling initiative.

Participants are welcome to drop in on whichever sessions are of interest, and lunch will be provided for those who registered.

AGENDA:

6 a.m. Early bird ID hike with NC's Sustainability's Katie Bristow
7 a.m. Bird hike with Bert Miller Nature Club & Community Voices of Fort Erie's Marcie Jacklin
9 a.m. Family friendly hike with Owen Bjorgan from Hiking with Owen
9 to 11 a.m. Macroinvertebrates with Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority's Kerry Royer
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fly making, fly casting with Trout Unlimited's Brian Green, Gary Kosinsky, and Paul Furminger
9:30 a.m. Bird ID hike with Peninsula Field Naturalists' Bob Highcock and Jean Hampson
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free lunch for registrants
1 p.m. Community clean-up with Home Depot St. Catharines
2 p.m. Campfire with Aria D'alimonte from Indigenous Education and Karl Dockstader
3 p.m. Insect hike with Margaret Pickles

Other hikes may occur throughout the day on an as-needed basis, the college said.

For the full agenda, to learn more about Bioblitz, and to register, visit www.niagaracollege.ca/sustainability/students/bioblitz/