2022 BioBlitz
Join MSU Science Festival for our Second Annual BioBlitz in observing the world around us during the 2022 MSU Science Festival in the month of April. Let's work together to celebrate science, collect as many different observations as possible, and contribute to scientific research! With the iNaturalist app, you just take a picture of any living organism (animals, plants, fungi, insects, and more) and the community will help identify which species it is.
Events
BioBlitz 101: An Introduction
4/5/2022 12:00 - 1:00 PM
BioBlitz Celebration
4/26/2022 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Featured Locations:
- Belle Isle (Detroit, MI)
- Blanford Nature Center (Grand Rapids, MI)
- Corey Marsh Ecological Research Center (Laingsburg, MI)
- Grand Traverse Natural Education Reserve (Traverse City, MI)
- Harris Nature Center (Okemos, MI)
- Huron-Clinton Metroparks (13 locations in Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties)
- Little Forks Conservancy (3 locations surrounding Midland, MI)
- Marguerite Gahagan Nature Preserve (Roscommon, MI)
- Michigan & Beyond (anywhere else in Michigan and wherever you are)
- Michigan Audubon Capital City Bird Sanctuary (Lansing, MI)
- Michigan Nature Association (4 locations across Michigan)
- Pierce Cedar Creek Institute (Hastings, MI)
- Woldumar Nature Center (Lansing, MI)
Project Leaderboard:
To see the leaderboard, a summary of all participating projects, visit the Bioblitz Umbrella project.
Brought to you by iNaturalist
What is a Bioblitz?
A bioblitz is a community science-led tally of living things in a given area. Multiple conservation organizations across the state are hosting bioblitz collection sites on local properties. The species tallies are collected by taking and uploading pictures of what you have seen on the property into the designated project on the iNaturalist site. It's easy! All you need is an iNaturalist account, a camera and a wifi or cell connection in the field or at home for uploading!
Getting started with iNaturalist
Get ready to join in the fun by downloading the iNaturalist app to your smartphone through either via Google Play or Apple Store. A simple document with steps to get your account set up via iNaturalist are located here.
Things to Look For & Identification Resources
Check out this field guide for Michigan Birds, Trees, Insects, Wildflowers, Mammals, and more put together by the MSU Fisheries & Wildlife Department Graduate Student Organization.
Other helpful links and guides:
- MIchigan DNR
- The Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) list of all the Endangered, Threatened, and Probably Extirpated animal species of Michigan - Michigan Rare Animals
- Michigan Invasive Species
- Michigan Invasives for species ID
- Midwest Invasive Species Information Network to report sightings
- Bird ID
- Plant ID
- Michigan Flora
- Guide to identifying trees by their bark by MSU professor Lars Brudvig and Ben Knapp