National Parks Bioblitz - Pacific NW - Lewis and Clark

Photo by Mike Patterson

What is it?

A Bioblitz is a 24-hour event in which teams of volunteer scientists, families, students, teachers and other community members work together to find and identify as many species of plants, animals, microbes, fungi, and other organisms as possible. In 2016 BioBlitz goes national. The cornerstone National Parks BioBlitz: Washington, D.C. will take place May 20-21, with more than a hundred concurrent BioBiltzes happening at national parks across the country.

 

Join Us!

The North Coast and Cascades Network, eight national park sites in Oregon and Washington (Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, Olympic National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve, San Juan Island national Historical Park, and North Cascades National Park Service Complex), will host a BioBlitz event May 20-21 to celebrate diversity, identify, collect, and document species in each of the park sites. From bats, to butterflies, to birds, and more!

Lewis and Clark National Historical Park will explore plants, birds, moths, tardigrades, bees, butterflies, dragonflies, and other pollinators.

 

Nature Matters Speaker series presents:

The Iconic Bumble Bee - The Decline of Our Native Pollinators

Fort George Brewery 7 p.m. Thursday, May 19, 2016

Join Rich Hatfield, senior conservation biologist, the Xerces Society, and learn what the society is doing to help conserve these pollinators, and what you can do to help! Please join us at Fort George Brewery + Public House, Lovell room, 1483 Duane St. Astoria, OR. Door open at 6 p.m. The program is free.

Moth Night 8 - 10 p.m. Friday, May 20, 2016

Enjoy the sunset by the Lewis and Clark River as moth expert Jim Johnson gives a presentation on the moths of Clatsop County. Then after twilight falls, join the moth crew identifying and inventorying, and share your discoveries with the world via iNaturalist. Dress for the weather with closed toed, and bring water, snacks and flashlight. This activity is wheelchair accessible. Please no pets. Sign up now at Eventbrite or just show up at Netul Landing.

Become a Citizen Scientist - Inventories

Saturday May 21, 2016

6-9 a.m. Sunrise Big Day Bird Count
Calling all Early Birds! Join Mike Patterson for an early morning bird count. Patterson is a biologist, educator and professional counter of things living in and around Astoria, OR. While he is best known for his work with birds, he also possesses extensive knowledge of invertebrates and other organisms, and has a keen interest in the interconnections of living things. After a brief discussion and gathering, divide into smaller teams and set out looking for birds along the Lewis and Clark River. Dress for the weather with closed toed shoes, and bring water, snacks and binoculars. The count is wheelchair accessible. Please no pets. Sign up now at Eventbrite or just show up at Netul Landing.

10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Join experts on inventorying and identifying butterflies, dragonflies and pollinators. Then share your findings with the world via iNaturalist.

For the following inventories you must sign up at Eventbrite.

• 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. "Pollinator Inventories" led by Mike Patterson, biologist and educator. Sign up now, 12 slots available.
• 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. "Botany and Budburst Discovery" with Kathleen Sayce. Sayce is an ecologist with an M.S. in Botany, Washington State University, and is a board member of Society for Pacific Coast Native Iris, South Pacific County. Sign up now, 12 slots available.
• 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. "Dragonfly Inventory" led by Jim Johnson, Dragon fly expert and enthusiast. Johnson serves on the Dragonfly Society of the Americas executive council. Sign up now, 12 slots available.
• 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. "Butterfly Inventory" led by Candace Fallon, conservation biologist at the Xerces Society. Sign up now, 12 slots available.
• 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. "Butterfly Inventory" led by Robert Pyle, butterfly ecologist and founder of the Xerces Society. Sign up now, 12 slots available.
• 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. "Botany and Budburst Discovery" led by Kathleen Sayce, ecologist and board member of Society for Pacific Coast Native Iris. Sign up now, 12 slots available.
• 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. "Butterfly Inventory" led by Candace Fallon, conservation biologist at the Xerces Society. Sign up now, 12 slots available.
• 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. "Butterfly Inventory"led by Robert Pyle, butterfly ecologist and founder of the Xerces Society. Sign up now, 12 slots available.
  Dress for rain or shine. Wear closed toed shoes. Bring sunscreen, insect repellent, water, snack and/or lunch, and your smartphone. Please no pets.

Science Central Activities and Talks

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday, May 21

• 10 - 10:30 a.m. The day will begin with "Why Biodiversity?" By keynote speaker Jerry Freilich, pH D and retired director of the North Coast & Cascade Science Learning Network.
• 11 - 11:30 a.m. "Dragonflies of Clatsop County" by Jim Johnson, Dragonfly expert an enthusiast.
• 12 - 12:30 p.m. "Biodiversity Begins with a Bee" by Jerry Freilich, pH D and retired director of the North Coast & Cascade Science Learning Network.
• 1 - 1:30 p.m. "Butterflies of the Maritime" by Robert Pyle and Candace Fallon. Robert Pyle has a pH D in butterfly ecology and has been involved in butterfly science and conservation for more than fifty years. Candace Fallon is a conservation biologist at the Xerces Society where she works to better understand and protect invertebrates and their habitats.
• 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Cultural Demonstration by the Chinook Indian Nation. Meet artist and carver Tony Johnson. Tony Johnson is the current chair of the Chinook Indian Nation and is a scholar of language and culture. He acquired Chinuk Wawa as a second language and wood working skills from his elders. He is now teaching the next generation.
• 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. KidZone calling all kids! Join park ranger staff and volunteers for a little creativity and nature inspired crafts or just have your face painted with favorite bird, invertebrate or plant.
• 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Other fun! Help upload findings to iNaturalist. Check out what is happening at the other Bioblitz across the Nation on the big screen. Look at some of the day's findings under microscopes. Chat with experts and learn more about the environment around us.
• 2:30 -3 p.m. Thank You! From Lewis and Clark NHP Superintendent, Scott Tucker.

Sign up now at Eventbrite or just show up at Netul Landing. Dress for rain or shine. Wear closed toed shoes. Bring sunscreen, insect repellent,water, snacks and/or lunch. Science Central is wheelchair accessible. Please no pets.

 

Additional Resources

iNaturalist - Official site to record BioBlitz species.

e-bird - Record bird sightings, learn about birds, and more! - tools for birders, critical data for science.

Plant and Animal Species Lists - Download plant and animal checklist for the park.

Bumble Bees of the Western United States - A guide for bumble bee information and identification. (pdf 7.8)

Project BudBurst - Record and track plant phenology.

Find Your Niche in BioBlitz
Check out the video link about if you're a self-identifying biologist or naturalist and learn how you can be involved in BioBlitz. We need your biodiversity expertise!