The Atlas of Life Great Southern Bioblitz – October 22 – 25th

This year between the 22-25th October, join the Atlas of Life in Australia and 14 other countries in the largest scale citizen science biodiversity survey in the southern hemisphere!
Using the iNaturalist platform, the Great Southern Bioblitz (GSB) is an opportunity to participate in a large, global biodiversity survey.
The Atlas of Life has signed our area up and we will be promoting the event and several special focus activities, like a moth night, a parrot prize and a Sea Slug Census during the 3 days of the Bioblitz.
The GSB was born from the desire to have a springtime survey of biodiversity for us, down south during a time of year we know is abounding with emerging life. Flowers are blooming, insects take wing, and birds call for mates.
Each time an observation is made, it will be identified and used as a data point for that species creating a valuable piece of scientific data which can be accessed for all sorts of important biological research.
This is only the second GSB. Last year the organisers were astounded by the participation in this project’s first year. Their humble expectations of perhaps just a few locations around Australia getting involved were blown away, with many more people from around the world joining in to observe their local biodiversity.
This year there is an even stronger participation in the GSB, with already 96 local areas signed up from across 14 countries.
We hope to have a number of get together mini-blitzes at different places, and we are also promoting the idea of backyard biodiversity surveys. Given the ongoing pandemic, participant safety is our priority. The beauty of the GSB is that everyone can participate even if restrictions are in place, and travel is not possible. You can do it either solo or in a group.
All you need is an iNaturalist account, a device to take photos of wildlife, and all the enthusiasm you can muster. Our Moderators and Identifiers will be there to help you identify the species you record.
Visit the Atlas of Life iNaturalist page and the Atlas Great Southern Bioblitz page and keep an eye out on our Atlas Facebook page for up to date news and information about activities near you.
To find out more information about this project, also visit https://greatsouthernbiobl.wixsite.com/website.
For more information and interviews please contact Libby Hepburn libby@atlasoflife.org.au  0458 798 990