It’s time for our annual bioblitz! Nature lovers, we need your help – join your friends in the Frontenac State Park Association from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, to help find and record various species of flora and fauna in Frontenac State Park.
What’s a bioblitz, you ask? It’s a citizen-science group effort that focuses on finding and identifying as many species as possible of plants, animals and insects – the biota – in a specific area over a short period of time. Another name for a bioblitz is a biological census or survey.
A bioblitz is a fun way to learn more about the flora and fauna in our park from knowledgeable guides, as well as to contribute to our understanding of current conditions in the park, which helps it plan for the future.
Aug. 19 will go like this: Meet at 9 a.m. in the parking lot near the park’s signature overlook to hear more about the walks we’re offering that day and to decide which one to join. These guided walks (listed below) will visit different areas of the park to identify species in various genera. Then, at noon, we’ll all regroup at the picnic shelter by the parking lot to discuss our findings. Snacks will be provided.
There’s no need to pre-register for the bioblitz. Just show up dressed for the weather, with sensible walking shoes, water, bug spray, and a notebook and pen to record your sightings. Bring a camera and your phone (with the iNaturalist app loaded, if you want, but it’s not mandatory).
Walks will last approximately 2½ hours, but you can leave anytime if you need to. All walks are family-friendly.
Here are the walks we’ll offer. All start at 9 a.m.:
- Bird walk with Janet Malotky, Master Naturalist. Meet at the picnic shelter near the park’s main overlook.
- Butterfly walk with Sandy Hokanson, who leads bird and butterfly walks with the Zumbro Valley Audubon Society. Meet at the picnic shelter for an overview, then travel to park headquarters and walk the prairie loop.
- Fungi walk with Pamela Miller, Master Naturalist. Meet at the picnic shelter for an overview, then travel to a wooded path for our walk.
- Plant walk with Jeneann Oppedahl, Master Naturalist, and Park Ranger Jake Gaster. Meet at the picnic shelter, then walk along the blufftop trails.
- Tree walk with park employees Kathy Gates and Amy Poss. Meet at the picnic shelter and walk along the bluff top.
- Find out more in our August newsletter: https://buttondown.email/FSPA/archive/august-the-prairie-is-waving/
Photo credit: Lisa Filter/P&TC