Saturday, June 17 | BioBlitz at the Bird Sanctuary

Join the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station on Saturday, June 17, to kick off the first-ever BioBlitz at the W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary! KBS naturalists and local scientists will be on hand to explore and document the diversity of life, or biodiversity, at the Sanctuary. Attendees will be able to visit with local organizations to find out about the work they are doing, learn about upcoming events, and find out how to get involved in local conservation efforts.

The basics

• Time and date: 9:30 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 17
• Location: W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, 12685 East C Ave., Augusta MI
• Audience: Everyone
• Fee: Free; registration required.
• Register here.

What is a BioBlitz?

A BioBlitz is a collective, community-science effort to record as many species as possible within a designated location and time period. The goals of the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary BioBlitz are to:

• Foster an appreciation for biodiversity with the public through hands-on exploration and community science.
• Provide valuable baseline data on the distribution of species at the Bird Sanctuary, aiding KBS conservation efforts.
• Highlight the diversity and value of the wildlife that live at or visit the Sanctuary.

The BioBlitz is open to anyone who wants to improve their naturalist and identification knowledge and or skills; including families, community groups, and nature enthusiasts. All ages are welcome, and no experience is necessary!

Schedule

Register for the morning session, the afternoon session, or both. For each session, choose the species category you’re most interested in exploring. Categories include trees, plants, bees, aquatic invertebrates, birds, butterflies, and more.

The morning session begins at 9:30 a.m. with an introduction to iNaturalist, the app used to record species sightings. The BioBlitz activity begins at 10 a.m. Attendees familiar with iNaturalist can opt to attend only the BioBlitz.

The afternoon session begins at 12:30 p.m. with an iNaturalist introduction and the BioBlitz at 1 p.m. Attendees familiar with iNaturalist can opt to attend only the BioBlitz.

Registration and more information

Register by June 16 at bit.ly/kbs-bioblitz-2023 to save your spot in your preferred group or groups. Registration is free, and attendees get free admission to the Bird Sanctuary on June 17. Participants registering for both morning and afternoon sessions should bring a sack lunch.

The BioBlitz is also looking for scientists or other experts to lead teams, as well as event volunteers and educational table display exhibitors. Register for any of those roles here.

Visit the BioBlitz event listing for more information. Questions? Contact the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station at communityrelations@kbs.msu.edu.