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Mac Johnson Wildlife Area BioBlitz
Canada Geese are among the many waterfowl found at Mac Johnson Wildlife Area in Brockville..
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Our BioBlitz takes place over a 24-hour period of time when specialists and enthusiasts come together at Mac Johnson Wildlife Area. The BioBlitz will be held from 3:00 p.m., Friday, June 5, 2009 to 3:00 p.m., Saturday, June 6, 2009.
The purpose of the BioBlitz is to identify and record as many different species of plants and animals as possible during a 24-hour period.
Background
In 2007, the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority worked with community organizations to develop a Master Plan to help guide the use and care of MJWA for the next 20 years. One important project was identified as updating the 1982 species inventory. It will provide the foundation to move forward with the Master Plan for Mac Johnson Wildlife Area.
The Friends of Mac Johnson Wildlife Area are a group of local volunteers who assist the CRCA to plan and implement a variety of conservation and education projects. This will be our first BioBlitz and the success of the event depends upon the involvement of the entire community – and beyond.
What a Bioblitz Can Do
- Fun for specialists and the community. Everyone knows that crawling around in the woods and fields looking at plants and animals is about as good as it gets.
- Bring out the specialists. A one day event is about the only way (short of paying) that a local area can get good taxonomic information for some groups of species.
- Identify rare and unique species/groups. By bringing together the best in the field, their insights can be used to identify uncommon or special habitats for protection and management. In some cases rare species may be uncovered.
- Document species diversity. The lists of species generated for the site, while incomplete, are an excellent starting place for inventories. With such talent in place information will be added even for well covered species such as birds. For example, on the Kenilworth Expedition several new bird species were added to the park list, despite being birded by local ornithologists for years.
- Media attention! Bring together an eclectic stew of colorful mycologists, ornithologists, lichenologists, bacteriologists, herpetologists, ichthyologists, entomologists, and botanists. Sprinkle well with other suspected misanthropes and you will have reporters eating out your hand. Put that same group's publications out as bait and you won't get nary a nibble.
- Create synergy. Bring together naturalists from various locations; add enthusiasts, the public, media and volunteers, and you have the makings of an exciting community event!
- Learning opportunities for the community. What a day! What an opportunity to learn from experts!
- Support the MJWA Master Plan vision: This inventory will help create the foundation for other possible projects at the wildlife area. These are some ideas edited from http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/blitz.html
Get Involved
Volunteers are needed for the following positions.
- Site Coordinator: works with other coordinators as to their needs on-site
- Logistics/ survey teams support: planning for team needs (i.e. computers, microscopes -scientists to bring their own if possible), power, extension cords, power strips, use of nature centre, tents/tables/chairs, general set-up
- Signage/site maps/parking: planning (road signs, on-site location/activity signs, visitor and surveyor parking), preparing, posting, on-site guidance (site-maps can be coordinated with the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority)
- Camping/Lodging Coordinator: There will be individuals joining us from out of town. We need to plan for their needs and make the information available.
- Safety Services: St. John’s, first aid on-site, night security for campers, lock gate
- Science Coordinator: works with Taxon leaders as to their needs on-site, helps build the teams, helps with final data analysis and interpretation.
- Taxon Leaders: act as taxon team leaders
- Help gather a team of survey experts and maintain quality control.
- Set the strategy for the team and determine who does what. (The objective is to determine how many species you have, not to put a name on each species.)
- Communicate with team on all aspects of the survey. Other communications about logistics can be done by the Bioblitz organizers.
- Taxon Team Member: work ‘on the ground’ to collect and count species.
- Photographers and GPS: when possible, a photographer and/or GPS expert can accompany a taxon team into the field
- On-site communications and recording: plan how to share information with public
- Post-Bioblitz reporting: (final data analysis and interpretation) Help prepare the list of species that were found, noting interesting or unusual species. Amalgamate any experts’ recommendations on how to improve or maintain the park.
- Educational Activities Coordinator: Along with the interactions between visitors and the scientists, educational activities will enhance the event. We invite EEN members from the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve and other organizations to deliver share their knowledge/programs with the public. A co-coordinator is also required.
- Media Coordinator: coordinates printed material, and communication of information to other coordinators for sharing with their crews/participants
- Webmaster: create and maintain site
- Advertising: Help get the word out to the public and officials through radio, television, newspapers, posters, flyers, signs and other creative means
- Writer: Creation of media package, press releases, follow-up with press by phone, relaying the results of the Bioblitz with a press release, communications to coordinators, web updates, promotions
- Public Relations Coordinator: a spokesperson who involves the community and rallies interest/volunteers for the event, works with media coordinator and crew
- Speaking: formal and informal
- Partnerships: solicit partnerships with local and municipal governments, school boards, agencies and organizations which support the bioblitz goals and philosophy
- Fundraising Donations Coordinator:
- Items that may need to be rented: (tents, tables, chairs, toilets, microphone and speaker)
- Food for the volunteers and/or visitors: (Saturday barbecue, drinks, coffee, snacks)
- Other expenses: (i.e. signs, maps, prizes, copy paper, trail tape, sanitizer) need to be considered.
- Food Coordinator: planning (environmentally friendly practices, menu, eating implements, garbage, recycle), preparing, serving, coordinate food volunteers
- Registration Coordinator: coordinates printed material, and communication of information to other coordinators for sharing with their crews/participants
- Registration Table/Orientation: have sign-in sheet, maps, collection sheets, protocol info, schedule
- Scheduling Coordinator: ties the 24 hour schedule together with input from other coordinators, gives data to Site and Registration coordinators for their paperwork and signage
- Announcers/MC: planning presentations, making periodic announcements throughout the event, closing ceremony/awards
For more information or to volunteer contact Claire Lefrancois at:
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