For those wishing to stay in town this weekend, you may want to consider helping with a BioBlitz being coordinated by the Conservation Education Division of ICR, under the oversight of Dr. James Danoff-Burg.

Palomar Audubon received the following from David A. O’Connor of the San Diego Zoo:

I am emailing you to invite you to the upcoming 24-hour BioBlitz that the San Diego Zoo Global Institute for Conservation Research (ICR) is planning for the open space lands on the north shore of Lake Hodges (please see following document for the areas we are hoping to survey).

The Bioblitz is being coordinated by the Conservation Education Division of ICR, under the oversight of Dr. James Danoff-Burg.

Generally speaking, as you may know, a BioBlitz catalogues all of the species in a certain area (more information: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/explorers/projects/bioblitz/). We plan on surveying vegetation, mammals, birds, herps, several types of invertebrates and bats. We hope to partner with as many organizations as possible. As such we would love for anyone from Audubon who might be interested to be involved too!

We anticipate that the BioBlitz will start at 2pm April 25 and run non-stop until 2pm April 26, with the base of operations at the Lake Hodges boat dock parking area.

As of now we are currently planning to catalogue: Herps., birds, bats, plants, terrestrial mammals, ants, aerial insects and potentially spiders. But the final list will depend on the specialties of the people that are interested, and our coverage with volunteers through the whole of the 24 hours.

It would be wonderful if you would like to participate. We request you please respond with the following information:

1. Whether you can participate

2. Any additional people with you

3. Which taxa(s) you’d like to survey

4. Times available on Friday April 25

5. Times Available Saturday April 26

6. Whether you’d like to be a team leader or develop a survey for additional taxa. (Please note that team leaders develop the survey methodology and must have equipment).

We think it will be a wonderful, exciting and fun opportunity, and the first of what we hope will be annual BioBlitz’s throughout the County.

Many thanks for considering this and please feel free to contact me to discuss further or if you have any questions or anything at all.

Many thanks,

Cheers

Dave