Spring is a biologically wonderful time of year – buds are bursting, summer birds are returning, larvae are hatching, and biologists are antsy to get outside again. As coordinator for BioBlitz! Oklahoma, I have been asked why don’t we have the event in spring or early summer when all this fun stuff is going on. I agree that spring is an amazing time of year to explore outside – everyone and everything is full of energy. And that is part of the problem – energy. The greatest factor is my decision to not hold BioBlitz! Oklahoma in the spring is the extremely energetic weather that puts our s
tate in national news. As the coordinator of an event of 300+ people held in a remote location overnight, I don’t feel like taking on that anxiety or responsibility. But I know we are missing out on a bunch of biodiversity by holding the event each year in late summer. What to do?
A Spring Virtual BioBlitz! was my answer. It is a month long, state-wide BioBlitz! that uses iNaturalist.org to record everyone’s observations. At day 11, we already have 767 observations, of 326 species, from 21 people! To spur everyone into action, I am giving away prizes for completion of challenges. Check it out!
Priscilla H. C. Crawford 