Big Backyard BioBlitz

NCC staff at Happy Valley Forest, ON (Photo by Brianna Roye)

Connect with nature, and with each other.

Bioblitzes are community science efforts to document as many species as possible within a specific area and time period, using your smartphone or tablet. The Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC’s) Big Backyard BioBlitz is a five-day, go-at-your-own-pace event to document the creatures around us. The bonus is that your observations can help conservation experts take stock of local biodiversity, track rare species and tackle invasive ones. Here are four ways to make it fun for all:

Families

Make it a scavenger hunt for kids and adults, and team up to see who can spot the largest number of critters.

Friends

Because the BioBlitz is done using your phone and then uploaded to a global database, it doesn’t matter whether your friends are near or far. Make a game of it and challenge them to see who can submit the most species observations.

Nature lovers

Learn a handful of fun facts about a plant, animal or insect you’ve observed, so you can share them with other nature lovers.

Next-level enthusiasts

Capture the sounds of a bird or insect on your next  walk. Notice the different sounds birds make in urban areas compared to more natural areas. Turn your gaze to nature over the August long weekend and join thousands of other nature lovers who’ll be contributing to valuable science data.

Big Backyard BioBlitz: August 3–7

Sign up to participate at backyardbioblitz.ca.

This story originally appeared in the summer 2023 issue of the Nature Conservancy of Canada Magazine. To learn more about how you can receive the magazine, click here.