Blitz happening all over
It’s hard to get Oregon naturalists to clam up about all the muscle that’s been put into creating and maintaining our Oregon Marine Reserves: areas created to protect the incredibly diverse marine ecosystems this area has to offer and to enhance the health of the species that call it home.
You are invited to do a deep dive into one or more of the five unique reserves, located between Astoria and Gold Beach, as a citizen scientist during the second annual Oregon Coast “Bio-Blitz,” running from Thursday, July 16, through Sunday, July 26.
A BioBlitz is an intensive, targeted survey of a natural area with the goal of identifying all the species that can be found there at one time. Cape Falcon, Cascade Head, Otter Rock, Cape Perpetua and Redfish Rocks are your potential areas of study.
“It’s basically a snapshot of the biodiversity that can be found on the shore of the reserves,” said Paul Robertson, project and communications manager for the Cascade Head Bioshere Reserve. “Last year we had 81 species identified and hundreds of observations made by participants.”
Participation this year, will be via a "hybrid" approach, starting with an instructional webinar featuring representatives from each of the five reserves, going live on Thursday, July 16, at 6 pm and viewable for the duration of event.
Next, get outside for self-guided explorations with your own household group, using the mobile iNaturalist app to collect and share images and data. The app is available for Android or iPhone. As you upload your images, virtual scientists and amateur naturalists on iNaturalist will help you identify which species you have encountered.
“As we proceed we will be updating the Facebook event page with images and results,” Robertson said. “So be sure to watch for reports from marine reserves along the entire Oregon Coast.”
While most of the action will be in the tide pools, you can note observations from the land and sky as well. Bald eagles are commonly spotted in the area, but remember that no matter where you are looking to always stay aware of the waves.
The hybrid version of the Bio-Blitz lets you go whenever the low tide, weather and ocean swell conditions work for you. The first low tide of the event will be on Friday, July 17, at sunrise.
Opportunities exist in each of the five marine reserves. For more information or to register, go to www.cascadehead.org/events/bio-blitz-iii.