Oh, blitz on.

Cascade Head isn’t just a great place for Instagram-worthy photos. It’s the only UNESCO Biosphere Reserve on the Oregon Coast and also home to one of Oregon’s precious marine reserves. You can help to contribute to the world of science while enjoying this or any of the other four Oregon Marine Reserves as they again join forces for a month-long Bio-Blitz.

After learning the ropes at the virtual Kickoff Webinar at 6 pm on Tuesday, June 22, you're free to explore alone or with a group to help create a targeted survey of each geographic area. Try to identify all the species that can be found in that area at one time and record your observations with the iNaturalist app anytime between Friday, June 25 and Sunday, July 25.

The virtual training will have a diversity of knowledgeable presenters including Will Cotton from the Oregon Coast Aquarium, and members of the Primary Responders in Marine Emergent Disease Network.

Representing the five reserves will be Margaret Treadwell for Cape Falcon, Paul Robertson for Cascade Head, Dennis White for Otter Rock, Tara DuBois for Cape Perpetua and Tara Ramsey, for Redfish Rocks.

Parking is available for Cascade Head at the Roads End State Recreation Site on Logan Road in Lincoln City. Make your way down to the tidepools at the most northern edge of the beach. While most of the species focus will be in the tidepools, don't be afraid to catalog your observations from the land and sky as well.  Haliaeetus leucocephalus, better known as bald eagles, are commonly spotted in the area.

Last year, participants identified up to 56 species and made hundreds of observations. This included many first-time users of the app along with more seasoned iNaturalists. The Facebook event page will be updated with images and results, so be sure to watch for reports from marine reserves along the entire Oregon Coast.

For more information, go to www.cascadehead.org.