Black Creek BioBlitz

I have fond memories when I reflect back on my experiences in Guyana, South America. This was the furthest I had ever traveled from what I consider home in the Carolinas. I could write for days about the people I met, the landscape scenery, and the approach to education within the Surama community village. However, a pivotal moment that has guided my thought process and Master Plan was during a group discussion on the IAP coursework. All members of the Earth Expedition team were sharing their ideas and receiving feedback from other classmates. My idea was to create a Conservation Management Plan for our new Boy Scout summer camp in Georgia. This would include participatory input from scouts, leaders, and volunteers.  My discussion would spark interest from both Samantha and a couple other students. I was advised that this was a great idea, however, rather complex and multifaceted. The most important question that would emerge was, "What exactly are you trying to manage?"

As I reflected back on previous coursework, I was unable to easily answer this question. I knew it would somehow involved wildlife habitat, forestry resources, storm water runoff from development, and energy conservation. Course leader,  Matt Hallett, suggested organizing a BioBlitz for the property. I had no idea the purpose or goals of a BioBlitz. However, I did know that in order to manage land I would need a better idea of what biological life inhabited camp. I thought it sounded like a good idea. A few of my classmates had participated in BioBlitzes back in their home communities. They suggested ways to organize, methods, and tools that would assist this event. Flyers, iNaturalist cell phone apps, presentations to Properties Committee members, GPS units, and networking with the local University were all part of the plan.

I am currently six days away from hosting my very first BioBlitz. This event has come together in less than two months. I have read articles suggesting a minimum of six months minimum preparation time to achieve the greatest participation and best results (Karns et al., 2006). I have successfully reached a new audience of scientists, botanists, herpetology students, foresters, and other professors who have agreed to volunteer and help with this project. It is inspiring to know that a simple group discussion on another continent can bridge over to positive conservation work back home. This is just one amazing result from Project Dragonfly and the Global Field Program. I am excited to facilitate this BioBlitz and collect data that will guide future decisions on camp development. Who knows, we may potentially identify rare or threatened species during our exploration.

The two pictures represent protection of biodiversity conservation and the study of wildlife. I wish to conserve biodiversity here in Georgia while learning more about wildlife at camp. Thanks to our professional photographer Ricardo Stanoss for the snapshots in time.

Reference

Karns, D. R., Ruch, D. D., Brodman, R. D., Jackson, M. T., Rothrock, P. E., Scott, P. E., ... & Whitaker Jr, J. O. (2006, January). Results of a short-term BioBlitz of the aquatic and terrestrial habitats of Otter Creek, Vigo County, Indiana. In Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science (Vol. 115, No. 2, pp. 82-88).
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