2024 Great Southern BioBlitz – 20-23 September
Posted on 10 September, 2024 by Anna
Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club is again hosting the Great Southern Bioblitz for the Castlemaine region. GSB24 runs from September 20 to 23 2024 with citizen scientists from across the Southern Hemisphere photographing and audio recording as many living species as possible within their regions.
Get involved and help showcase all the amazing forms of wildlife living in our own Castlemaine region and help build the scientific databases that increase knowledge and understanding of our bushlands. These annual Bioblitz surveys collect vast amounts of data on species and distribution that would otherwise be unavailable.
To join the fun take photographs or make sound recordings of flora, fauna and fungi between 20-23 September. You have until 7 October 2024 to upload them to iNaturalist from your phone app or computer. iNaturalist is a global databank for observations of biodiversity made by scientists, naturalists and citizen scientists. Then skilled naturalists, scientists and other citizen scientists will help you identify as many of your observations as possible. If you’re unsure on how to use iNaturalist, the Field Nats will be running a Beginners Guide to iNaturalist on Wednesday 11th Sept at 7pm (bookings required at https://www.trybooking.com/CUPWG )
There are a series of events hosted by Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club, as part of the Bioblitz. See below for details.
Yellow-footed Antechinus. Photo: Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club
Friday 20th – Monday 23rd September – make your observations and attend the following special events. Observations must be from the Mt Alexander Shire or the eastern half of Hepburn Shire including Daylesford and Trentham.
Friday 20th Sept from 7pm: Moth Night
Moths hold vital roles in ecosystem biodiversity. They are an important food source and great pollinators. The majority of species are nocturnal and most of these are attracted to light. Come along to watch these moths flying onto illuminated moth sheets and be amazed at the variation in sizes and colour of these beautiful creatures. A moth scientist will be on site to help with identification.
We will set up the lights and moth sheets at the southern end of the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens near the Walker St bridge (Opposite The Mill).
Sunday 22nd Sept. 1:30-3:30pm, followed by afternoon tea. Bioblitz Afternoon in the Bush. All Welcome
As part of Bioblitz 2024, we are offering the opportunity to spend a very special afternoon in the bush with four of our highly regarded local wildlife experts. Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the bush and record what you see and hear with photos or audio.
Bring your phone, camera, binoculars, magnifying glass and unbridled, childlike curiosity! And a cup for afternoon tea. If you wish, bring something for afternoon tea to share afterwards.
Meet at the Red White and Blue Picnic Area in Muckleford Forest – click here for directions.
Friday 20th Sept to Monday 7th October. Load and Identify
During this time, load your observations made between 20th and 23rd Sept to the iNaturalist platform. They will be automatically included in our GSB24 project. https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/projects/great-southern-bioblitz-2024-castlemaine-region. You can also help identify the observations that others have made.
Want a challenge? Can you make and load more observations than our very own “Babblerboy” who in 2023 recorded 799 observations of 256 species – no. 17 globally!
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