Great Lakes BioBlitzes: Intro

Intro     Door Co. BioBlitz     Ozaukee Co. BioBlitz     Superior BioBlitz     Registration     Partners Info

What is a BioBlitz? This summer the Natural Resources Foundation held three FREE citizen-science events called “BioBlitzes.”  Designed as part educational event, part scientific endeavor and part festival, our BioBlitzes brought together more than 85 scientists and partners and more than 200 citizen volunteers to count more than 900 species  in day-long biological surveys of Great Lakes State Natural Areas in Ozaukee, Door and Douglas Counties.

See Photos from Each Event:

• Europe Bay Woods State Natural Area, Newport State Park, Door Co. - COMPLETED - CLICK FOR PHOTOS

• Cedarburg Bog State Natural Area, Ozaukee Co. - COMPLETED - CLICK FOR PHOTOS

• Dwight's Point State Natural Area, Douglas Co. - COMPLETED - CLICK FOR PHOTOS

Some of Wisconsin’s Top Field Ecologists.  Ecologists and scientists from the WI Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Green Bay and Superior, the Milwaukee Public Museum, the Urban Ecology Center, Ridges Sanctuary, the Fond du Lac Reservation, the US Fish and Wildlife Service as well as non-profit conservationists and skilled amateur naturalists were on-hand to lead citizen-scientist teams all day at each event.

Why hold them at State Natural Areas? While a few BioBlitzes have been held in Wisconsin before, none had been held at any of Wisconsin’s 600+ State Natural Areas. These specially designated areas are considered “the best of the best” remnants of original Wisconsin landscapes. They represent a window into our past and a road map for how and why Wisconsin’s Great Lakes coastal habitat should be protected and restored now and in the future. Our BioBlitzes helped citizens experience these precious lands with the scientists that help protect them.

12-Hours of Activity.  Our Great Lakes BioBlitzes will ran for twelve hours each, from 6am to 6pm.  Short, guided data collection trips throughout the day included vascular and non-vascular plants, insects, aquatic invertebrates, birds, mammals, trees, herptiles, fungi, lichen, fish and more.

Each site included a “headquarters” tent, where scientists set up their microscopes and examined collected specimens and members of the public gathered to go out on hourly “inventory excursions” with leaders.  Kids activities were hosted at each site by groups including the Peninsula School of Art, the Milwaukee Public Museum, the Great Lakes Aquarium and the Urban Ecology Center.

Questions?  Call or Email Us: Jeffrey Potter, Special Projects Coordinator, jeffrey.potter@wisconsin.gov or 608-261-4392

Funded by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management under the Coastal Zone Management Act, Grant #NA09NOS4190107.

Thanks to the Wisconsin DNR State Natural Areas Program for the cooperation.