BIOBLITZ STORIESA REPORT ON EVENTS ACROSS THE NATION

We, as an agency, are proud of the work being done by our staff members all across the country. Engaging with communities, youth, and individuals and promoting a healthy, active lifestyle is an enriching experience for Forest Service employees, and the National Geographic Bioblitz allows us the opportunity to do so.

During the late spring in May through the early fall in September, the US Forest Service sponsored __# of Bioblitz events for __# of people. These events touched the very heart of the outreach the Forest Service aims to do—purposeful, meaningful connections with the public. While reading these recollections of the National Geographic Bioblitz events, think about the diversity of the staff and the citizens that this is reaching. Some stories are short while some are long, but all of them include people who were touched and lives that were changed.

Thank You.

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R1: Northwest Montana Bioblitz – Engaging Families and Youth

“I love nature!” “I learned how to find birds with binoculars.” “It was cool seeing fish in the river.” These were written comments from young Bioblitz participants at this year’s event.

Over 150 people participated in the April 23 Bioblitz event held at the 200 acre Flathead Valley Community College in Northwest Montana. Flathead National Forest joined several other community organizations and agencies to provide a successful event. The event drew a record number of families with at least a third of participants being of elementary age, engaged in many hands-on science activities. High school science students and community college students from the natural resources and education departments, teamed up with budding young scientists to survey and identify aquatic insects, birds and plants. The students also led kids in a Bioblitz scavenger hunt, building bird houses and exploring micro-habitats with the ‘hula-hoop ecosystem’. College students and instructors, and community volunteers led guided walks to survey specific sites and helped participants identify species in the Bioblitz tent using dissecting and compound microscopes. College instructors also gave GIS mapping demonstrations and in recognition of DNA Day—April 25—demonstrated DNA barcoding. “I learned so much,” wrote one participant. Organizers are already planning for the next year’s Bioblitz.

R3: Gila National Forest, Wilderness Ranger Disctrict Along with a great day of fishing, kids practiced at the casting station, explored the bug identification and collecting station, tried some fly-tying and enjoyed the archery range. They also heard Smokey Bear’s fire safety message and at various display stations learned about

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wildlife and fish while participating in BioBlitz events like scavenger hunts and listing as many species as they could find. Hot dogs were served at lunch. Mora National Fish hatchery stocked retired Gila trout broodstock for the event with the opportunity to catch a World Record Gila trout. The derby coincided with New Mexico Free Fishing day and National Fishing and Boating week. The event was made possible with the support and cooperation of many agencies, organizations and businesses. Kids reported a total of 61 fish caught, with the biggest fish caught

being an 18 ½”- 2 ½ lb Gila trout. At the end of the day, children won prizes in categories such as largest fish, most fish and for participating. We had a spectacular turnout with 169 kids registered for the event, which more than doubled our total from the previous event a few years ago. EKIP (Every Kid In a Park) pass vouchers were handed out to interested 4th graders. Everyone enjoyed the event and are interested in making it an annual event for connecting kids with

nature, and connecting Gila trout and agencies with the local community.

R3: Sandia Ranger District Although the weather was a little chilly, roughly 60 people were in attendance at the 2016 Cienega Bioblitz, making the event a huge success! Between U.S. Forest Service personnel, volunteers, and citizen scientists, 118 observations and 62 species were documented within the Cienega Picnic campgrounds and recorded in iNaturalist. There were plenty of hands-on crafts and species experts available to answer questions, lead nature walks and identify species.

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R4: Dixie National Forest

International Bird Day -BioBlitz Cedar City, UT.

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Over 200 contacts were made during the event, and 10 4th graders came out as well. The weather was perfect for springtime birding.

Mist netting and banding performed annually by Utah Division of Wildlife Resources biologists allowed event participants to get a new perspective on our feathered friends. Ultra-fine nets were set up in riparian habitat and biologists checked nets regularly for migratory birds. After carefully removing them from the nets, the biologists studied, measured, recorded and banded the birds so that they could be tracked. Bird Festival participants were able to get an up-close look at birds of the area, and some uncommon migrants. Field guides crafted by Girl Scout Troop 799

were provided to participants to draw on so that they could record the birds they saw at the event.Crafts and activities were provided by several other agencies and refreshments were provided by the Grind Coffee Shop.The FS booth also provided a story walk focused on the miracle of migration and the arduous journey that birds make to get to their breeding grounds.Children that participated in the story walk were able to practice their reading skills along the way. Binoculars were available for the bird walks and allowed kids to get a close-up look at birds and their habitat.

R6: Rogue River National Forest, OR

We held a BioBlitz on Mt. Ashland on July 7th, in partnership with the Medford District BLM, the Mt. Ashland Ski Area, Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve (National Park Service), and Medford REI. Our BioBlitz was multi-faceted in its goals: to observe and collect data on the mountain (one of the most biodiverse places in the country); to get our local

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Every Kid in a Park pass holders and their families out on their public lands; and to continue to build partnerships that emphasize getting kids outdoors.

Mt. Ashland is SW Oregon’s only ski resort, and is located on Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and is managed by the private non-profit Mt. Ashland Ski Association. The RRSNF also neighbors the Medford District BLM’s Cascade Siskiyou National Monument and Soda Mountain Wilderness (designated for the biodiversity in the area), so we decided in 2015 that our Every Kid in a Park events would be in partnership with the BLM. That partnership led to also working with the NPS because we also share borders with them at the Oregon Caves NMP, and we recognize that their strong interpretive program is something that we can utilize in working with kids and their families. REI was brought into the mix because of the area’s strong outdoor recreational community, and wanting to spread the word to as many people as we can.

This BioBlitz was the second EKiP event we’ve done at Mt. Ashland, and was the first BioBlitz to be held in Jackson County. We had 6 EKiP pass holders, 4 other kids of varying ages (4-14), parents, and fellow volunteers (including the Forest Supervisor). All in all, 27 people hiked 2 miles (1 mile each way) and climbed 1000 feet in elevation from the ski lodge to the mountain’s summit. We wound up with 73 observations, and a great time was had by all!

R6: Fort Vancouver National Historic Site (NPS site)

On May 21st, 2016 100 citizen scientists took part in the first BioBlitz at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site! Participants helped the National Forest Service and its partners document the flora and fauna at a national park. National Forest Service staff and partners with expertise in pollinators, birds, bats, and plants paired up with teams of community volunteers to inventory particular types of species that were logged into an online database (iNaturalist). Teams began inventorying in the morning and continue on a 2-3 hour rotation during the day.

Family-friendly exhibits and activities were also featured that focused on the significance of native prairie plants to the indigenous cultures of the region, the history of naturalists at the Fort, human impacts to the site, the value of and the significance of the white oak savannah.

Data collected at the BioBlitz was sent to Washington, DC, where it was broadcast on the National Mall with data from other participating BioBlitz events. About 20 of the approximate 100 participants appeared to be in the upper elementary age range. While we handed out information about EKIP, we did not collect information about grade level from each of the participants.

Fort Vancouver’s Blitz was part of the NPS’ Centennial effort (dozens of

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Bioblitzes happening across the country on International Biodiversity Day – May 21st) as well as the Intertwine’s Regional Ecoblitz Series (theintertwine.org/blitz).

R6: Colville National Forest, SO

Ft. Colville Elementary School: Click, click, click. Students aimed their cameras on the wonders of the outdoors to record their observations. Five classes of 125 4th grade students from Fort Colville Elementary walked from their school one mile up to the Rotary Club Trail to catalog each species they encountered. While these young scientists weren’t asked to memorize scientific names, they were asked to look and compare plants, insects, birds and animals. The goal of the day was to get students outdoors looking closer at the living things they see every day. The Upper Columbia Children’s Forest co-sponsored this BioBlitz with the Colville National Forest and Stevens County Conservation District.

Hunters Campground, Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area:The 13 interagency presenters that gathered at Hunters Campground in Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (LRNRA), included “ologists” from LRNRA, Colville National Forest, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Stevens County Conservation District and the Nature Conservancy to explore what was growing and living along the Columbia River with 165 2-9 grade (42 4th graders) students from four small rural underserved schools in northeastern Washington (Evergreen, Mary Walker, Springdale Elementary, and Columbia). Bus drivers sat patiently as the students watched an osprey on its nest overhead; they didn’t want to leave. The Upper Columbia Children’s Forest co-sponsored this day outdoors.

Colville Junior High School Wetland: Student: “next time I’ll bring boots like my teacher suggested.” Teacher, “wow, that was more fun than I thought it would be. Let’s plan to do it again next year.” Eighty 7th grade students rotated between plants, wildlife, and macroinvertebrates in an acre wetland adjacent Colville Junior High School. Muddy boots and shoes were the order of the day as students wound their way through

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cattails, frogs and stinging nettles. Experts were provided by the Colville National Forest and Colville School District.

R8: Atlanta Regional Office

Georgia Geographic Alliance hosted its first ever BioBlitz on May 21, 2016 at the Clyde Shepherd Nature Preserve. Approximately 100, community members were scientists for a day at CSNP, a 28 acre urban sanctuary for wildlife encompassing wetlands, uplands forests, and pine forests along the floodplain of South Peachtree Creek. The event will be geared towards the science standards of K-12 grades while providing fun and scientific intrigue for those of all ages. The Forest Service partnered to provide species ID expertise, lead nature hikes, host a booth, and pass out Every Kid in a Park 4th grade passes (15 4th graders attended).

R9: Washburn Ranger DistrictThe Washburn Ranger District hosted a BioBlitz

with the 4th and 5th grade class (approximately 90

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students) at Long Lake on the Chequamegon Nicolet National forest. The kids split into small groups and worked with resource specialist to canvas the area for plant, tree and wildlife species. We started the day out with an introduction of where the kids were and how special of a place Long Lake is since it really was the public’s or “their” land. We introduced biodiversity and why it was important, I took the easy route – if we do not know what we have, we won’t know what we have lost! The kids then went out with natural resource professionals and surveyed the area. For closing, we reported out what each group found and what they thought was most special and ended the session with free play of running around the woods and Long Lake beach. We handed out a bag of fun Smoky stuff and had water bottles made with Washburn School, Forest Service and Every Kid in the Park logo so they hopefully will remember their day out on the Forest.

The day was very special for me to watch as I have a 4th grader. One of the reasons it was so successful was due to the natural resource staff that took the day to pass their knowledge on and work with the kids. Since we had five resource specialists, we had small groups of approximately 8 students so they could really connect with the kids and give individual attention. Aaron brought tracking devices and wolf calls that made everyone want to be in the wildlife group, Matt and Mark had kids eating wintergreen and every group reported out that was their favorite (a few kids had a bunch stuffed in their pockets), Andy and Charly had kids coring and measuring trees and I know for a fact each kid can tell you the difference between a red, white and jack pine now! A huge thanks to Andy Ledin, Matt Bushman, Aaron Fahlstrom, Matt Jaunzems, and Charly Ray (private forester who led a group) for taking time out of their busy schedule. And thanks to the Washburn Elementary School for working with us and making this great event happen.

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R10: Tongass National ForestThe Sitka Ranger District in Sitka, Alaska, helped the Sitka School District as well as several other community organizations with its second annual Bioblitz with April 27th, 2016. The Bioblitz takes place at the Forest Service’s Starrigavin Recreation Area and Campground, and utilizes experts from the US Forest Service District as well as Pacific Northwest Research Station, Sitka Tribe of Alaska, University of Alaska Southeast, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, National Park Service, Sitka Conservation Society, and the Sitka Sound Science Center help all 4th grade students find and identify as many species as possible. The event puts over 100 4th grade students and 30 volunteers into the field for 4 hours to trap, net, collect, and identify freshwater insects, juvenile salmon, marine invertebrates, trees and plants, terrestrial insects, and birds. The students always have a great experience and last year we found a species of freshwater invertebrate never before found in Alaska. This year one even commented that she’d like to be held back in 4th grade so she could do the Bioblitz again next year. From the Forest Service perspective, the Bioblitz is a great way for students in Sitka to interact with their natural environment, gain an appreciation for the plants and animals that literally live in their backyard, and just be outside in their National Forest. It also exposes them to Forest Service personnel and allows them to see that even though the recreation area is relatively developed, it continues to be an environment thriving with dozens of species of all kinds. In fact it is not uncommon to hear students comment that they had no idea so many different plants and animals lived so close to home.

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