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St. LOUIS, MO.—The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is celebrating the incredible multiplicity of both birds and people during the Diversity in Birding Week activities during the first week in May. Joined by the World Bird Sanctuary (WBS), MDC will host a Bioblitz event in O’Fallon Park Saturday, May 7 from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. as part of the celebration.
A bioblitz is a focused biological survey performed by volunteer community scientists to document all the living species within a given area. Participants conduct an intensive field study during a compressed time period. The data they gather provides scientists and land managers a valuable snapshot of the natural health and diversity of an area.
Participants will roll up their sleeves and get close and personal with a variety of plants and animals, while having fun, learning, and uncovering helpful information all at the same time. They’ll be able to use the free mobile apps eBird and iNaturalist to assist them and to log their observations. It’s a chance to be a community scientist for a day.
Activities during the O’Fallon Park Bioblitz will include mist netting and bird banding demonstrations led by WBS in the morning. Naturalist-conducted beginning birding walks will start at 8 a.m. Participants can also take guided hikes to identify plants, fungi, invertebrates, and more.
The Bioblitz is free to attend and open to all experience levels, ages, and walks of life to celebrate the diversity of birds and people. Families are welcome and no preregistration is needed. For more details, go to https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4ww. Bioblitz participants should plan on meeting at the O'Fallon Park Rec Center, 4343 West Florissant Ave.
MDC is leading a partnership to restore natural habitat to O’Fallon Park through its Back to Nature St. Louis Grant. This grant provides funding for habitat restoration and/or reconstruction on public park property in St. Louis County or City. The goal is to enhance the quality of life for people and establish important islands of habitat for native plants and wildlife in urban areas.
