Get ready, nature enthusiasts and city slickers alike – there’s a bio-extravaganza happening this Saturday, September 28, at Theodore Wirth Regional Park. Hot on the heels of the Minnehaha Regional Park BioBlitz, where a cool 65 participants clocked a whopping 667 observations and tallied up 276 different species, it’s your shot to play citizen scientist. Who knows? Maybe you'll top those numbers.
This isn’t just fun and games – it's serious data collecting, and it's a big deal for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) and all those brainy researchers who need this kind of crowd-sourced data. Don’t worry though; you don't need a PhD to participate. Grab some binoculars, cozy up to a microscope, or just rock up with keen eyes and a love for our green spaces. All those creepy crawlies, flying friends, and green-growers in Theodore Wirth Regional Park are just waiting to be cataloged by your amateur hands.
If you're worried about your grumbling stomach, fear not. Stick around for sessions 2 and 3, and they’ll dish out a light lunch. Bond over your biology brainwaves and butterflies or, you know, actual butterflies. It’s about community, collaboration, and a little bit of friendly competition – who can spot the most species, right?
Here’s the rundown: things kick off with the "Early birding" session at 7:30 am, for all you dawn chorus enthusiasts. Then slice and dice the day into four sessions, ending with a nature survey of the Quaking Bog from 2:30 to 4 pm. If you can’t make it this time, or if you just can’t get enough of that BioBlitz buzz, there'll be more events in the winter and spring. Because biodiversity doesn't take a break, and neither should we.
So where can you slap your name down for this who’s-who of the natural world? Simply head to Theodore Wirth Regional Park BioBlitz: on Sat. Sep. 28, or if that’s not in your calendar cards, aim for the North Mississippi Regional Park BioBlitz: Sat. Oct. 12. And before you ask – yes, everyone is welcome. However if you're younger than 14, bring an adult, not just for the supervision but for the extra pair of spotting eyes. See you in the great outdoors, folks.
