BioBlitz opportunities are fun! You get to compete with yourself — how fun is that? And you earn volunteer hours while having all that fun!
Really, you can compete with fellow Citizen Scientists or simply enter as an individual participant and just go at your own pace.
4th Annual BioBLitz — Pollinators — October 4 – 20, 2019
This 4th Annual BioBlitz is partnered by a lot of heavies — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, the National Butterfly Center, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center (Austin), U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the National Wildlife Federation.
They’ve thought of everything — Easy registering at
https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/bioblitz/www.tpwd.state.tx.us/education/bioblitz/participate,
Amazing helpful pollinator guides at
https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/bioblitz/guides,
Tips for photographing pollinators (camera or Smart phone) at https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/bioblitz/digitips,
Instructions on how to use iNaturalist, daily challenges, if you’re into that, and little quizzes.
Pollinators — more than just the bees —
All these are important pollinators that help sustain native plant species, human food crops, and even crops for livestock.
- Native Bees
- Honey Bees
- Butterflies
- Beetles
- Moths
- Bats
- Wasps
- Hummingbirds
Without pollinators, I would have missed out on some wonderful fried green tomatoes.
Fried greens aside, here’s an invitation for an Advanced Training opportunity with a fellow Texas Master Naturalist:
Saturday, October 5, 2019 — TMN-er Javi Gonzalez, at the South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center and Alligator Sanctuary, is hosting an iNaturalist 101 mini workshop. He’s an expert photographer and an excellent instructor on iNaturalist.
“The Texas Pollinator BioBlitz 2019 starts Saturday, October 4th! We are offering an “iNaturalist 101” mini-workshop and a “Pollinators of SPI” presentation this Saturday to get you ready!” according to Javi.
Check out their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SPIbirding/
Don’t miss out on another October event:
— The 2019 Big Sit — October 12 & 13
The Big Sit! — an annual, international, noncompetitive birding event hosted by Bird Watcher’s Digest check it out: https://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/…/conne…/bigsit/about.php
Javi’s inviting folks to that, too, at SPI Birding & Nature Center — they’ll be birding from the back deck from sunrise until sunset.
I’ve got that on my calendar, too and I’m hoping my newest bird is still hanging around the mesquite tree outside my kitchen window:
This tiny Vermilion Flycatcher showed up about 10 days ago. I’m not that well-versed on birds. If anyone can tell if this particular bird is female or a young male, please let me know. It
October can be a busy month because kids are back in school and a number of activities spring up that are wonderful volunteer opportunities with our various partners.
Our chapter sponsor, Javier de León, is already looking for volunteers to help with Estero Llano Grande State Park’s Spooky Science Fest that takes place October 19 from 5 to 10 p.m.! Look for news on our chapter ListServe soon!
“This event would not be possible without volunteers!” Javier said. “Please let me or Jose Uribe know if you would be available to help us out – either from 5 to 10 p.m., or while we decorate and set-up the event the week leading up to October 19. No previous experience necessary so please don’t think you have to be a nature expert to help us during the event. THANK YOU to the few folks who are already making plans to help us that night.”
E-mail Javier or Joe at:
Estero would be a great place to photograph or observe for The Big Sit, too!
Alternately, you don’t even have to leave home for either of the events discussed here, the Pollinator BioBlitz or The Big Sit. Both events earn you volunteer hours whether you travel to a venue or stay at home, so keep track and post your hours.
Winter Texans are heading back to their Valley RV parks, too, where opportunities abound for speaking engagements — make sure all your new topics are on the chapter Speakers’ Bureau list. Contact our Webmaster with your information, please. karenryceballos@gmail.com