Calling All Aspiring Citizen Scientists!
This June, Ontario's top scientists, naturalists, and researchers will be descending on Barnum Creek Nature Reserve for our 2nd ever Bioblitz, and they need your help!
Live out your real-life Pokemon Go dream by helping our experts take inventory of every plant, animal, fungi species we can find in this intensive 24 hour family-friendly event. iNaturalist has 456 species currently logged at Barnum Creek, how many more can we find?
We'll also be hosting a series of free nature-themed guided hikes throughout the weekend. These have limited spots, so register now to guarantee your spot!
Location: 1118 Goulds Crossing Rd, Haliburton
Dates: June 21, 11:00am to June 22, 11:00am
Availability: Open to the public for all ages!
WHAT IS A BIOBLITZ?
A bioblitz is a rapid assessment of biodiversity in a specific area over a short period, typically 24 hours or less. It's a communal effort involving scientists, naturalists, and citizen scientists who work together to identify as many species as possible within the designated area.
WHY ARE WE DOING IT?
Did you know we identified an amazing 716 species at our last Bioblitz at Dahl Forest in 2017? How incredible is that!? We live in a truly unique and beautiful place in Haliburton County. Our place at the transition zone between the northern and southern bioregions of Ontario gifts us an abundance of biodiversity and natural wealth. Our Bioblitz events are a celebration of these gifts, providing an opportunity for our community to connect with each other and the land, while learning about nature conservation from top experts from across the province. We hope to see you there!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
All Weekend: 🥾 Self-Guided Bioblitz
Our Land Trust volunteers will be available at the cabin all weekend to show you the ropes of how to use iNaturalist to identify species on your phone and send you on a self-guided journey through the Barnum Creek Trails. No registration required! Download Instructions
All Weekend: Partner Meet & Greet
HHLT will be joined by a number of our favourite health & environmental organizations in Haliburton County. So come visit and meet our amazing partners!
All Weekend: F.E.E.L. Self-Guided Story Book Walk
The “Water Storybook Walk” is a self-guided learning activity that will be located at Barnum Creek’s trailhead for families to enjoy. This series of 9 double-sided signs displays pages from “Follow the Water from Brook to Ocean” by Arthur Dorros. The story is presented with information about steps we can all take to protect life-giving water. This activity is offered by the Haliburton-Muskoka-Kawartha Children’s Water Festival, the flagship program of local charity, the Friends of Ecological and Environmental Learning (FEEL).
Saturday 11:15am-12:00am | Welcome Ceremony
Ed Poropat will welcome our experts from across the province and send them out across Barnum Creek Nature Reserve to kick off the Bioblitz. Indigenous Children's Author and HHLT Partner In Conservation Nancy Cooper will also share some words. More details to come!
Saturday 12:30am-1:30pm | 💧‘Water and Wildlife Heroes’ Family Hike
Families are invited to join experienced outdoor educators for a guided hike to Barnum Creek. Fun activities will be offered along the way that help tune young naturalists’ observational skills and make connections to the importance of healthy wildlife habitat. While planned particularly for ages 5-10 and accompanying adults, all ages are welcome in this active learning walk. Hike leaders will draw from the activities of the HMK Children’s Water Festival which, this year, is celebrating 20 years of inspiring young water and wildlife heroes. Register Here
Saturday 3:00pm-4:00pm | 🪳 Discovering Benthic Macroinvertebrates
Join for hands-on learning about the fascinating creatures that live on the bottom of freshwater streams and ponds. All ages welcome! Register Here
Saturday 8:00pm-9:00pm | 🦇 Nocturnal Critters
Join guides Ed and Tamara Poropat after dark in search of the bats, birds, insects and other creatures that thrive in the night. Register Here.
Sunday 8:00am-9:30am | 🦆 Bird Identification Walk
Join our guide Thom Lambert as he points out the different bird species who frequent the different habitats of Barnum Creek. Register Here.
Sunday 10:00am-11:30am | 🌸 Wildflower Walk
Join our guide Belinda Gallagher for a hike through the fields and forests of Barnum Creek in search of the many wildflower species that live here. Register Here.
Sunday 12:00pm - 1:00pm | 🌳 Tree Identification Walk
Naturalist Jim Hopkins will teach you how to identify trees by their leaves, bark, and other distinguishing features. Register Here.
Visit our registration desk to check out a copy of Biindigen! Amik Says Welcome by Nancy Cooper, Indigenous Children's Author and HHLT Partner In Conservation. Then journey over to the Beaver Dam off Waterfall Way for the perfect reading location.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE WEEKEND
Arrival and Parking
For do-it-yourself blitzers feel free to arrive anytime after 11am on Saturday. For those joining scheduled hikes, please arrive at least 30 minutes beforehand to give time to find parking and check-in. There is parking both at the trail head and at the bottom of the hill on Goulds Crossing road, though spaces are limited. Please note that there is no street parking available at the top of the hill on Gould’s Crossing. For those with accessibility needs or several small children we can make accomodations so please call in advance or speak to our parking volunteers on the day.
Considering our parking constraints please consider carpooling to save space. The Fish Hatchery at 6712 Gelert rd has graciously offered their parking lot as a meeting point for potential carpoolers.
When arriving at the trail-head please check-in with our registration desk by the cabin. Once there, you can sign-in for any of the guided hikes you have registered for, or get a tutorial for a do-it-yourself bioblitz from one of our volunteers and set off on your own.
Instructions for Do-It-Yourself Bioblitz
We’ve created a handy guide for those who wish to jump off on their own to explore Barnum Creek. We will also have HHLT volunteers at the check-in area to help you familiarize yourself with iNaturalist.
What to Bring
- Your phone with iNaturalist Downloaded
- Binoculars
- Camera
- Rain Gear
- Water, lunch, and snacks
- Bug protection
- Sturdy footwear
- Sun protection
Partner Meet & Greet
All weekend we'll have some our our favourite local health and environmental organizations present. Come by and introduce yourself to our wonderful partners!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
To help make this exciting day a success, we need volunteers for a variety of roles:
- Parking Attendants – Direct cars and manage traffic flow
- HHLT Welcome Desk Attendant - Direct folks on where to go and the schedule of events
- Food Attendants – Assist with food station setup, snacks, and cleanup
- Walk/Workshop Helpers – Support guided walks and activity leaders
- iNaturalist Helper – Help participants use iNaturalist to record species
- Event Setup & Breakdown Crew – Assist with setting up tents, tables, signs in the morning, and cleanup at the end of the day
If you're interested in volunteering, please let Laura know at landstewardship@haliburtonlandtrust.ca, and we can review available roles and time slots for the weekend.
A very special thank you to our funding partners:
And to the following organizations for donating equipment:
