At Sagehen Creek Field Station:

 A bioblitz is a detailed study of biodiversity in a specific location over a specific period of time, bringing volunteers and experts together.

For those who love plants, bugs and other animals and have a sense of exploration and a thirst for discovery, participating in a bioblitz is the perfect opportunity. A bioblitz is a one-day event where participants explore a specific area to search for and count unique species of plants, animals, bugs and birds. The Tahoe Institute for Natural Science is again hosting this year’s Truckee-area BioBlitz at the Sagehen Creek Field Station in Truckee, Calif. 

What makes the BioBlitz at Sagehen so unique is the diversity of species and the opportunity to discover organisms that aren’t often found elsewhere. Due to Sagehen’s status as a protected research site as part of the UC Reserve System, there are forests, meadows and riparian habitat, along with a number of fens, all of which support a unique diversity of plant and animal life. Species that participants may get to see include mountain birds at the peak of their breeding season, dozens of flowering plants in full bloom, colorful butterflies and jumping spiders, parasitoid wasps, two species of carnivorous sundew plants, and the primitive black petaltail dragonfly, each with a fascinating life history to learn about.  For example, the larvae of the petaltails are not fully aquatic like other dragonflies, but instead tunnel into the moss at spring-fed mountain bogs and fens (making Sagehen the perfect place to encounter this unusual insect).

There will be naturalists, scientists, and other experts on hand to lead groups of 5-10 participants as they search and record the biodiversity they observe. The main event will be on the morning of Saturday, July 13, starting at 8 a.m. Participants will head out into the field and make observations until noon, at which point everybody will reconvene at the field station for lunch and a quick taxonomic tally. An optional afternoon session will be available to those who wants to spend the full day exploring and counting the amazing variety of species at Sagehen.

For more detailed information and to register visit tinsweb.org.