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Bay Nature’s Bioblitz at UCSC
March 9 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Bay Nature’s Bioblitz at UCSC
Saturday, March 15, from 10am-1pm
Attention Santa Cruz community members! Join Bay Nature and UC Santa Cruz staff for a bioblitz on Saturday, March 15, from 10am-1pm on UC Santa Cruz’s Campus.
Attendees will learn how to use the iNaturalist app on their phones to identify local wildlife, then explore and observe nature in the area at their leisure.
Join Bay Nature Magazine and UC Santa Cruz staff for a bioblitz on Saturday, March 15, from 10am – 1pm on UC Santa Cruz’s Campus. Attendees can check in at our table anytime between 10:00am and 1:00pm to learn how to use their phones to identify local wildlife. After checking in, attendees can explore and observe nature in the area at their leisure. Click here for a link to our iNaturalist project. This is a free event open to the general public. All ages are welcome to attend. Come explore local nature and learn how to identify the plants and animals you see!
Click here for a Google Maps link for where to meet up, at the top of the North Perimeter Parking lot at the Heller Dr. Trailhead.
Meet your event leaders:
Alex Jones is the UC Santa Cruz Campus Natural Reserve manager and works to support UCSC student and faculty engagement in education, research, and stewardship outside on UCSC’s beautiful campus.
Lia Keener is Bay Nature’s event coordinator and previous outreach fellow. She loves hiking and doing nature-inspired art.
Event location: UC Santa Cruz Upper Campus
Meet up location: Top of the North Perimeter Parking lot at the Heller Dr. Trailhead. North Perimeter Parking Lot 150, Heller Drive, Santa Cruz, California 95064.Where can you go? After checking in at the table, you can choose your own adventure along the Upper Campus fire road network. Hike lengths can vary from 0.25 mile to 5+ miles depending on your interests. UCSC Upper Campus Fire Road map.
Parking: North Perimeter Parking Lot 150 (link). Please park as close to the top of the parking lot as possible. Parking is free on the weekends.
Hike difficulty: Dependent on where you choose to bioblitz. Easy to moderate. Terrain ranges from flat ground to gently to steeply sloped areas. Certain trails have exposed roots and more variable terrain.
Weather note: This event is a rain or shine event, as long as conditions remain safe. If there is rain forecasted, please check your email inbox in the days leading up to the event.
Access to restrooms and water: Please bring your own water. Bathrooms are located outside of Baskin Engineering, by the outdoor stairwell, approximately a 8-10 minute walk from the top of the North Perimeter Parking Lot.
What to bring? Water, sunscreen, fully charged smart phone with the iNaturalist app installed. Please make a free account prior to arriving. No prior iNaturalist experience is required.
What is a bioblitz? A bioblitz is an event where participants record as many species as possible within a designated location and time period. We’ll use the iNaturalist app to record our observations of the park’s wildlife, plants, fungi and more.
Why participate? Participating in bioblitzes connects you with local nature and with each other, and it also provides useful data for scientists! iNaturalist data has been used in more than 4,000 research papers, and its users have identified new species.
Other notes: Bring a water bottle, warm layers, snacks, and sun protection. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. No dogs are allowed at Bay Nature events or on the UC Santa Cruz campus. All minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the entirety of the hike.
Photo © Cricket Raspet, some rights reserved (CC-BY) via iNaturalist
