Prophysaon coeruleum // Blue-grey Taildropper // Matheson

Artwork by Gala Milne
              Artwork by Gala Milne

Metchosin BioBlitz 2012

 

The Second Metchosin BioBlitz took place on May 4 and 5. The weather co-operated and the dozens of specialists found a wealth of species, many that were not found last year. The results are being compiled. Watch this space.

ln 2011, at Metchosin's first BioBlitz, sixty taxonomic specialists found 850 different species. Use the "BioBlitz Results" tab on the left to read the report.


TC Image
Read the article
on the BioBlitz
from the Monday, April 28th,
Times-Colonist

Metchosin's 2012 Bioblitz began Friday night (May 4, 7:00 pm) at the Metchosin District Office Council Chambers. This family event featured a slide talk about the 2011 BioBlitz and about Metchosin species by Andy MacKinnon and a presentation by Ann Nightingale ("Hurried Hoots - A Short Primer on Local Owls"). Following the talks Ann led a group on an owling expedition.

flying pig
When they arrived, participants received a buildable wooden model of a horse or a flying pig. The kits were made by Metchosin resident Derek Wulff (article on Derek).		 On Saturday members of the public joined the experts for the forays. They met at the Mel Cooper cabin of the Boys and Girls Club at 8:30 am and 1:00 pm. In the morning Metchosin's Martha Haylor supplied the group with her delicious fresh-baked cinnamon buns. At noon Jo Mitchell provided steaming soups and My-Chosen pizza donated several boxes of pizza.


Here were the 2012 expeditions:

  • Early morning

    • Birding groups organized by Ann Nightingale covered Metchosin grids.
  • Morning forays

    • To Camosun College's Van de Meer Reserve. Leaders: Adolf and Oluna Ceska.
    • Pearson College. Waterfront survey. Leader: Laura Verhegge.
    • Weirs Beach to Taylor Beach. A team led by Phil and Marilyn Lambert surveyed along Juan de Fuca shores, looking at seaside vegetation, marine birds, marine organisms.
    • DND Properties. A selected team, led by Hans Roemer, surveyed DND Mary Hill reserves in Metchosin.
    • Boys and Girl's Club property. Led by Andy MacKinnon.
    • Witty's Beach. Marine specialists joined a CRD group (see below) to inventory organisms gathered during the beach seine.
  • Afternoon forays

    • To Camp Thunderbird. Leaders: Adolf and Oluna Ceska. Seventeen people searched for mushrooms and mosses.
    • Witty's Lagoon Park. Specialists joined the CRD staff at the CRD Forest Walk (see below) to help with inventory.
    • Blinkhorn Nature Park. Blinkhorn is a little-known jewel of a local Metchosin park with its own lake. Jamie Fenneman and Jeremy Gatten surveyed it in the morning, a larger group in the afternoon.
    • Tower Point. A CRD Park that is adjacent to Witty's Lagoon. Surveyed for vegetation and marine animals.

On BioBlitz day CRD staff and the BioBlitz experts offered a pair of programs for the general public:

  • Beach seine, 10:30 am. A close-up look at the amazing diversity of marine organisms that live in the ocean's eelgrass beds.

  • Forest walk, 1:30 pm. A CRD naturalist and a Metchosin Bioblitz team explored land areas at Witty's Lagoon Park.

Bioblitz experts
BioBlitz experts gathered at the Mel Cooper cabin of the Metchosin
Boys and Girls Club to organize the days expeditions. Picture by Roger St. Pierre

 

The BioBlitz acknowledges the many people and organizations who are making the 2012 event possible. Our partners include the Metchosin Foundation, CRD Parks, the Victoria Natural History Society, the District of Metchosin, Costco, and My Chosen Pizza.