For Immediate Release Aug. 18, 2017
Canada 150 Community BioBlitz in Partnership with Nature NB and the Kennebecasis Watershed Restoration Committee
Nature NB and the Kennebecasis Watershed Restoration Committee celebrate Canada 150 with community BioBlitz event on Nature Conservancy of Canada site.
New Brunswick communities and environmental experts will be brought together to learn about biodiversity in New Brunswick
FREDERICTON, NB–Nature NB in partnership with the Kennebecasis Watershed Restoration Committee was awarded funding from BioBlitz Canada to hold a community BioBlitz event to further educate New Brunswickers about biodiversity in their province.
A community BioBlitz brings together scientists and expert naturalists to inventory the biodiversity of a particular area in a set time-frame. This type of BioBlitz encourages interested public to become a citizen scientist and be proud to contribute to real science.
The event, which is a first for the organisers will be held at the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Shippee Nature Reserve in Waterford, NB and will showcase several experts and scientists from across the province, including Don McAlpine from the NB Museum.
“We really wanted to make a BioBlitz that was accessible and fun”, says Vanessa Roy-McDougall, Executive Director of Nature NB. “We hope this event can act as a learning tool for families, kids and community members and to encourage folks to get outside in nature”.
On August 26th, from 9am to 4pm the public and media are invited to participate. Activities for families and children will coincide with the surveys taking place in the field- bird counts and identification, plants and earthworms to name a few will be collected from the experts. Volunteers and the public will get a hands on learning experience on how to collect data using the iNaturalist app to keep track of observations. Birdwatching, guided walks, meet the scientist presentations and a free barbeque will be included in the festivities.
Ben Whalen, Project Manager of the Kennebecasis Watershed Restoration Committee enthusiastically quipped “The KWRC is excited to get to know more about our ecosystems and in the process get to know our partners. We also hope that those who come out learn more about our watershed and the work we do to understand and improve it.”
The nature reserve is for experienced outdoor enthusiasts. The site does not have trails, and participants should be informed of varied terrain (marsh, rocks, woods). Nature NB staff will host activities at the community hall, 16 Cedar Camp Rd, Waterford NB accessible for ages and experience levels.
For more information please visit: www.naturenb.ca or https://www.facebook.com/events
Media Contact:
Paige LeClair
Communications Coordinator
Nature NB
1-(506)-459-4209
communications@naturenb.ca
