Join the fun, 20-23 Sept as well as our lead-up activities
After a wonderfully successful 2023 effort Castlemaine Field Naturalists Club is again hosting the Great Southern Bioblitz for the Castlemaine region. GSB24 runs from September 20th to 23rd 2024 with citizen scientists from across the Southern Hemisphere photographing and audio recording as many living species as possible within their regions.
Join us to help showcase all the amazing forms of wildlife living in our own Castlemaine region and help build the scientific databases that increase knowledge and understanding of our bushlands. These annual Bioblitz surveys collect vast amounts of data on species and distribution that would otherwise be unavailable.
To join the fun take photographs or make sound recordings of flora, fauna and fungi between September 20th and September 23rd 2024. You have until 7th October 2024 to upload them to iNaturalist from your phone app or computer. iNaturalist is a global databank for observations of biodiversity made by scientists, naturalists and citizen scientists. Then skilled naturalists, scientists and other citizen scientists will help you identify as many of your observations as possible.
PRELIMINARY ACTIVITIES
Sunday 8th Sept at 10:30am: Photography Walk
Join Jill Williams and other CFNC members in a photography walk to discuss how to make good observation photos for iNaturalist. Meet in Froomes Rd near the junction with Burnett Rd for a walk in the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens nature reserve.
Wednesday 11th Sept at 7pm: Beginners Guide to iNaturalist (Bookings required)
Book at: https://www.trybooking.com/CUPWG
This will be an introduction to the iNaturalist website with tips on how to load and identify observations. Additional details will be provided when booking.
GREAT SOUTHERN BIOBLITZ 2024
Friday 20th – Monday 23rd September – make your observations and attend the following special events. Observations must be from the Mt Alexander Shire or the eastern half of Hepburn Shire including Daylesford and Trentham.
Friday 20th Sept from 7pm: Moth Night
Moths hold vital roles in ecosystem biodiversity. They are an important food source and great pollinators. The majority of species are nocturnal and most of these are attracted to light. Come along to watch these moths flying onto illuminated moth sheets and be amazed at the variation in sizes and colour of these beautiful creatures. A moth scientist will be on site to help with identification.
We will set up the lights and moth sheets at the southern end of the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens near the Walker St bridge (Opposite The Mill).
Sunday 22nd Sept. 1:30-3:30pm, followed by afternoon tea. Bioblitz Afternoon in the Bush. All Welcome
As part of Bioblitz 2024, we are offering the opportunity to spend a very special afternoon in the bush with four of our highly regarded local wildlife experts. Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the bush and record what you see and hear with photos or audio.
Bring your phone, camera, binoculars, magnifying glass and unbridled, childlike curiosity! And a cup for afternoon tea. If you wish, bring something for afternoon tea to share afterwards.
Meet at the Red White and Blue Picnic Area in Muckleford Forest – click here for directions.
Friday 20th Sept to Monday 7th October. Load and Identify
During this time, load your observations made between 20th and 23rd Sept to the iNaturalist platform. They will be automatically included in our GSB24 project. https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/projects/great-southern-bioblitz-2024-castlemaine-region. You can also help identify the observations that others have made.
Want a challenge? Can you make and load more observations than our very own “Babblerboy” who in 2023 recorded 799 observations of 256 species – no. 17 globally!