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Highlands Bio Blitz
Written By: Mary Jane McCall | Issue: July 2024
It’s no puzzle – Kevin Fitzpatrick’s Bio Blitzes are investigations into the mysteries and miracles of the local biosphere. You’re invited to participate.
Chances are you’ve seen Kevin Fitzpatrick of All Species Photography and his trusty sidekick, Bindi the Australian Shepherd, sporting around town in their little gray Subaru with the Bio Blitz logo and photographs on the side and wondered to yourself – “what is a Bio Blitz?”
If you’re lucky enough to catch up with Kevin and ask him about it, you’ll note that his eyes light up like a child’s at Christmas as he excitedly explains it to you.
It’s a meaningful way for folks of all ages to join the scientific community in a team effort to record as many different life forms in one location as possible in a short period, usually a day or two. No one is too young or too old to participate.
It’s a chance for us all to enjoy quality time in the great outdoors by joining a team of scientists, naturalists, and community volunteers to collect data through pictures and words about the abundance of flora, fauna, insects, and animal life in our communities.
Locally Kevin’s done them in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, working with ATBI (All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory) in the Smokies for over 20 years. In that time, they have recorded 1,083 new species. He’s also conducted several in conjunction with National Geographic, Highlands Nature Center, Highlands-Cashiers Land Trust, and students from Rabun Gap Nacoochee School.
Kevin explains that, “Bio Blitz is much more than just a concerted effort to identify the species that live in a chosen location. It is a celebration of nature and the many wonderful forms that exist in any given place. When people of all ages and professions gather to take a closer look at their local wildlife, a tangible excitement builds. Bio Blitzes are very powerful tools for environmental education, conservation, community engagement, and are invaluable opportunities to observe and record the effects of climate change on a region. They represent experiential learning at its best.”
Recording your findings is as easy as downloading the iNaturalist app from their website, inaturalist.org, and entering your observations.
Ed Smith, camp director at The Mountain, is very involved with Bio Blitzes and is hoping to immerse the camp kids in the Bio Blitz concept to learn about climate change. This is a natural fit since Kevin has found that younger students become very engaged in the process.
For more information, contact Kevin at [email protected]. Students interested in participating in a Bio Blitz should reach out as well.
