2014 Bioblitz Results
On May 17th, we held an event that ran from 6 am to 11 pm, the Biobliltz. In this event, teams of volunteer scientists, families, students, teachers, and other community members worked together to find and identify as many species of plants and animals as possible. The Center includes 59 acres along the Arkansas River just west of Pueblo.
Goals Included
• Discover, count, map, and learn about the living creatures at the Nature Center.
• Provide scientists and the public an opportunity to do fieldwork together.
• Add to the Nature Center’s official species list.
• Highlight the importance of protecting biodiversity.
• Provide supporting information to enhance the environmental education programs that take place on site for thousands of school children each year.
Bullock’s Oriole
The day included:
Bird Banding with Dr. Claire Ramos from CSU-Pueblo
Bird Survey with James Little from the NRCP
Reptile Survey with Ed Schmal from Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Insect Survey with Dr. Moussa Diawara from CSU-Pueblo
Botany Survey with Dr. Brian Vanden Heuvel from CSU-Pueblo
Bat Survey with Ed Schmal from Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Red-headed Woodpecker
Our bird survey recorded 47 species and 367 individual birds. Some of the interesting sightings for the day included Red-headed Woodpecker, Dusky Flycatcher, Bullock’s Oriole, both Eastern and Western Kingbirds, and 165 Violet-green Swallows.
In the bird banding demonstration, Dr. Claire Ramos from CSU-Pueblo and her students banded a total of 27 birds of 11 species. Visitors were able to observe the birds first hand while they were measured and weighed before release to the wild.
Big Brown Bat
In the bat survey,Ed Schmal captured a Big Brown Bat that visitors were able to observe first hand as Ed measured and weighed the animal for his research.
In the reptile survey, Ed Schmal live captured a Colorado Checkered Whiptail. Visitors were able to observe as the animal was measured and weighed before being released. He recorded a total of 24 reptiles of three species.
Measuring a Lizard
The botany survey with Dr. Brian Vanden Heuvel recorded 53 species of plants including pincushion cactus, plains prickly pear, and buffalo grass.
Your support helps us to continue educational events like the Bioblitz to benefit our community, help expand the environmental literacy of area citizens, and help strengthen the connection between people and nature.