The ORWRP’s first BioBlitz occurred on April 18th, 2015 in conjunction with the Sierra Club Earth Day event.
It was a small scale BioBlitz, surveying only birds and fish. A morning session from 6-9am of 12 people surveyed for birds, led by Dr. Angelika Nelson. Species were identified by sight and/or sound. 37 bird species were identified, including blue gray gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea), northern rough-winged swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis), great blue heron (Ardea herodias), and Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii).
A group of 10 people surveyed fish from 9am-1pm, led by Dr. Suzanne Gray. 13 fish species were recorded, including green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), and stoneroller (Campostoma anomalum).
Thanks to all of our volunteers for making this year’s event a success!
The BioBlitz was held to help ORWRP staff understand how to run a full event. In future years, this event will survey birds, mammals, fish, herps, invertebrates, and plants. If you would like to be involved in the next ORWRP BioBlitz, email water@osu.edu for more information.