Summer BioBlitz at the Water Center

The Water Resources Education Center will host the Summer BioBlitz from 9:30 a.m. to noon June 29. Volunteers will use the iNaturalist app to catalog plants, insects, birds, moss, lichen, animal tracks and anything else spotted in the area. The BioBlitz helps monitor species in our area to understand what is here, when they’re here and their movement patterns. The BioBlitz is open to anyone and participants don’t need to be an expert naturalist or have experience with iNaturalist. Experts will help with identification and data submission. Guided walks are open to anyone age six and over. Terrain is varied for each walk and may include paved paths, gravel paths, grassy areas, dirt trails or sandy beach trails. Register at forms.office.com/g/MmAT17QKUe. For more details, contact Water Resources Education Center at 360-487-7111 or vanwrec@cityofvancouver.us. Areas of focus for different walks include:

• Bird Walk: Join Vancouver Audubon to document the different bird species at the Water Center. This group will explore the areas around the Water Center and the wetlands to document birds by sight and sound.
• Insect and Flower Walk: Join a naturalist and professor from Clark College to take a deep dive into the world of terrestrial insects. This group will identify insects and flowering plants in the Water Center garden.
• General Nature Walk: Join a naturalist from the Clark Conservation District on a walk to identify birds, moss and fungi.
• Bee Walk: Join the Vancouver Bee Project to look for bees in the garden and along trails.
• Plant Walk: Join the City’s NatureSpaces program to catalog and document plants along the trails and along the river.