Join in Great Southern BioBlitz

Nature-lovers and eco warriors are being urged to take part in the Great Southern BioBlitz from September 20-23.

Anyone wanting to join in simply needs to download the iNaturalist app on their smartphone, assign their project to City of Moreton Bay BioBlitz 2024 and get out and about.

The Great Southern BioBlitz is an international period of intense biological surveying, which aims to record the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in spring.

The purpose of the exercise is to highlight biodiversity while also engaging the public in science and nature learning, using the citizen science platform iNaturalist.

Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG) Moreton Bay and Redcliffe Sunrise Rotary spokesman Colin Scobie says joining in boosts participants’ knowledge of what flora and fauna is suitable for their ‘BioRegion’.

Colin says there are many lessons to learn from past mistakes in plant choice, ‘work’ done to local creek embankments which has diminished water quality flowing out to Moreton Bay, and decisions made which have had a visible impact on biodiversity.

“There is an increasing number of backyard lawns being replaced with native plants to bring back the local biodiversity,” Colin says.

“Organisations like backyardsforbiodiversity.org are encouraging homeowners to use the council free plant offer, to take up the challenge, and Kumbartcho Native Nursery are supporting this initiative.

“Later this year, the Moreton Bay Council will release their biodiversity plan and the survey of flora and fauna under GSB 2024 will help establish a baseline to prevent further biodiversity loss.”

How to get involved

To register visit https://www.greatsouthernbioblitz.org/about-1

Download the iNaturalist app. Visit https://www.inaturalist.org/posts/98637-gsb2024-helpful-points for details.

Moreton Bay iNaturalist Guide (Sept 20): https://swift.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/interface.html

Butterfly Survey (Sept 21): https://www.friendsofparksqld.org/event/great-southern-bioblitz-butterfly-survey

Wildflower Surveys (Sept 21): Pine Range: https://www.friendsofparksqld.org/event/great-southern-bioblitz-wildflower-survey

Bribie Island Bioblitz (Sept 22): https://www.biepa.online/event/great-southern-bioblitz

More Nocturnal Animal Surveys (Sept 21-22): https://www.friendsofparksqld.org/event/great-southern-bioblitz-nocturnal-animal-survey