ASCCA BioBlitz Blooming Success
On Saturday, June 8, 2019 forty-four people joined us for our 8th annual BioBlitz. As we set up for the event, the mule deer were poking their heads through the forest and the red-tailed hawks were calling from their nest. Nature enthusiasts of every caliber arrived during the day: early birders, insect enthusiasts, plant personnel, mammal moguls, passionate photographers, and happy hikers. Each one determined to find as many plant and animal species on the ASCCA as possible.
At the Welcome Station each participant collected their ASCCA Passports, scavenger hunt, field guides, and BioBlitz maps. The first stop on the map was the nocturnal station in the Tipi. The nocturnal game unveiled several of the species living on the ASCCA after dark. Our most stealthy species, they run the Cross Conservation Area when we close to the public at 11:00 PM every night.
The second station was dangerous; however, the educators were able to contain the monsters of the deep found in our teaching pond. Closed to the public to help prevent erosion, our teaching pond was accessible to BioBlitz participants for the day. In the pond we have many tadpoles and invertebrates ranging in size from the 5 centimetre diving beetle larvae to the microscopic seed shrimp and daphnia. A red-wing blackbird was flying guard for its nest, and we were lucky to spot a Baltimore Oriole (the bird kind, not the batting kind), a familiar resident on the Cross Conservation Area.
On the south facing slope there is a large diversity of native wildflowers and plants. The plant station remedied any sicknesses developed on the trail by providing participants with a depth and breadth of knowledge of different medicinal plant species. The Buffalo Bean is the second flower to bloom in the spring and historically signified the bison migrating back onto the prairies. Participants also enjoyed smelling the aromas of prairie sage and observing the trough shaped leaves of the lupine used to capture rainwater.
The Incredible Insect station bore witness to three separate battles on the Cross Conservation Area: Our infestation of the linden looper caterpillars who have been munching on the Aspen leaves and underbrush. They travel fast on their threads of silk. A fierce battle with the ants who were protecting their herd of aphids from predation. The Aphids provide the ants with honeydew while the ants protect the aphids from ladybugs (a gardener’s friend). A similar battle occurred a week before the event when a black bear carved out the center of the ant nest looking for tasty treats.
Call of the Cougar was the station found at the mountain lookout. At the station, participants were challenged to jump the six meters of a cougar pounce. A cougar skullandfurwerepresentedalongwith information of the elusive species. With a 360 degree view, the station witnessed a red fox being chased by a protective mother mule deer.
Thanks to all who attended, we identified over 160 species! ‘Till next year…
Zachary Mager
