BioBlitz

The Kensington Conservancy hosts a BioBlitz each year on one of our properties.

Thanks to everyone who came out to the 2017 TKC BioBlitz!  Check back soon for more information about the 2018 event.

2017 TKC BioBlitz

On July 8th and 9th, the Kensington Conservancy will be hosting their annual BioBlitz on the Boyer Preserve.  The Boyer Preserve is located at 69 Boyer Drive in Desbarats, only a few minute walk from the TKC office.
You can register for the BioBlitz by printing off the forms in the package found above and returning them by mail or email to Carter at the Kensington Conservancy (addresses are in the document).

You can also register online by filling out the form below and filling out the rest of the paperwork on site when you arrive.  Please read the entire BioBlitz Package, even if you do register online. 

    2017 TKC BioBlitz Registration
    These times are merely guidelines and we can accommodate you whenever you are free to join us! Contact Carter at 705-782-2200 or carterdorscht.tkc@gmail.com if you wish to discuss your availability.
    If you are registering through this online form, you will be asked to sign the Release and Liability Waiver and Medical Questionnaire when you arrive on site for the BioBlitz.

About the BioBlitz
The Kensington Conservancy BioBlitz occurs over a 24-hour period where you and like-minded participants of various disciplines will offer their expertise to gather information on flora, fauna and other taxa within the boundaries of the property.  In addition to an information gathering opportunity, this event will serve as an educational tool for all of those involved, whether you have no experience in the outdoors field or are a professional.  This event is also a great opportunity to network with your fellow participants.

There will be four 3-hour sampling periods and one 4-hour sampling period for you to choose from to fit your schedule.  However, these periods are merely guidelines and we will accommodate you for whatever times you are available to attend.  Participants are also welcomed to camp overnight.

Objectives of the BioBlitz
Estimate Species Richness: Identify and catalog the diversity of flora (trees, plants, etc.) and fauna (mammals, birds, insects, etc.) in our unique, multi-habitat ecosystems.  Species lists are a huge portion of what the conservancy does for each of their properties, therefore any new species we can add to the lists is very helpful.

Partnerships/Networking: Build upon the collective knowledge of the participants and meet new people.  You never know who you will meet at an event like this.  Maybe it will be a future employer or maybe it will be a new friend.   

Education: Add to your repertoire of knowledge in order to better educate yourself and others on what lives in our area.  You may know what a maple leaf looks like, but do you know how to tell the difference between a red maple and a sugar maple?  If you are a beginner in the outdoors world, you will leave this BioBlitz with a ton of new knowledge about species identification and how nature works.  If you are an experienced nature enthusiast, there’s bound to be something new here to add to your already vast knowledge.

More Information
As a beginner, an expert, or anywhere in between, we believe you can offer a valuable service for this event.  You may or may not have participated in a BioBlitz in the past, and if you haven’t, we welcome you to join us in the experience.  Our properties are being protected for their natural beauty, so there often are no trails on the properties and all surveys will take place in often rugged, often wet conditions.  Therefore, small children and pets will not be included in this event.

2016 BioBlitz Recap

This year, the Kensington Conservancy's BioBlitz took place on the Ripple Rock Preserve.  After the initial date of June 4th and 5th got postponed due to bad weather, the BioBlitz took place the following Saturday on July 11th for a shortened, one day event.  6 participants braved the heat and recorded a good number of plant and animal species before it got too hot to go any further.

The results:

14 trees
14 shrubs
56 herbaceous plants
3 ferns
7 wetland plants
10 mosses and lichens
5 mammals
17 birds
5 insects

Look back here next spring for more information on the 2017 Kensington Conservancy BioBlitz.  We hope to see you there!