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IAWP BioBlitz 2024

plants 2 group.jpgWelcome to the third annual BioBlitz at the Indreland Audubon Wetland Preserve! 

By participating in this event, you will be contributing to a citizen science effort and helping your local wetland right in downtown Bozeman. 

You can join as many teams as you like. Each team will conduct a survey lasting approximately 2 hours over the course of July 19, 20, and 21. 

The Indreland Audubon Wetland Preserve is an urban wetland restoration site managed by the Sacajawea Audubon Society. As the site is returned to an approximation of its historical state, we will use the annual BioBlitz along with other survey efforts to get yearly snapshots of which species are living in and benefitting from this wetland. 

A BioBlitz is an event in which community members find and identify as many species as possible in a specific area over a short period of time. Participants do not need any prior experience! Each team will be led by an expert who will focus on educating the group as much as surveying species. All observations will be uploaded to iNaturalist where they can be collected, reviewed, and compared with previous years.

 

This year's team leaders include Matt Lavin of Montana State University, Aaron Clausen of World Wildlife Fund, Hannah Cantu of Confluence Consulting, Matt Bell of Montana Land Reliance, naturalist instructor Cedar Mathers-Winn, Frank Etzler of the Montana Department of Agriculture, and Ken Sinay of Sacajawea Audubon Society and Yellowstone Safari Company!

Team Descriptions

Mammals (Leader: Cedar Mathers-Winn)
Look for mammal sign including tracks, scat, and beaver/muskrat constructions. Set up a camera to catch overnight mammal activity. Try to catch crepuscular mammals as they become active closer to sunset. 

Bats and Nocturnal Birds (Leaders: Matt Bell, Cedar Mathers-Winn, and Frank Marchak) 
Listen and watch for bats and nocturnal birds like owls and nighthawks. Matt Bell will set up recording stations to be analyzed later, but we will use an app to start to identify bat calls while we're in the field. 

Birds (Leaders and possible helpers: Kevin Cox, Ken Sinay, Cedar Mathers-Winn, Allison Rognlie)
Split into smaller groups to search the wetland for bird species using scopes, binoculars (we have several to lend out if needed), field guides, and ID apps like Merlin. Team leaders will split thr group by birding ability to allow newer birders to ask questions and get more explanation from leaders while advanced birders can stay quiet and listen for bird calls. These teams will mainly stay on paths and trails. 

Plants (Leaders: Matt Lavin and Aaron Clausen)
Walk around different parts of the wetland including much of the South Parcel and the edge of the Alder Swamp to identify plant species and learn about plant ecology at our site from your team leaders. These teams may go off the trail into wet and uneven terrain. 

Terrestrial Invertebrates (Leader: Frank Etzler)
Walk around the wetland and identify insects and other invertebrates that live on land using iNaturalist, field guides, and magnifying lenses and learn about different insect famlies. This team may go off the trail into wet and uneven terrain. 

Insect Blacklighting (Leader: Ken Sinay)
Set up a blacklight and a sheet to attract nocturnal insects. Capture, identify, and photograph insects before letting them go. We will provide hand lenses as well as some field guides and ID information. This group will stay in one location on a trail or road. 

Aquatic Macroinvertebrates (Leader: Hannah Cantú)
Sample and identify aquatic macroinvertebrates while learning about the life and ecological role of these important critters, which include insect larvae, worms, snails, and crustaceans, and what we can learn from them about the state of our waterways. Members of this group who want to be more hands-on may want tall boots or waders. Others may stay on dry land during sampling and wait until the invertebrates are collected and then join the group in learning how to identify them. 

This preliminary schedule is subject to change and we will email you closer to the event to finalize the teams. You can join as many teams as you like. Each team is led by an expert who will help you find and identify species, so no experience is required! You will receive email updates about the teams you select here, including specific times & meeting places and any changes to the survey schedule.
We use the iNaturalist app to input BioBlitz observations in the field. If you don't have a smartphone or tablet, you can also use a camera and the iNaturalist website to upload your observations when you get home, but you will need to take notes about the time and location.
We will meet at the Community Room in the Bozeman Public Library from 6:45-7:45 pm for a presentation on biodiversity and how to use iNaturalist to collect citizen science data.
We will have a small post-Blitz party and present the preliminary data gathered over the weekend at 5:00 PM at Lockhorn Cider House.

If you are an expert in birds, mammals, plants, aquatics, insects, or any other species found in Montana wetlands, let us know if you're interested in helping lead one of the survey teams. (Professors, master naturalists, or anyone confident enough in their ID skills to be an assistant leader or backup leader for one of the survey teams).

Participant Information


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You must be at least 8 by 7/19/2024 to participate in the BioBlitz. If you are under 8, have a parent email wetlands@sacajaweaaudubon.org and we will let you know of other opportunities and events you can attend at the IAWP.

(must be born before 7/19/2016 to participate in the BioBlitz)

Volunteer Agreement & Instructions for Youth Volunteers (under 18)

Please download the SAS Participant Service Agreement 2023 in the link below. Read the agreement before signing for individuals under the age of 18. All participants under 18 are required to submit this agreement signed by a parent or legal guardian before attending any Busy Beaver activities or events.

SAS Participant Service Agreement 2024

* FOR INDIVIDUALS UNDER AGE 18, THIS DOCUMENT MUST BE SIGNED AND INITIALED AT ALL INDICATED LOCATIONS BY A PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN.

The signed document can be sent to wetlands@sacajaweaaudubon.org as a PDF, mailed to Sacajawea Audubon Society (ATTN: Participant Agreement) at PO Box 1711, Bozeman, MT, 59771, or a parent/guardian can bring a hard copy to the event. 

 

Volunteer Agreement

View the full SAS Volunteer/Participant Service Agreement, Release and Acknowledgement of Risk and respond to the questions below.

The activities the volunteer/participant engages in with SAS are inherently risky and may cause harm to the volunteer/participant including injury, illness or even death. Recognizing this, volunteer/participant and guardian do hereby release, to the fullest extent allowed by law, and forever discharge and hold harmless SAS, its staff and board, its successors, and assigns from any and all liability, claims and demands of whatever kind or nature, either in law or in equity, which arise or may hereafter arise from the volunteer/participant’s work with SAS. Volunteer/Participant and guardian understand that this release discharges SAS from any liability or claim that the volunteer/participant and guardian may have against SAS with respect to any bodily injury, personal injury, illness, death or property damage that may result from volunteer/participant’s work for SAS. Volunteer/Participant and guardian also understand that SAS does not assume any responsibility for or obligation to provide financial assistance or other assistance, including but not limited to medical, health, or disability insurance, in the event of injury or illness.
Volunteer/Participant and guardian are aware that there are inherent risks in the activities associated with SAS programs. Knowing this, Volunteer/Participant and guardian do hereby release and forever discharge SAS from any claim whatsoever that arises or may hereafter arise on account of any first aid treatment, or service rendered in connection with the volunteer/participant’s work for SAS or with the decision by any representative of SAS to exercise the power of consent to medication or dental treatment, as such power is granted and authorized by the volunteer/participant signature and/or parent or guardian signature below for treatment of a minor. Volunteer/Participant and/or guarding represent and verify that Volunteer/Participant has no past or current physical condition that might affect his/her participation in the SAS programs or activities, other than as separately provided in writing to SAS. In the event that Volunteer/Participant is in need of emergency medical treatment, and guardian and/or the emergency contact listed above cannot be contacted Volunteer/Participant and guardian hereby authorize SAS and its instructors, volunteers/participants or staff to obtain or provide emergency hospitalization, surgical or other medical care for Volunteer/Participant. Volunteer/Participant and guardian specifically indemnify and hold harmless SAS, its instructors, volunteers/participants or staff from any negligence and all costs arising out of the decision to obtain and provide such care, treatment and/or procedure for such emergency,
BY CHECKING THIS BOX, I HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT. I ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS RELEASE WILL CONTINUE IN EFFECT ANY TIME I PARTICIPATE IN AN SAS-LED OR -SPONSORED ACTIVITY. IF I DO NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND THIS AGREEMENT AND RELEASE AND THE EFFECT OF ITS PROVISIONS, I WILL SEEK APPROPRIATE ADVICE OR CLARIFICATION BEFORE I SIGN IT BY CLICKING SUBMITTING .