Bio Blitz
What is a BioBlitz?
The BioBlitz is an exciting race against the clock to see how many species of life can be observed and identified in 24 hours. A wide range of biology disciplines and many others from all over the region help put together a picture of the richness of biodiversity still existing in our urban wild places.
The purpose of the BioBlitz is not to conduct a complete inventory of the flora and fauna of these ecosystems. One day couldn’t come close to doing that! Instead, it provides a "snapshot" of what life makes up these natural ecosystems. This can help with future land management decisions.
The BioBlitz also serves to raise the public’s awareness of Kansas City’s remnant wilderness.
One thing is for sure, you don’t have to go to the tropics to see incredible biodiversity — just explore Kansas City’s wild lands!
BioBlitz Events
More information about Kansas City WildLands' past BioBlitz events will be posted soon.
2004 Bio-Blitz Update- Third Annual BioBlitz
What do a stunning Regal Fritillary, a true-to-its-name Stink Horn and a demure Panther-Spotted Grasshopper have in common? They were all part of the incredible array of life that was found at Burr Oak Woods Conservation Area during the Third Annual Kansas City WildLands (KCWL) BioBlitz!
From June 11 to 12, over 100 biologists, naturalists and volunteers gathered at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) 1,000 acre Burr Oak Woods for the Third Annual KCWL BioBlitz. The BioBlitz is an exciting race against the clock to see how many species of life can be observed and identified in 24 hours. A wide range of biology disciplines was represented from all over the region. Volunteers from the Kaw Valley Mycology Society, Kansas City Herpetological Society, Burroughs Audubon Society, Central Missouri State, Rockhurst University, MCD and many others helped put together a picture of the richness of biodiversity still existing in our urban wild places.
Burr Oak Woods, located in Blue Springs, Missouri, is a perfect example of the diverse landscape that is the Kansas City area. Prairie plantings, remnant savannas, glades, woodlands and streams can all be found there. Such varied habitats hold a phenomenal quantity of life and the BioBlitz volunteers did a great job of finding it!
The purpose of the BioBlitz is not to conduct a complete inventory of the flora and fauna of these ecosystems. One day couldn’t come close to doing that! Instead, it provides a "snapshot" of what life makes up these natural ecosystems. This can help with future land management decisions.
The BioBlitz also served to raise the public’s awareness of Kansas City’s remnant wilderness. Kansas City WildLands and Burr Oak Woods held an Open House Event on June 12 in conjunction with the BioBlitz, stirring up the curiosity and enthusiasm of all who came. Visitors observed live native birds of prey, mammals, reptiles, fungi, plants and insects and had the opportunity to talk with naturalists and biologists about them. Burr Oak Woods even conducted a MiniBlitz for families, so youth could experience field surveying, too.
The data is not complete yet, but thus far the counts are as follows: 11 mammals, 70 birds, 23 reptiles and amphibians, 53 fungi, 200 plants, 105 moths, 24 butterflies, 40 aquatic invertebrates and a whole lot of other arthropods! This data will be used as a baseline species list for Burr Oak Woods and will be put on the Kansas City WildLands website for public access. One thing is for sure, you don’t have to go to the tropics to see incredible biodiversity — just explore Kansas City’s wild lands!