Virtual BioBlitz from Wintergreen Studios this weekend

Jeff Green | Jun 03, 2020

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At first blush, the annual BioBlitz at Wintergreen Studios seems like one of the many 2020 events that was destined for cancellation.

The five-day celebration of the peak of spring growth takes place throughout the Wintergreen property, a prime example of Frontenac Arch Biosphere habitat. 

It is an opportunity for students from local schools to tramp through the woods at Wintergreen's Canoe Lake Road teaching forest in the Bedford District of South Frontenac. On the weekend of the BioBlitz, local families join visitors from Kingston and Ottawa to learn more about the vibrant eco-systems in our region, and it is all hands on.

This year, with schools shuttered, and weekend road trips and social gatherings on hold, it was clear by late March that the BioBlitz could not proceed in the normal way.

The small staff at Wintergreen began developing an online version of the BioBlitz, with participants being encouraged to explore their 'own backyard', in between Zoom sessions and prepared video content, but they were not sure if a major BioBlitz supporter, TD Canada Trust, would fund the alternative version.

“We spent April and early May putting the pieces together, contacting some of the guests, who were scheduled to come in person and give presentations, to see if they were available to participate in a digital way. We also talked to people from further away who would not normally be able to come this far, but are able to present this year,” said Jess Pelow of Wintergreen.

In mid-May, TD let Wintergreen know they were going to support the BioBlitz financially, and a three day, free event is set for this weekend.

All of the details are available by going to Wintergreenstudios.com/events and clicking on Virtual Land Art BioBlitz 2020.

In addition to a short registration form, the schedule for the three days is laid out on the site. Activities are split into five streams: Zoom live streams, naturalist observations, land art activities, outdoor activities, and pre-recorded videos.

While the Zoom streams are scheduled, most everything else in the BioBlitz is available for the entire weekend and beyond.

Participants who are interested are welcome to join iNaturalist.ca to record observations taken from their own backyard or a nearby landscape. One of the Zoom sessions on opening day, Friday, June 5, at 11am, presented by Geoff Carter. It is about how to get started with iNaturalist.

There are 15 different activities on the website under the heading of Land Art Activities, including leaves and light, nature in motion, building nests, and more.

An outdoor scavenger hunt is a link under the Outdoor Activities Heading.

Among the pre-recorded videos, are ones about Wild Leeks, Dandelions, and Garlic Mustard.

The Zoom sessions on Friday are youth oriented. In addition to the iNaturalist session, there are sessions on reptiles and amphibians (10am), backyard foraging (1pm) humming birds and bees (2pm) and at 3pm, Kelly McGann from the Frontenac Arch Biosphere will show a video on the lessons in their backpack program, followed by a live question and answer session.

Presenters on Saturday (June 6) include Leah Birmingham from the Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre, Wintergreen Studios founder Rena Upitis, Walt Sepic from Firefly Adventures, Musician Jesse Stewart, Alex Pederson from the Limestone Beekeepers Guild to talk about the Wintergreen beehives and other sweet topics.

On Sunday (June 7) there is more bee talk with Shelly Candel from Bee City Canada (10am), nature photographer – with a focus on birds – with Bryan Scholes (11am), Kevin Fell from HOZA! Creative Meditation (1pm), and a session with poet Lorna Crozier, and photographers Peter Coffman and Diane Laundy called The House that Spirit Builds.

Organisers are hoping to attract over 200 participants or more to the BioBlitz this year. There were already 100 registered before they began getting the word out in earnest about this year’s virtual BioBlitz.

WE hope people hear about it from around the country, even outside of Canada, and we will be able to reach people who would never be able to attend Wintergreen Studios in person,” said Pelow.

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