Bioblitz Coming This Week at Piccadilly Property

Jeff Green | Jun 12, 2025

Two years ago, the Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN) brought their annual 24-hour Bioblitz to the Milburn Creek Nature Reserve in Battersea. 

And the electric group of nature enthusiasts is back in Frontenac County for their blitz this weekend, this time at a property in the Piccadilly area at 4229 Arena Boundary Road. The 58 hectare property, which is owned by Michael Johnson and Carolyn Bonta, is called Back 40 Forest.  

Members of the public are encouraged to attend and participate in the blitz, no matter what their level of knowledge . 

A group of experts will be on hand throughout the 24 hour blitz, which runs from 3pm Friday, June 13, to 3pm Saturday, June 14. Special sessions are scheduled throughout the afternoon of the 13^th, into the evening, ending in an astronomy session starting at 8:30, and throughout the morning and into the afternoon on the 14^th.

It all starts with an introductory walk on the property with Michael and Carolyn at 3:15 on Friday afternoon, followed by grass identification, evening birds, invertebrate and moth trap setups, and more.

Some Field Naturalist members will be working all night to identify nocturnal species. On Saturday morning, early birding at 6:30am kicks off a busy day. The kids program starts at 10am and runs until noon, when the BBQ lunch will be served. Sessions on snakes, dragonflies and butterflies and mosses are all scheduled for Saturday.

The goal of the Bioblitz is to identify as many species as possible. By going to a different site each year, a picture of the diversity of habitat in the region emerges over time.

This year’s site is described on the KFN website as “primarily second growth mixed forest; interspersed with a regenerating meadow, a former sandpit, marsh, maple swamp, mature hemlock woods, a year-round stream, small granite outcrops, and an old homestead site. Approximately 1.5 km of gentle trail passes through or near most habitat types. Lots to explore!”

Participants are encouraged to park at 4299 Arena Boundary Road, and then walk 850 metres to the base camp of the blitz, but those with mobility issues, young children or aging bones, can drive into the base along Beattie Road, which is accessed off Arena Boundary.

Registration begins at 2:30pm on Friday, and runs until 9pm, picking up again between 8am and 2pm on Saturday.

For a full map, schedule and helpful information about what is available on site and what to bring, go to kingstonfieldnaturalists.org and click on KFN BioBlitz2025.