Biodiversity Blitz 2022 - Yarra Rangess Dagbok

Yarra Ranges Council is once again partnering with nine Melbourne councils to see who can record the most species in iNaturalist during September! Yarra Ranges won the observation count last year, can we do it again? With your help...yes!

Councils taking part are Baw Baw, Bayside, Cardinia, Casey, Greater Dandenong, Knox, Frankston, Mornington and Kingston.

Join this year's blitz at
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/biodiversity-blitz-2023-yarra-ranges

Watch the leaderboard at
https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/projects/biodiversity-blitz-2023-melbourne

Happy blitzing,
The Climate & Nature Team
Yarra Ranges Council
environmentalvolunteers@yarraranges.gov.au

We have two events coming up this weekend that are part of the Biodiversity Blitz. Registration essential.

HOLLOWS WALK AND TALK
Saturday 24 September
11:00am - 12:30pm
First Aid Post and Owl Land Reserve, Mt Evelyn

This walk and talk will meander through two bushland reserves in Mount Evelyn that were severely impacted by the June 2021 storm. We'll look at four different types of tree hollows/nest boxes that are being installed to create habitat for a number of hollow dependent species. We'll discuss which species use these hollows and how community members can help monitor their use.

Register for Hollows walk: https://au.openforms.com/Form/bdbdf5c9-23b5-4b92-ad2b-1aef8b589913

GLENFERN VALLEY WALK AND TALK
Sunday 25 September
9.30am to 11am
Glenfern Valley Bushlands, Glenfern Road Upwey

Discover the amazing biodiversity of this bushland reserve whilst learning what the Friends of Glenfern Valley Bushlands are doing to protect and enhance its values. This walk and talk will focus on the reserve's ecology, history and flora and fauna who call it home.

Register for Glenfern Valley: https://au.openforms.com/Form/01fb4e0c-59df-4139-83d6-9ec671ab35b7

This webinar takes a step back from the intricacies of iNaturalist and looks at our community champions.

Residents, community members, volunteers and staff members of the participating councils of the 2022 Melbourne Biodiversity Blitz will share their stories about how and why they use iNaturalist, rare, cryptic and endangered observations they have made and their favourite uses for iNaturalist.

Tune in at 7pm on Thursday 15 September to watch, listen and learn by asking our panellists questions.

The webinar is open for anyone to join so invite your friends and family.

Register via the link below:
https://knox-vic-gov-au.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_s2rPh5xLRueq0iCji8z4oQ

Hello Naturalists,

We're excited to announce the 2022 Melbourne Biodiversity Blitz has begun! We can't wait to see what species you find during September.

To keep an eye on the leaderboard visit https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/projects/biodiversity-blitz-2022-melbourne. Remember, it's the council with the most species that wins the challenge so keep your eye out for different plants and animals wherever you go during September.

We'll also be giving away prizes to a few lucky people who submit observations to the Yarra Ranges project.

EVENTS
We have a few events coming up this month. Details below.

Hollows Walk and Talk - https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Experience/Events/Hollows-Walk-and-Talk

Night Walk with Tim Bawden - https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Experience/Events/Night-Walk-with-Tim-Bawden

Glenfern Valley Walk and Talk - https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Experience/Events/Glenfern-Valley-Walk-and-Talk

Spadonis Walk and Talk - TBC

Fauna Monitoring in the Yarra Ranges (webinar) - https://yarraranges-vic.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RsBTTR5WRiGejm3k5dFWow

iNaturalist Community Champions (webinar) - https://knox-vic-gov-au.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_s2rPh5xLRueq0iCji8z4oQ

Regards,
The Team at Yarra Ranges Council

Presented by Luis Mata. Luis is an ecologist and entomologist with an interest in complex systems, urban environments, sustainable agriculture, citizen science, and science communication.

This webinar will cover:
• signing up to iNaturalist
• using the phone app versus logging into the website
• how to join your council's 2022 bioblitz project
• how to take photos and upload them to iNaturalist via your phone or computer
• how to identify what you observed
• Q&A

Once you know how to use iNaturalist we invite you to participate in the 2022 Biodiversity Blitz where we compete against nine other councils to see who can log the most species during the month of September.

Register: https://yarraranges-vic.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FzY7L48dTW2ZR0x0tVxj9g