Citizen scientists across the state can document plant and wildlife sightings in the month of April as part of the Virtual Spring BioBlitz!, hosted by the Oklahoma Biological Survey.

“Our regular BioBlitz! Oklahoma event occurs annually in the fall, so we miss all the fun spring bird migrants, the early flowering plants and so much more,” said Priscilla Crawford, conservation specialist and BioBlitz! coordinator for the Oklahoma Biological Survey. “To exploit our BioBlitzers’ enthusiasm for making biodiversity observations, we have organized this project to capture Oklahoma’s incredible spring diversity.”

To participate, you need to set up a free account at iNaturalist.org and join the Virtual Spring BioBlitz! OK 2017 Project. You can easily record observations using the smart phone app (android or iPhone) or add observations directly to the website. The official Virtual Spring BioBlitz! event doesn’t begin until April, but feel free to get some practice with the app and start recording observations right away.

Participation is free and prizes will be awarded to the top observers. New challenges will be posted each week with opportunities to win additional prizes and compete with fellow citizen scientists statewide.

During last year’s inaugural virtual BioBlitz!, more than 2,000 observations were made, inventorying 701 species in the state. Get more information about this and other Oklahoma BioBlitz! projects by searching for Oklahoma BioBlitz! on Facebook.

The mission of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is the management, protection, and enhancement of wildlife resources and habitat for the scientific, educational, recreational, aesthetic, and economic benefits to present and future generations of citizens and visitors to Oklahoma.

News Contacts: Priscilla Crawford, pril@ou.edu
Jena Donnell, jena.donnell@odwc.ok.gov
Websites: inaturalist.org
wildlifedepartment.com
Telephone: (405) 325-7658
(405) 496-0350

This program receives federal assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and thus prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and sex (gender), pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. To request an accommodation or informational material in an alternative format, please contact the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation by calling (405) 521-3855. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or service, please contact U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, Attention: Civil Rights Coordinator for Public Access, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203.

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