Hello Team BPTMN!
Are you ready for the DFW Fall BioBlitz? Here’s what you need to know to participate and do your part to make the BPTMN Team outrageously successful!
Event: Fall Socially Distant BioBlitz for DFW Master Naturalist Chapters
Date: September 6–12, 2020
Time: You choose! See BPTMN Participation Plan below.
Description: This is an iNaturalist umbrella project for all counties in the DFW extended area served by six Texas Master Naturalist chapters, including the Blackland Prairie Chapter. Observations of wild organisms made between September 6-12, 2020 will count. Observations made in identified counties will automatically be added to both that project and this umbrella project. You do not have to join to participate! Our chapter will get credit ONLY for observations made in Collin County or Hunt County during those days.
Plus, each day of the BioBlitz there will be a “daily challenge.” Sam Kieschnick will have a list of 7 things to look for, and those that find and document them get extra “respect” points. Respect points are worth their weight in gold!
At the end of the project, Sam Kieschnick will put together a report to highlight some of the cool finds.
And, one more thing: You do not have to be a master naturalist to participate in this project! So, Master Naturalists can involve family and friends in the fun. JUST REMEMBER: Wherever you make your observations, be mindful of COVID-19 realities like crowd size and social distancing, and don’t forget to wear your mask!
BPTMN Participation Plan
BIOBLITZ OUTINGS
Link for Signing up for outings:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A4DAFAD29A5F85-blackland
| DATE | TIME | LOCATION |
| Sunday, Sept 6 | 9:00 AM–12:00 PM | Manju Ruikar’s Property (Hunt County) |
| Monday, Sept 7 | 8:30–11:30 AM | Frisco Commons Park in Frisco |
| Monday, Sept 7 | 5:30–8:00 PM | Bonnie Wenk Park in McKinney |
| Tuesday, Sept 8 | 8:30–11:30 AM | Breckenridge Park in Richardson |
| Wednesday, Sept 9 | 8:30–11:30 AM | Heard Museum in McKinney |
| Thursday, Sept 10 | 8:30–11:30 AM | Parkhill Prairie in McKinney (Collin County) |
| Friday, Sept 11 | 8:30–11:30 AM | Erwin Park in McKinney |
| Friday, Sept 11 | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM | Chalk Hill Farm in McKinney |
| Friday, Sept 11 | 6:30–8:30 PM | Pond behind Hilton Garden Inn in Richardson |
| Saturday, Sept 12 | 8:30–11:30 AM | Holifield Environ Learning Center – Plano |
IDENTIFICATION WORK SESSIONS (Via Zoom)
Link for signing up for work sessions: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A4DAFAD29A5F85-bioblitz
| DATE | TIME | LOCATION |
| Sunday, Sept 13 | 2:00-4:00 PM | Zoom Meeting |
| Tuesday, Sept 15 | 7:00-9:00 PM | Zoom Meeting |
Event Contact: Sam Kieschnick – sam.kieschnick@tpwd.texas.gov
BPTMN Contacts: Check in with the BPTMN iNaturalist Team: Lisa Travis listrav@gmail.com, Jean Suplick jean.suplick@gmail.com, Valerie Dalton valerie_dalton@msn.com, Sharla Stack sgstack@gmail.com, Janice James jdjames28@gmail.com
Logging VH: Your VH should be logged as BPTMN: Blackland Prairie iNaturalist Project.Break down your time as follows in the description box: (1) Time spent in the field recording observations; (2) time spent online, identifying, editing, uploading your observations; (3) curating time reviewing, identifying and commenting on other’s iNaturalist observations. Twelve (12) hours VH/AT per day is the max allowed by the State.
Links for more information:
Here is the Umbrella Project Website:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/fall-socially-distant-bioblitz-dfw-master-naturalist-chapters
Here is the BPTMN project page:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/bptmn-counties-fall-socially-distant-bioblitz
- When observations are made in Collin and Hunt Counties during September 6-12, they automatically go into the BPTMN project iNaturalist site without any extra steps.