Oregon Marine Reserves
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic we have joined forces with all of the Oregon Marine Reserves up and down the coast to offer a 10-day long hybrid version of a Bio-Blitz.
About this Event
A Bio-Blitz is an intensive, targeted survey of a geographic area with the goal of identifying all the species that can be found in that area at one time. It is basically a snapshot of the biodiversity. This year, in order to responsibly comply with social distancing guidelines, we will be doing our Bio-Blitz with a "hybrid" approach. We will first provide instruction during a Kickoff Webinar on July 16th at 6pm and then ask you to explore with your own household group and record your observations with the iNaturalist app anytime that works for you until July 26, 2020 at 2pm.
Kick off and Orientation Webinar:
Hosted by Friends of Cape Falcon Marine Reserve, join presenters from each of the five Marine Reserve who will share information on how to participate in the respective locations:
Margaret Treadwell, Cape Falcon Marine Reserve
Paul Robertson, Cascade Head Marine Reserve
Dennis White, Otter Rock Marine Reserve
Tara DuBois, Cape Perpetua Marine Reserve
Tara Ramsey, Redfish Rocks Marine Reserve
Where to Go: Pick your place
Opportunities exist in each of the Five Marine Reserves (Watch webinar for other sites).
For Cascade Head Marine Reserve - shown outlined on the map in below - parking is available at the Roads End State Recreation Site on Logan Road in Lincoln City, Oregon. Make your way down to the tidepools at the most northern edge of the beach. Walk takes about 20-30 minutes, so plan accordingly. While most of the species focus will be in the tidepools, don't be afraid to catalog your observations from the land and sky as well. Haliaeetus leucocephalus better known as Bald Eagles are commonly spotted in the area, and last year a few observations of rabbits even made it on the list. With your phone's GPS, the app does all the work. All you need to focus on is getting taking those photos.
Cascade Head Marine Reserve ~ Access from parking lot of Roads End State Recreation Area.
When to Go:
The hybrid version of the Bio-Blitz lets you go whenever the low tide, weather and ocean swell conditions work for you. The first low tide of the event will be on July 17th at sunrise and collections will end on Sunday, July 26th at 2pm. Pick a low tide (preferably a minus tide) time when daylight is plentiful, giving yourself ample time to safely return home. It is best to arrive at least an hour before slack, so you have plenty of time to explore the intertidal. Also be mindful of the ocean swell conditions which may make reaching the rocks unsafe and may change throughout the day. Check the current outlook below and always use your best judgement when visiting the ocean.
Click the tabs to toggle between Weather, Swell, and Tides for upcoming days. Swell direction and swell height shown as series of blue arrows. Swell heights between 1-3’ are best suited for tidepooling, anything above 5’ should be avoided. Swell period (in seconds) is also shown as a black line graph on the Swell tab. When looking for tides, seek a minus tide during daylight hours. Fully searchable tide chart from NOAA available here!
Citizen Science:
Participants will be using a mobile app iNaturalist to collect valuable information about the plants and animals living on the rocky shore of the Cascade Head Marine Reserve and/or other Marine Reserves up and down the coast. The app is available for Android or iPhone. The Bio-Blitz will bring citizens and virtual scientists together in an educational and entertaining event exploring the mysteries of the tidepools. As you record your images and upload them to the Cloud, virtual scientists and amateur naturalists on iNaturalist will help you identify which species you have encountered.
Watch the the Kick Off Webinar.
Watch our short video for instructions on the app or download the How To guide to get up and running in no time.
Visit iNaturalist for a deeper dive into this easy to use, but powerful citizen science phone app.
Make some practice observations with the the app in your neighborhood.
Check the weather, swell conditions, and tides as you get ready to Bio-Blitz sometime between July 17th and July 26th.
One-minute overview of the iNaturalist smartphone app.
What to Bring:
Be Safe ~ Face covering and Hand Sanitizer.
Dress for the weather: wear sturdy shoes, warm clothes, hat, etc.
Refillable water bottle and snacks for sustenance.
Spotting scope, binoculars, camera.
Smart phone with the iNaturalist app already downloaded.
Stay small, invite only people in your household to join you.
Stay Safe:
While Bio-Blitzing, please remember to stay 6 ft. away from anyone not in your household group and follow the Governor's guidelines, including:
• Stay home if you are sick.
• To avoid exposure to COVID-19, people who are at risk for severe complications (over age 60 or have underlying medical conditions) should stay home even if you feel well.
• If you become symptomatic (cough, fever, shortness of breath) while in public, please return home and self-isolate immediately. Contact your health care provider if you need medical attention.
• Practice good hand hygiene with frequent hand washing for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer (60-95% alcohol content).
• Cover coughs/sneezes with elbow or tissue. If you use a tissue, immediately discard tissue in garbage and your wash hands.
• Avoid touching your face.
• Practice physical distancing of at least six (6) feet between you and people who you do not live with.
• Use cloth, paper or disposable face coverings in public.
• Stay close to home.
Be Mindful:
Take photos, not objects. Video and photograph as much as you like, but leave rocks, plants, feathers, and other natural objects where you find them.
Observe wildlife from a safe distance. Don’t interfere with the natural activities of wild animals, including feeding, nesting, sleeping, rearing their young, etc.
Remove some trash along the way. It is our ocean and we all need to pitch in to protect it.
Have Fun!
Last year in our first Bio-Blitz we had 81 species identified and hundreds of observations made by participants. This included many first time users of the app along with more seasoned iNaturalists. This year we hope to do even better. As we proceed we will be updating the Facebook event page with images and results, so be sure to watch for reports from marine reserves along the entire Oregon Coast.
