Oregon Marine Reserves
Get PRIMED with a virtual training, then grab your smart phone, download the iNaturalist app, and get ready to contribute to the world of science while enjoying one or all of Oregon's Marine Reserves. In 2021 we are again joining forces with all FIVE of the Oregon Marine Reserves to offer a month 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.
Get PRIMED! Kick off and Orientation Webinar:
Hosted by the PRIMED Network (Primary Responders in Marine Emergent Disease), the Oregon Coast Aquarium, and presenters from each of the five marine reserves, watch the virtual training on Bio-Blitzes, the iNaturalist app, and how best to participate up and down the coast.
Sarah Gravem, Lily Miksell, Andrea Burton, Silke Bachhuber, Genevieve Coblentz-Strong, Deandra Mundahld, Laurel Field ~ PRIMED Network
Will Cotton, Oregon Coast Aquarium
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. See Webinar Presentation for details from our partners north and south of Cascade Head Marine Reserve.
For Cascade Head Marine Reserve - 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 really good low tide of the event will be on June 25-27, with another good weekend of low tides for July 23-25.
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 1-5’ are best suited for tidepooling, anything above 6’ 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!
Community 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 bring you 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 Training Webinar (Recorded)
Review the short PRIMED video for instructions on the app and how to connect to the MARINE WILDLIFE HEALTH project.
Visit iNaturalist for a deeper dive into this easy to use, but powerful community science phone application.
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 June 25th and July 25th
Bio-Blitz! Capture photos and record the health of the creatures you see with the iNaturalist App. Be sure to add your species to the "Marine Wildlife Health" project to contribute to the PRIMED Network's surveillance of emerging threats to marine species.
HAVE FUN!
One-minute overview of the iNaturalist smartphone app.
What to Bring:
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.
Be COVID Safe:
While Bio-Blitzing, please stay 6 ft. away from anyone not in your group. Practice Social Distancing, and protect others, making use of face coverings and hand sanitizer as appropriate.
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 we had up to 56 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.
Take 5!
Lincoln City is centrally located to provide for an hour or so drive to most of the 5 Marine Reserves. The month long self-guided Bio-Blitz is an opportunity to make it an environmentally and educationally enriching vacation this year for the whole family.
Book your stay in Lincoln City at ExploreLincolnCity.com
