Join Canada’s Big Backyard BioBlitz to Document Biodiversity

A nationwide initiative invites residents to engage with nature by documenting local plant and animal species. The **Big Backyard BioBlitz**, organized by the **Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC)**, is set to run from **July 28 to August 4, 2025**. This community science event encourages participants to record their wildlife encounters, contributing to the monitoring of biodiversity across the country.

Open to everyone, the Big Backyard BioBlitz allows individuals to document species in various settings, including backyards, parks, hiking trails, and NCC nature reserves. Participants can use smartphones, tablets, or digital cameras to capture photos or audio recordings. These findings can then be uploaded to contribute to a growing biodiversity database, which is crucial for conservation efforts.

Participants of all ages are welcome, making it a family-friendly event. Those interested in joining can find more information and register at **backyardbioblitz.ca**. The website also offers educational resources for children, including scavenger hunt bingo, word searches, and coloring pages.

The previous year saw notable engagement, with participants submitting over **47,800 photos** of various species, including **21,849** from **Ontario** alone. This year’s event format has been extended to provide greater flexibility, encouraging families to participate during the long weekend and workplaces to connect with nature as a team.

Megan Quinn, coordinator of conservation biology in Ontario with NCC, emphasizes the importance of collective contributions: “Whether you’re a nature newbie, a budding naturalist, or a seasoned observer, your contributions matter. Through this crowd-sourced effort, each observation helps researchers and conservationists better understand local biodiversity, detect invasive species, and track changes over time, especially in the face of climate change.”

Since its inception, the Big Backyard BioBlitz has generated over **193,000 observations**, documenting more than **8,600 species**, including many that are rare or endangered. The data collected plays a vital role in conservation planning, species protection, and ecosystem monitoring. It provides valuable insights into the distribution and migration of species, aiding NCC in supporting suitable habitats and resilient landscapes.

Brianne Curry, communications manager with NCC in Ontario, reflects on the impact of the initiative: “It is inspiring to see people of all ages generously volunteer their time and rediscover the wonders of the natural world, often right outside their door. By taking part in the BioBlitz, you’re not only having fun and learning something new, but you’re actively contributing to a national effort to better understand and protect biodiversity.”

Participants are encouraged to share their findings on social media using the hashtag **#NCCBioBlitz**, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose in the effort to monitor and enhance Canada’s rich biodiversity.