Green the Coast: BioBlitz showcases the natural world

FRIDAY last week and Monday this week marked the start and end of the Great Southern BioBlitz – a friendly competition to see which places can observe and record the most biodiversity. This year the event is international, with South America and Africa also taking part to make wildlife observations.
The purpose of the event was to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, and to engage the public in science and nature learning.
GORCC environmental education program co-ordinator Pete Crowcroft organised the event with some other keen naturalists from around Australia.
“We wanted to create a biodiversity survey, or BioBlitz, for people in the Southern Hemisphere during spring, when the natural world is on full throttle,” he said.
“Flowers are blooming, insects are emerging, birds are singing, and reptiles are coming out of their winter hibernation. It makes sense for Australia and for the rest of the southern hemisphere to observe life at this time of year.
“Usually we would be running activities to celebrate the month and having people get together to explore, but unfortunately we can’t do that this year.”
He said it was important everyone taking part in the BioBlitz complied with COVID safe regulations when participating, observed any sensitive species with care and respect, and had a “leave no trace” approach.
For more information, head to the Great Southern BioBlitz website at greatsouthernbiobl.wixsite.com/website or inaturalist.org.
The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee is a State Government body responsible for protecting, enhancing, and developing coastal Crown land from Point Impossible to Cumberland River. Head to gorcc.com.au