Green The Coast: GORCC organising September BioBlitz

Did you know that September is National Biodiversity Month?

National Biodiversity Month aims to promote the importance of protecting, conserving and improving biodiversity both within Australia and across the world.

To celebrate, the Great Ocean Road Coast Committee is organising a BioBlitz!

Can you help us find all of the different plants and animals along the Surf Coast? This is a chance to learn about the things that live where you live: plants, birds, fish, fungi, insects, arachnids – everything!

Throughout September, Possum Pete will be out in the community running a number of BioBlitz sessions. Join an event near you, or see what you can find with your friends.

5.30 – 8pm Thursday September 13 – Point Roadknight Rockpools Community Evening barbecue and BioBlitz.

1 – 4pm Sunday September 16 – Public Out and About Day, Fishermans Beach, Torquay.

10am-4pm Saturday and Sunday September 22-23 – ANGAIR’s Wildflower and Art Weekend, Anglesea Memorial Hall.

9.30-11.30am Sunday September 30 – Friends of Eagle Rock Marine Sanctuary Rockpool Ramble BioBlitz. Meet at Inlet Crescent beach car park.

To join in the fun:

Sign up for a free account at iNaturalist.org.

Download the iNaturalist app to your smartphone.

Send an email to [email protected] to say that you are participating and Pete will add your username to the September BioBlitz project.

Take pictures of what you find on the coast using the iNaturalist app or use the website to upload them – your observations will be added to the project.

You don’t need to know what it is you’re observing; other community members can help with identification.

To help you identify what you have found try the following tools created by local community groups:

Jan Juc Coast Action’s “Surf Coast Nature Search”: scnaturesearch.com.au.

ANGAIR’s identification sheets for animals, plants, and fungi – available from Pete.

Friends of Eagle Rock Marine Sanctuary’s Rockpool Guide.