First free BioBlitz event at the Sequoia Park Zoo

On Sunday, May 21 the Sequoia Park Zoo is hosting their first BioBlitz event. A Bioblitz is also known as a biological inventory or biological census. The primary goal of a BioBlitz is to get an overall count of the plants, animals, fungi and other organisms that live in a place.

“How it will work is everyone’s welcome–beginners, experts,” said Ruth Mock, a Zookeeper and Director of Conservation and Research at the zoo. “You do not need to be a scientist to attend. It’s family-friendly.”

Attendance is limited, and participants must RSVP for free at eventbrite.com/e/sequoia-park-zoo-bioblitz-2023-tickets-629484865177. Also, all participants must sign a liability waiver. All ages are welcome, children 15 years old and younger must be accompanied by an adult guardian. 

People will be taught how to identify different birds, plants and other species through three different phone device applications. Participants are encouraged to attend with a full-battery smartphone, water bottle, comfortable walking shoes and warm clothes due to the “chilly redwoods” in the morning. The zoo will be providing a free nature journal and pencil in case folks learn those apps and they’re just out there enjoying and want to sketch what they are viewing or write notes.

“We’re all very excited about this inaugural wildlife [event],” said Jim Campbell-Spickler, the Sequoia Park Zoo Director. “We have upwards of 200 people that have shown interest in coming to this event. And we’re so excited because there are so many things to discover up on the skywalk.”