As we celebrate Canada 150 with free admission to Parks Canada places, the BioBlitz at Fundy National Park is a great opportunity for families to experience the outdoors and learn more about our environment.
A Bioblitz is a team effort to find as many different life forms as possible in one location during a short period of time. At this time of year, many groups of plants and critters are at the peak of their activity cycles or at their most visible. This nationwide initiative aims to capture a snapshot of biodiversity on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Confederation. Events are planned throughout the summer at Fundy National Park and across the country.
Preserving and promoting ecological integrity is a priority for Parks Canada and the Government of Canada has committed to protecting 17 per cent of land and inland waters, and 10 percent of coastal and marine waters by 2020. Canada 150 offers an opportunity for all citizens to get involved in helping to protect the environment and Canada’s biodiversity.
Please visit the Parks Canada’s website for a full list of BioBlitz events happening across the country, and make conservation part of your plans for Canada 150.
Over the past two years, BioBlitz participants across the country have discovered one new type of mushroom, eight types of bats, and 33 new plants! What will YOU discover?
Some of the featured events during this year’s BioBlitz at Fundy National Park include:
Friday June 9
7 p.m. 8:30 p.m. – Biodiversity Movie Night: “Every Living Thing”- a documentary on BioBlitzing in New Brunswick (with French subtitles). The movie will be shown in the Salt and Fir Centre.
Saturday June 10
9 a.m. - 12 p.m. - Flora of Bennett Brook: A Guided walk with a park naturalist
(registration required - meet at 8 a.m. at Salt and Fir Centre).
9:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. - Getting better pictures to record your observations: A BioBlitzing camera tutorial (at the Salt and Fir Centre and surrounding area).
7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. – Fundy’s Bumblebees and Flower Flies: A colourful introduction to some of Fundy’s fabulous and most prolific pollinators (at the Salt and Fir Centre).
Sunday June 11
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. – Medicinal plant walk with First Nations Elder.
Friday June 16
7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. – Fundy’s Bumblebees and Flower flies: An introduction to their diversity, natural history, and special hints for locating them (at the Salt and Fir Centre),
Saturday June 17
9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. – Getting better pictures to record your observations: A BioBlitzing camera tutorial and BioBlitzing @ Wolfe Lake (outdoor presentation: Meet at Wolfe Lake),
7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – Fundy’s Dragonflies: Introduction to their diversity and natural history. This will include a demonstration of our bodacious Free Fundy Dragonfly iNaturalist Guide and App! (at the Salt and Fir Centre),
“The Government of Canada is deeply committed to preserving our national parks, expanding the system of protected areas, and contributing to the recovery of species at risk. Innovative programs like BioBlitzes enable Canadians, including youth and newcomers, to get directly involved in protecting our biodiversity in fun and interactive ways. As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation I invite the people of Fundy Royal to connect with nature through the expanded BioBlitz program at Parks Canada places across the country.”
Alaina Lockhart,
Member of Parliament for Fundy Royal
Quick Facts
- The Government is very pleased to offer free admission for all visitors to national parks, national historic sites, and national marine conservation areas to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation. Use your 2017 Discovery Pass to visit fabulous places like Carleton Martello Tower and St. Andrews Blockhouse National Historic Sites.
- Parks Canada is a recognized leader in conservation. Through its Conservation and Restoration Program, Parks Canada takes actions to preserve national parks and contribute to the recovery of species at risk.
- Drop in at the Salt and Fir centre at Fundy National Park at 10 a.m. weekdays, and 9 a.m. Fridays and weekends, for daily schedules. Please note that some events are weather dependant.
- For more information and to register for programs, please contact Denis at the interpretation office in Fundy National Park at 506-887-6028, or e-mail [email protected]. Visit the event page for updates on planned outings, presentations, and drop-in programs offered during the event.