Brooksdale Farm BioBlitz

"We care for only what we love. We love only what we know. We truly know only what we experience."

To properly care for a habitat or ecosystem you must know what lives there. How can you protect diverse flora, fauna and species at risk unless you know that they are present in your realm of responsibility?

This fall A Rocha Canada will assume management of Brooksdale Farm located within the Little Campbell River Watershed. To assist in the development of a well-informed management plan, Lynton Baird, a conservation scientist from New Zealand currently volunteering with A Rocha Canada, is coordinating the creation of an inventory of all living creatures that call Brooksdale home. On Saturday the 19th of June, Lynton organized a 6-hour BioBlitz at Brooksdale Farm. A BioBlitz is an intensive (usually 24- or 48-hour) biological inventory conducted by a group of scientists and volunteers, attempting to identify and record all species of living organisms in a
given area.

The day began bright and early in the morning with a small band of keen birders. It officially kicked off with four groups of scientists and naturalists, including ARC’s Science Advisory Committee member, Barb Wernick, along with volunteers and interns exploring the various habitats on the property. Brooksdale Farm includes wild salmon spawning areas, old field habitat and coastal Douglas Fir woodland. The list of species found steadily grew over the course of the morning as the groups came back with their full data sheets. By lunch time over 100 species of plants, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals and invertebrates had been recorded.

After a bite of lunch and time spent scouring field guides to identify some elusive creatures, Stan Olson took a group dragonfly and damselfly netting; Colin Conroy set out with a birding group; whilst a few brave souls returned to the forest. At the end of 6 hours, the BioBlitz wrapped up with over 190 species identified. Highlights of the day included finding a common garter snake, a Western Toad, a Bullock’s Oriole, and a Pumpkinseed (fish). This successful event barely scraped the surface of what lives on the farm, leaving the possibility for more explorations in the future.

As the inventory of all the living creatures and habitats is documented, good management practices and sustainable activities will also enhance this sensitive ecosystem and all nurtured life at Brooksdale Farm.

Quotation Source: Steven Bouma-Prediger, 'For the Beauty of the Earth'