Native prairie grasses and wildflowers in front of Stanley Pauley building.
Native revegetation along Dafoe Road
Estimated Read Time:
2 minutes
Sustainability

Participate in UM’s first ever BioBlitz

Help identify the plants, insects, birds, fungi and other organisms that call UM home.

Estimated Read Time:
2 minutes
Native revegetation along Dafoe Road

Have you ever stopped to wonder what lives alongside us on campus? During the week of May 11 to May 15, staff, students, faculty and local community members are invited to take part in recording observations and helping identify the bird, insect and plant species using the iNaturalist app.

The Fort Garry campus is uniquely situated between several distinct ecosystems. Framed by the Red River and its riparian forest, and surrounded by agricultural lands and prairie landscapes, the campus land supports a rich and diverse environment that is home to a variety of animals, plants, insects and microorganisms. This convergence of diverse natural features makes the Fort Garry campus an ideal setting for exploring, observing and understanding local biodiversity.

A bioblitz strengthens UM's biodiversity dataset by giving the campus a clearer picture of which species are present, what is thriving and what needs support, helping us plan future conservation and restoration efforts with the greatest impact. 

Native wildflower, purple prairie clover
Purple prairie clover found within native revegetation on campus.
red squirrel in a tree
An American red squirrel's home in a willow tree.

How to participate - See it. Snap it. Upload it.

Head out onto the campus lands with your smartphone and start photographing any plants, animals, fungi and other organisms you encounter. Upload your observations to the “University of Manitoba – BioBlitz Week” project in iNaturalist. 

To join UM’s BioBlitz campaign, search under Projects for “University of Manitoba – BioBlitz Week” in the app or on a web browser. Once you are a member of the project, you are ready to start exploring! 

Visit UM’s Biodiversity website for a Quick Guide of detailed instructions on using the app.

Download the app

Participants will be required to create an account with iNaturalist. You can create an account on your web browser or via the app (Apple Store or Google Play).

Looking to sharpen your eye for the wildlife and plants on campus?

The Campus Landscape Series features guided sessions throughout the BioBlitz week that focus on the plant, insect and bird species found on campus while helping you build your observation and identification skills. These educational tours offer a hands-on way to explore campus biodiversity, learn amongst your peers and grow more confident in species identification. Each session is one hour in length on select days during the Bioblitz week. 

  • Tuesday, May 12, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. – plants with Jo-Ann Joyce, retired UM plant technician
  • Wednesday, May 13, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. – insects with Jason Gibbs, Department of Entomology
  • Thursday, May 14, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. – birds with Kevin Fraser, Department of Biological Sciences

Register to attend the sessions.

native wildflower, prairie pasqueflower
Prairie pasqueflowers are the first signs of spring.
Row of elm trees behind the Agriculture lecture block building
Elm trees line the footpath behind the Agriculture lecture block.
Biodiversity on campus

For more information about how UM is preserving and increasing biodiversity, visit the Biodiversity website.

Boilerplate: sustainability

We pursue sustainability in its many forms—societal, cultural, economic, environmental. Building a sustainable future is among the commitments you’ll find in MomentUM: Leading change together, the University of Manitoba’s 2024–2029 strategic plan.