WHAT IS A BIOBLITZ?
Typically, a BioBlitz is a 24-hour event in which small teams of professional scientists and amateur naturalists work together to find, identify, and learn about as many local living organisms as possible. The Katy Prairie BioBlitz, now in its third year, will not span a complete 24-hour cycle but will enlist special organism-specific teams to count as many different types of organisms as possible within specified observational ‘windows’. BioBlitz participants will conduct counts on KPC-owned properties or on properties on which KPC has been granted special access.
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WHAT IS THE OBJECTIVE OF THE 2011 KATY PRAIRIE BIOBLITZ?
Our objective for the 2011 Katy Prairie BioBlitz is to record as many species of living organisms as we can positively (no guessing) identify on October 22, 2011. To this end we would like to encourage those with broad natural history knowledge to also list species in taxonomic groups outside of their team’s designated focus using a separate data sheet for each broad taxonomic group. For example, if you are on the plant team and see a bald eagle, please record this species on a separate data sheet; this may turn out to be the only bald eagle seen on that day. Each group will be provided data sheets for all of the different taxonomic groups being catalogued for the BioBlitz. This data will add to our understanding of our preserve system and will help us to take a fuller accounting of the species which depend on our properties for their survival.
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TEAMS AND MEETING LOCATIONS
This year KPC will field five teams: Mammal Team, Early Morning Bird Team, the joint Invertebrate + Herp (Reptile and Amphibian) Team, the joint Plant Team + Texas Master Naturalist Team, and the Evening Bird Team. Participants should plan to arrive 15 - 30 minutes before the start of their counting window in order to meet other team members and to pick up equipment, data sheets, water, snacks, etc. Meeting places for each team are specified below:
Please take a look at the 2011 KPC Preserve Map to familiarize yourself with KPC’s preserve locations.
TEAM/ COUNTING WINDOW/ MEETING LOCATION/ PRESERVES TO VISIT (subject to change by team leader)
1. Mammal Team/ 5:00 PM - Dusk/ To be determined by team leader / Warren Ranch Printable map
2. Early Morning Bird Team/ 06:30 AM - 10:00 AM/ Warren Ranch - Matt Cook Memorial Wildlife Viewing Platform @ Warren Lake / Warren Ranch & Jack Road South Printable map
3. Invertebrate + Herp Team/ 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM/Indiangrass Preserve/ Indiangrass Preserve, Hebert Preserve, Nelson Farms Preserve Printable map
4. Plant Team + Texas Master Naturalist - Gulf Coast ChapterTeam/ 09:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Indiangrass Preserve/ Indiangrass Preserve, Herbert Wetlands, Barn Owl Woods, and Warren Ranch South Printable map
5. Evening Bird Team/ 05:30 PM - 8:30 PM/ Indiangrass Preserve / Mary Manor Preserve, Hebert Wetlands Printable map
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TEAM DATA SHEETS
Early Morning Bird Team/ Katy Prairie Bird Checklist / Data Sheet
Invertebrate + Herp Team/ Data Sheet / *Herps Checklist
Plant + Texas Master Naturalist Team/ Data Sheet
Mammal Team /Data Sheet
Evening Bird Team/ Katy Prairie Bird Checklist / Data Sheet
*This checklist includes potential herps which could be found on KPC Preserves (we are within each species historical range)
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TEAM ROSTERS (as of Wednesday, October 19, 2011)
Mammal Team
Team Leader 1: Amy Bickham Baird, Katy Prairie Conservancy
Catherine Dursey & Family
Jaime Gonzalez
Others to be recruited by Amy Bickham Baird
Early Morning Bird Team
Team Leader 1: Jennifer Backo, Katy Prairie Conservancy
Team Leader 2: Scott Keister, Katy Prairie Conservancy/Bayou Land Conservancy
Jaquita Ekezie
Alyson Frisch
Stephan Lorenz
David Poteet + Iris Poteet
(to survey Jackroad South Preserve separately for remainder of Early Morning Bird Team)
Invertebrate + Herp Team
Team Leader 1: Bob Honig, Katy Prairie Conservancy
Team Leader 2: Matt Abernathy, Katy Prairie Conservancy/Jesse Jones Nature Center
Abdul Alhamawi
Chuck Duplant
Eric Duran
Leslie Edge
Maggie Honig
Christina Huerdo
Cletus Lee
Gene Luhn
Debbie Copeland Luhn
Brandt Mannchen
TIffany McElweenie
Kathy Pratt & Family
Fabi Rodriquez
John Schneider
Eric Stone
Bill Synpes
Wally Ward
Barney White
Plant + Texas Master Naturalist Team
Team Leader:Team Leader: Jaime Gonzalez, Katy Prairie Conservancy
Ivonne Cordova
Katy Emde
Mike Kirkland
Cheryl Sedivec
Lan Shen
2011 Fall Texas Master Naturalist Class (19 candidates)
Evening Bird Team
Team Leader 1: Steve Gast, Katy Prairie Conservancy
Team Leader 2: Linda Langlitz, Katy Prairie Conservancy
Mary Fitzgerald
Alyson Frisch
Stephan Lorenz
Don Mayhall
Claire Moore
Sylvia Paredes
Al Shultz
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How should I dress?
All participants should wear appropriate outdoor clothing, including closed-toe shoes,
and long pants. A long-sleeve shirt and a wide-brimmed hat are also highly recommended. We highly encourage all BioBlitz participants to perform a thorough tick check when they return home from the event.
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What equipment or other supplies should I bring?
KPC will provide all participants with water, insect repellent, and data sheets. We encourage participants to bring along any field guides, nets, snake hooks, etc. which will help them to locate and/or identify any species in their taxonomic group that they might encounter.
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Will food be provided?
Yes. KPC will furnish guests with a light breakfast or a light lunch. Food will be available at the KPC Field Office or will be brought up to the Matt Cook Platform. Any dietary restrictions should be e-mailed to Jaime Gonzalez.
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Day-of-Event Contact Information
KPC will have three staff members on hand to answer questions and to provide last minute directions. Please call one of the three telephone numbers below if you need directions or information.
Morning
Jaime Gonzalez, Community Education Manager, 281.660.6683 (cell)
Terri Ficker, Special Projects Coordinator, 713.447.1535 (cell)
Evening
Linda Langlitz, Conservation Specialist, 713.530.7147 (cell)
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