2005 Gig Harbor Bioblitz

2005 Gig Harbor Bioblitz
- the first bioblitz in the State of Washington

The Pierce County Biodiversity Network began in 1999 in an effort to identify fish and wildlife areas and include them in the County's Open Space Plan. After the Network was included in the Open Space Map, a three-year effort took place to refine the information and to begin implementation of voluntary management plans that would include the landowners living within the 16 Biodiversity Management Areas (BMA) and the connecting corridors. These reports are available online. The Biodiversity Planning Brochure, gives a brief overview and the website address.

The Bioblitz Community Report

The Gig Harbor Masonic Temple provided the "Science Central" site for the Bioblitz.

Fifty scientists, volunteers, and land owners participated in the 24-hour inventory of birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, insects, aquatic insects, and plants.

Most of the volunteers completed a NatureMapping training workshop. Armed with handheld computers with the NatureMapping data collection sequence using CyberTracker software, teams reported the locations of 194 species of fish and wildlife, 150 land and aquatic insects, and 305 species of plants.

Science Central

Wildlife species predicted to occur were compared with species that were observed.

A data table with the species observed on participating landowners properties were sent to each landowner.

A plant list from three sampled sites gives a good overview of the native and introduced plants within the Crescent Creek Area. It also includes what species are invasive. In the future we will include medicinal plants as part of the bioblitz.

Data Tables