What is a BioBlitz        Findings 2008 Mangini      Photos 2008 BioBlitz

 

What is a BioBlitz?
BioBlitz is a race against time to see how many species we can find and count in a 24-hour period, since different species can be found at different times of day. BioBlitz brings together scientists, naturalists and volunteers to document biodiversity present in our community. BioBlitz is a unique opportunity to explore, discover, educate and investigate the tremendous amount of biodiversity that surrounds us in our local environment. It also helps us understand and take better care of our local flora & fauna.

 

Why have a BioBlitz?
BioBlitzes have been conducted in numerous locations throughout the nation to bring attention to the fact that biodiversity exists not only in exotic places, but also in the local environment. It is also the perfect opportunity for adults and children to learn from scientist about what they do, how they do it, and what their work means. And of course, help finding critters in the creek!

BioBlitz works as an important resource for data generation. Cataloguing the list of species found on a property is the first step in successfully understanding its environment. It may even identify unique aspects of the area or new species that may have otherwise not been known.

 

BioBlitz 2008 - Mangini Ranch and Lime Ridge Open Space

Bioblitz 2008 took place on Save Mount Diablo's Mangini Ranch and Lime Ridge.

The Mangini Ranch’s 208 acres are expansive by any measure, encompassing many creeks, two springs, ridges and canyons, woodland and chaparral.  The property has high ridgeline views to Marin, Sonoma and Solano Counties and intimate views within the property’s narrow canyons.  There are several hidden springs and creek branches, wonderful groves of flowering buckeye, and increasing numbers of wildlife, some of them quite rare. 

Friday, May 16, some of our 25 scientists/experts set up camera traps, baited boards to attract animals, small mammal traps, insect pit traps, black lights, used taped bird calls to draw in birds, spot lighted the hillsides, etc. We provided dinner and took a moonlight hike with some of our donors and volunteers on two new beautiful trails we've built on the Mangini Ranch. A few of the experts camped out, a few stayed up late recording the species attracted to the lights, and one stayed up all night searching for spiders and scorpions. 

On Saturday we had about a hundred people wandering around, and tents from REI and the Lindsay Museum. You should have seen all the kids catching tadpoles and little frogs.

Some highlights were three golden eagle sightings, Coopers and sharp-shinned hawks, two kinds of owls (but not burrowing); a coyote with a ground squirrel in his mouth; quite a few unusual birds (like a Say’s phoebe) and plants, a rattlesnake, a king snake, a western horned lizard--whose coloration is chalky grey like the lime soils of the area with rust colored scales and horns the color of dried leaves.  We had a king bird nest right above base camp, under a huge valley oak which was also home to a bee hive. There was another bee swarm on a tree up one of the canyons. One of the most exciting finds was an adult California red-legged frog, on Mangini, a state and federally listed threatened species. We also found 7 rare plants.

We found a variety of non-native species including turkeys, rock pigeons, and a noxious non-native plant which we’re going to attempt to control.  Feral pigs weren’t seen, which is a positive change.  They were probably scared off by all the activity but our fencing of the springs probably helped. We have what we are almost certain are tracks for both a mountain lion and an American badger in Lime Ridge—last year was the first badger sighting on the north side of Diablo in 30 years.  We also found a wood rat (pack rat) nest.

What we didn’t find included the Mt. Diablo buckwheat (one can always hope, and we may reintroduce this plant); Alameda whipsnake, though it’s been previously confirmed on Lime Ridge, didn’t see any burrowing owls (previously sighted) or California tiger salamanders, a long shot.  The missing part of the snapshot was that very few mammals—maybe there’s still a Berkeley kangaroo rat somewhere. 

The species list stands at 583 species--including 337 insects. There were:
63 bird species, including 3 rare or unusual ones
8 reptiles, including 1 rare one
3 amphibians, including 1 rare one
341 arthropods, including over 24 butterflies, 99 beetles, 91 moths, and 112 hymnoptera (wasps, bees and ants), 2 scorpions, 2 spiders
160 plants, including 7 rare ones
5 mammals.

Thanks to our experts and volunteers for all their efforts in making this a successful BioBlitz.