Join us November 8th - 14th, 2025
PRIZES FOR EVERY NATURE LOVER
5+ GUIDED
MINI-EVENTS
THOUSANDS OF
SPECIES TO ID
What is Bioblitz?
Part contest, part scientific enterprise, and part educational event, a BioBlitz brings together scientists, naturalists, and community members of all ages to count as many species from as many different taxonomic groups as they can in a timed survey of a chosen site.
A BioBlitz highlights the species found in an area over a short period of time. It focuses on observing and documenting as many species as possible, creating a biological inventory for an area.
Come answer the Call of the Wild with the Loon Foundation by participating in this year’s BioBlitz taking place across the Lower Sunshine Coast!
How can I participate?
For our kickoff, there’s no need to sign up! Loon Foundation staff will be in front of the EarthFair store at 10 AM, November 8th, to teach you how to use the iNaturalist app and sign up to our project, answer questions, and jump start your observations by looking at organisms on display in the show room and in the Tranquility Garden. Take this knowledge and continue your observation journey throughout the lower Sunshine coast.
Can’t make it to the Earthfair store? No problem! Join the Loon Foundation’s 20th BioBlitz project on iNaturalist and log observations from anywhere. (link).
Each different observation that you submit on iNaturalist will count towards your personal total number of species and enter you into the contest to record the most number of species. Everyone who records at least one observation will be entered to win a participation prize.
Collect and submit your observations by 4pm on Friday November 14, 2025. The winners of the prizes will be announced that evening? On our social media (links) and prizes can be picked up at the Earthfair store
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Our Goals for BioBlitz Events:
To increase awareness of the diversity of life around us.
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To popularize science and inspire naturalists of all ages.
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To generate valuable scientific data on the Sunshine Coast.
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To build partnerships and increase knowledge within our community.
Bio-Blitz Mini Events
Throughout the week-long course of the BioBlitz, Loon Foundation staff and keen volunteer experts will lead the way during multiple walk-and-talk mini-events in and around Madeira Park.
During these mini-events, you can snap some photos, record your observations, and get help identifying what you’re seeing straight away! Your guide will also be able to help you troubleshoot using iNaturalist.
You can check out the full list of events by clicking the calendar to the right or seeing the full schedule on the Google Calendar at the bottom of the page.
Be sure to register ahead of time if you want to attend specific mini-events as participation is limited!
How are prizes awarded?
Prize winners will be drawn based on participation, biodiversity, and the number of species identified! There are separate prizes for individuals and for school groups.
Winners will be announced on our social media on November 14th, so be sure to follow the Loon Foundation on Instagram and Facebook for event updates and to see if you’ve won!
What is iNaturalist?
iNaturalist is a free app available on iOS and Android created to engage communities in crowdsourcing data and observations in nature. It’s a fantastic way to become a Citizen Scientist and learn about the wildlife in you area!
When you take a photo of an observation, it will be stored on the app to be uploaded once you have an internet connection. Your observations will be identified by Loon Foundation staff and other scientists or naturalists across the world, contributing to a world-wide database!
For Educators
Schools can participate in the BioBlitz with their classrooms to find, observe, identify and record species found in a target area around your school.
Students will have the opportunity to use iNaturalist to collect data and are encouraged to “blitz” as many times as desired during the project period (November 8th - 14th, 2025) so that they can record their findings using the iNaturalist App either individually or as a classroom.
Please check out the BioBlitz 2025 for Educators page here!
What do you do?
Our 2020 BioBlitz was a huge success, lasting an entire month, spanning the whole lower Sunshine Coast, and totalling an impressive 3,335 observations and 942 species!
Check out the findings from our previous digital projects:
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It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
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For Public Participants
You can participate in the BioBlitz on your own time from anywhere on the lower Sunshine Coast by contributing pictures to the “20th Annual Loon Foundation Sunshine Coast Bioblitz” iNaturalist project.
All you need to participate are an iNaturalist account and a smart phone or a camera!
You can join by following the sign-up process on the app or clicking the sign-up link on the top right of their website.
Afterwards, you can follow the link to the right to our BioBlitz project where you will be uploading your discoveries!
Get exploring, observing, and identifying!
Take photos of the plants and animals you see in nature and upload them to your iNaturalist account. You can either:
Take photos through the iNaturalist app on your mobile device
Upload photos to iNaturalist through their desktop website
iNaturalist will automatically add any observations you make within the Sunshine Coast area into our BioBlitz project once you have joined.
Helpful Links
Adding an Observation on a Mobile Device
Adding an Observation via the Web
Donations go towards our many scientific endeavours and community events, including the annual BioBlitz!
The 2025 BioBlitz has been funded in part by the Sunshine Coast Regional District Electoral Areas Grant-in-Aid and the Sunshine Coast Credit Union. BC Community Gaming Fund. Thank you to our funders and sponsors for supporting science and discovery in our community!