End of an Era

Dear BioBlitzers,
 
I am stepping down from organizing BioBlitz! OK events.  I have had an amazing time organizing BioBlitz! OK since 2008.  I have loved working with our experts to provide fun and educational programs for our community scientists.  However, I have decided to shift my focus from outreach and devote more time to pollinator research, habitat restoration, and natural areas conservation projects.
 
The Oklahoma Biological Survey has hosted BioBlitz! OK for over two decades.  During this time 1000s of community scientists have recorded 1000s of species – helping us better understand the biodiversity across our state.  However, it was never our intention to be the main organizers of these inventories.  We have seen over the last few years how simple it is for community scientists to contribute important data with platforms such as iNaturalist and eBird.  Identification has become so much easier with these apps and others.  We have confidence that our BioBlitz! OK community can contribute meaningful biodiversity data without our guidance. 
 
As the coordinator of the in-person and online BioBlitz! OK events and activities, I am ready to hand over BioBlitz! to you.  We don’t own the concept of BioBlitz! and, in fact, we want you all to run with it and make it your own!  Anyone can host their own event – big or small.  If you are disappointed that I won’t be organizing a BioBlitz!, I would encourage you to hold one yourself – at your school or park, for a couple hours or a whole weekend.  I would be happy to mentor, consult, promote, and loan equipment.  If you host a BioBlitz! we will write about it in our eNewsletter!  Just drop us an email with the details.
 
I’m excited to see where you all take BioBlitz! and look forward to seeing your observations on iNaturalist.
 
Happy BioBlitzing!
Priscilla