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Introducing the BioBlitz virtual field trip from LEARNZ on Vimeo.
Tuesday 2 April
1. Tips for Better Bird Watching
Meet Ian from the Department of Conservation to see how to monitor and identify birds. Find out the different strategies that can be used to locate and count birds.
2. How do you find Land Animals?
Set up tracking tunnels and trail cameras to monitor land animals in Ō Tū Wharekai and find out which animals you are most likely to find in this area.
3. How to Hunt for Invertebrates
Work with Brad a Biodiversity Ranger to catch invertebrates using four different methods.
4. Looking for Plants
Take a 4WD trip past Lake Clearwater to survey plants. See how sampling techniques can help you to discover plants that may otherwise go unnoticed.
Wednesday 3 April
1. Checking the Tracking Tunnel
Join Damien down at the Ashburton River to check on the tracking tunnels you set up yesterday. Find out what animals live in this area and how to identify these animals.
2. The Benefits of Trail Cameras
Take a look at a trail camera and find out why it is such a useful tool in monitoring land animals and nesting sites in Ō Tū Wharekai. See if it has captured any images of animals overnight.
3. Analysing Our Bird Observations
Explore Lake Emily and talk to Ian about how to make useful bird observations. Find out more about native and introduced birds in Ō Tū Wharekai.
4. Investigating Some Special Plants and Fungi
Take a walk past Lake Heron. Look at the special plants, lichen and fungi that grow here and the adaptations they have to survive.
5. A Closer Look at Some Invertebrates
Find out what invertebrates Brad has caught using a sweep net, pitfall trap and kick net. Discover more about the secret life of terrestrial invertebrates. Then look at examples of aquatic invertebrates. If you look closely as well as a caddis fly you can see a stonefly and mayfly.
Thursday 4 April
1. Attracting Birds with Good Planting
Take a look at an area of native planting alongside Lake Heron. Talk to Ian about what plants to grow in restoration areas and why planting projects are important for native birds.
2. Controlling Mammalian Predators
Meet the predators that threaten our native birds, lizards and invertebrates. Find out why these predators pose such a threat and see how to control predator numbers by setting traps.
3. Craspedia heron aka Woolly Head
Discover a unique high country herb that only grows in Ō Tū Wharekai and find out what the Department of Conservation is doing to save this plant from extinction.
4. The Power of a Bioblitz
Check the sweep net to see what critters Brad has found. Take some time to think about all the different species you have discovered this week and how you can take more action after completing a BioBlitz.
For teachers
Video question sheet - Word (31k) | PDF (217k) | Google doc to use for each video (based on SOLO Taxonomy).
