2017 Snapshot Cal Coast: Refugio State Beach

In support of the Snapshot Cal Coast initiative, please join us for for a grassroots, smartphone-powered bioblitz to catalogue every living species we can identify from Refugio State Beach! Sharing your observations will help researchers to better understand and protect marine life.

This is part of an annual 10-day series of "bioblitzes" in a statewide effort to document biodiversity throughout California's coastal range. A bioblitz is an intensive one-day study of biodiversity in a specific location. We’ll look for starfish, crabs, octopus, sea slugs, shorebirds, fish, barnacles, anything!

People of all ages are welcome! You bring your curiosity, a smart phone with the iNaturalist app downloaded (or digital camera), and tons of enthusiasm. Together we’ll make some science!

When we finish blitzing, we will reconvene for a wrap-up (location TBA). There we will share a snack, upload our data, and reflect on our experiences.

For more information, please contact: aliciacordero@wishtoyo.org (805) 259-6976

Information for participants:
Remember to bring your smartphone (with iNat app) or camera and notebook.
Bring a sack lunch & water.
Protect yourself from the sun: sunscreen, hat, etc.
Dressing in layers is advised.
Meet at Refugio State Beach parking lot at 7:30 a.m.

We will be using the iNaturalist app to record our observations. Participants are required to install this free app to your smartphone or tablet prior to the event. Once installed you will need to create your own account (username and password). Please experiment with making iNaturalist observations BEFORE the day of our bioblitz. Another option is to use a camera and notebook to record your observations and then upload them to the iNaturalist website from your home computer after the bioblitz.

We will do a brief, onsite training on how use the iNaturalist app and general bioblitz etiquette before we get started, but please familiarize yourself ahead of time by watching the short tutorial videos below.

Resources:
iNaturalist Video Tutorial - Tidepools
iNaturalist Video Tutorial - Making an iNat Observation
iNaturalist Tutorial
California Tidepools App (free - very useful to help identify species) פחות ↑