OTTAWA, Canada: The Big Backyard BioBlitz is asking people nationwide to submit wildlife photos or audio recordings from July 27 to August 3 to help scientists document Canadian biodiversity.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada, which runs the annual event, said participants across the North American country can record plants, mammals, birds, insects, fungi and other organisms.
Participants need a smartphone, tablet or digital camera. They can register through the conservancy and upload observations to the iNaturalist platform, according to CBC Kids News.
iNaturalist said a verifiable observation must include an accurate date and location, a photograph or sound recording, and document a wild organism.
Community members can assess identifications before qualifying records receive Research Grade status.
Kayla Burak, the conservancy’s engagement manager, told CBC Kids News that scientists could use the observations to identify when and where environmental conditions changed.
Read: France Wildfire Forces 220,000 to Flee Near Bordeaux
The records could also help researchers track population declines and identify conservation opportunities, she said.
The official event page said every submission improves knowledge of where wildlife is thriving and helps inform future conservation work.
The 2025 event attracted 6,647 participants, who submitted more than 59,000 observations covering over 6,000 species. Plants accounted for 29,327 records, followed by insects with 19,365 and birds with 4,407.
