Driftless Area BioBlitz

Welcome to the Driftless Area BioBlitz (DABB)!

If you don’t know what a BioBlitz is, keep reading. Then join us for the DABB 2023 Nature Challenge!

Also, scroll down for videos showing how iNaturalist can help you identify what’s in your own backyard.

First of all…

What is a BioBlitz?

Created by iNaturalist,* a bioblitz is a communal citizen-science effort to record as many species within a designated location and time period as possible.

*Launched in 2008, iNaturalist  is a joint initiative by the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society. It is a social network of naturalists, citizen scientists, and biologists built on the concept of mapping and sharing observations of biodiversity across the globe. iNaturalist may be accessed via its website or from its mobile applications. As of December 2021 there were 2.5 million registered users! (Wikipedia)

What Is Driftless Area BioBlitz?

Driftless Area BioBlitz (DABB) is a free, annual, one-of-a-kind, opportunity for families, students, and all nature lovers to search for and learn about plants and wildlife in the Driftless Area.

Each year, from April to April, people can participate by submitting observations of wild organisms from anywhere in the Driftless Area using iNaturalist. The Driftless Area includes areas in Wisconsin and parts of Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa that is free from glacial drift and seems not to have been covered by the Pleistocene ice.

Scroll down to see how you can participate!

The DABB partnership was formed in 2021. It is a unique collaboration of organizations in the La Crosse area that include Strive 2 Thrive Coulee Region, Mississippi Valley Conservancy, The Nature Place, the UW-La Crosse Biology department, Viterbo University Biology department, and La Crosse City Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department. This collaboration was formed in order to promote the DABB program and give participants an opportunity to meet naturalists, get guidance on sharing discoveries on iNaturalist and learn more about the natural world and particularly the Driftless Area’s incredible biodiversity. Other promotional supporters include: La Crosse Public Library, ORA Trails, Sustainability Institute, and the following Neighborhood Associations: Downtown, Holy Trinity-Longfellow, Logan Northside and Powell-Poage-Hamilton.

What is the DABB Nature Challenge?

The DABB Nature Challenge  is a “bioblitz within a bioblitz!” It is a FREE ongoing bioblitz in which participants use their cell phones or cameras and computer, to upload as many observations as they can in their yard, nearby park or trail, or anywhere in La Crosse or the Driftless Region. Public observations of “all things nature” helps document the incredible biodiversity of the driftless region. AND by becoming a “Member” on the DABB Nature Challenge iNaturalist project page, members are eligible to win prizes!

The 2022 Nature Challenge was held from April 24th to September 30th. The upcoming 2023 Nature Challenge begins April 30th and will run until September 30. Thank you to all who participated in the 2022 Nature Challenge!  

What is the Spotlight on Nature Event Series?

The Spotlight on Nature Event Series is a series of FREE, in-person events held at various times on various topics throughout the spring, summer and fall and is part of DABB’s Nature Challenge. These events are a chance to participate in a bioblitz with experts sharing their passion for and knowledge of the Driftless Region. Eight different events were held in 2022, each focusing on various taxa like fungi, moss and lichens, pollinator plants, birds, and insects, including nocturnal and decomposers.

A PDF of the 2023 Spotlight on Nature Events Series can be found here.

How Do I Participate in Driftless Area BioBlitz?

It’s easy! Just follow these steps:

1. Bookmark Driftless Area BioBlitz 2023
2. Create a free iNaturalist account.
3. Download the iNaturalist app for iPhones or Android.
4. Review iNaturalist’s instructions on how to use the app.
5. Submit your observations of plants, animals (including invertebrates), and mushrooms in the Coulee Region/Driftless Area through the iNaturalist app on your phone or website on your computer.