Advanced training
4th Annual Prairie BioBlitz--June 1 and 2, 2013
Free event--great for families, scouts, and nature enthusiasts of all ages!
You are invited to participate in the Missouri Prairie Foundation's Fourth Annual Prairie BioBlitz on June 1 and 2, 2013, at Lattner and Denison Prairies in Vernon/Barton Counties. At these beautiful prairies owned by the Missouri Prairie Foundation take part in intensive nature study with experts on mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, bees, ants, butterflies, moths, and plants, and help inventory species from the 440 acres of these two prairies divided by the county line. An interest in nature is all that is required!
After an afternoon of prairie exploration and a potluck picnic dinner, astronomers will interpret the night sky with telescopes, and participants can learn about bats and nocturnal insects. Free tent camping is available on the prairie. Additional surveying and inventory work will continue on the morning of June 2.
At the first, second, and third Prairie BioBlitz's, held at three different MPF prairies, participants documented 16 species of amphibians and reptiles, hundreds of plants, including 33 species of mosses and other bryophytes, blooming orchids, and a rush previously undocumented from prairies, 20 species of butterflies, dozens of bird species, and Arkansas darters, a fish that is a candidate for federal listing.
What MPF provides: a big tent for eating under, chairs, tables, and portable toilets.
What you should bring: tent camping supplies, outdoor clothing, sunscreen, flashlight, field guides and camera if you wish; and drinking water, plates, utensils, and a dish to share at the potluck dinner. You may also want to bring food for breakfast on June 2 and snacks. A stove will be available for making coffee and tea in the morning. Tip: rubber boots are nice for shielding against morning dew.
Google Earth map of Denison/Lattner Prairies.
Directions: (Denison T33N, R31W, S5; Lattner T34, R31, S32) Three and one-half miles west of Hwy. 49/71 at Sheldon on Hwy. N, 1.5 miles south on county gravel road, 0.25 mile east on gravel road. Look for the big tent.
RSVP for the BioBlitz by emailing info@moprairie.com or calling 1-888-843-6739. When you RSVP, be sure to indicate which field study groups you want to join (one per time period, see schedule below).
June 1, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. or longer:
- Vascular plants with Justin Thomas of the Institute for Botanical Training, 20 max in group
- Butterflies with lepidopterist Phil Koenig, no max
- Bees with Mike Arduser, insect heritage biologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation, 15 max
- Fish and other aquatics with Tom Priesendorf and Kara Tvedt, fisheries biologists with the Missouri Department of Conservation, 15 max.
June 1, 4 p.m. to approximately 6 p.m.:
- Set out small mammal traps with Dr. Vicki Jackson of the University of Central Missouri. Need 5 to 10 people to help.
- Ants with Dr. James Trager of Shaw Nature Reserve, 10 max
6 p.m.:
Potluck dinner. Please bring a dish to share!
Thirty minutes before dark:
- Bat talk followed by potential hike to detect bats, 20 max
- Moths with Phil Koenig, no max
- Nocturnal Insect Black Light Station (no sign up needed)
- Star Gazing station with Dan Johnson with the Astronomical Society of Kansas City (no sign up needed)
June 2, 7:30 a.m. to approximately 9 a.m.
- Bird mist netting with Dana Ripper and Ethan Duke of the Missouri River Bird Observatory, 15 max.
- Bird walk with Bruce Schuette, MPF's Vice President of Science & Management
- Bryophytes (mosses, liverworts, hornworts) with bryologist Nels Holmberg, no max
8 a.m.
- Amphibians and reptiles with John Miller of the Missouri Department of Conservation, 20 max.
- Check small mammal traps with Dr. Vicki Jackson, 15 max
10 a.m.
- Butterflies with Phil Koenig, no max.
To RSVP, call 888-843-6739 or send a message to info@moprairie.com.