How to do a backyard bioblitz

Be a detective for a day! Spend a day looking at what plants and animals are living in or visiting your garden, and record them.

DIY kit you'll need:

• Some jars, pots and tubes. This is so you have somewhere to place your specimens if you need to. Most of the things you don't need to remove, just write them down in your notebook as you walk around the garden
• A sieve
• A light-coloured tray to chuck leaf litter and samples onto
• A net to catch flying insects. If you want you can create your own net out of an old wire-hanger and gauze. 
• A magnifying glass, so you spot small plants and animals.  
• A torch, so you can check out the dark hiding places. This will also help to attract insects in the dark. 
• Some books on NZ flora and fauna with pictures. This will help you identify what you find, If you're still having trouble send Landcare research in Auckland a photo, and they'll give you a hand. 
• A notepad and pen/pencil, so that you can write down what you find.  
• Some friends and family members to help you carry things and to help write down what you see (if you can)
• A camera, so you can take photos of plants and animals you need help to identify

We'd love to hear your results to put them onto this website or in the KCC magazine, so get in touch with us once you've tried a Bioblitz at home. 

Contact: kcc@forestandbird.org.nz