Summer 2006

Table of Contents

Second “BioBlitz” even bigger

Eighty scientists and local citizen volunteers just completed a 24-hour count of animal and plant species along the Lower White River on the Pierce-King county line in Washington’s second “BioBlitz.”

“BioBlitzing is a citizen survey technique sweeping the country,” explained Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) biologist Michelle Tirhi. “It’s a concentrated effort to collect wildlife data within a biologically rich area to help landowners learn how to maintain that richness and save taxes at the same time.”

Pierce County offers a tax break to those who dedicate portions of their property to wildlife habitat preservation. The property must qualify for the tax break with a wildlife assessment, like the BioBlitz.

Washington first BioBlitz last summer had 50 volunteers counting 240 species in the Crescent Valley near Gig Harbor.

This year’s event, with more than half again as many volunteers, tallied 569 species of plants and animals in the river corridor.

The information is being entered into the state Nature Mapping database coordinated by the University of Washington (UW) and WDFW.