Greater Springfield's waterways are under the microscope. Dr David Manning will take you to a nearby section of Opossum Creek where Springfield Lakes Nature Care (SLNC) will undertake a Waterbug Blitz. David will collect several samples of water for budding citizen scientists to work together to find waterbugs, photograph & upload the images onto iNaturalist.
Participants will be shown how to collect & identify waterbugs & how to use the Waterbug Blitz App. Then you will have the skills you need to do your own Waterbug Blitz at your local freshwater waterway! All the data will be uploaded to the Waterbug App but participants can photograph any of their waterbug capture & upload their images to iNaturalist.
SLNC will provide tea, coffee, cake & fruit for morning tea. This event is suitable for participants 13 years & over because we are participating in a water way.
On the day participants are requested to bring along:
- A folding chair
- Food & water/drinks for the day for yourself
- Gumboots or waders (spare clothes just in case you get wet)
- Hat, sunscreen, insect repellent – you will be working outdoors!!!
- Your smart phone with the Waterbug App & iNaturalist App downloaded from Google Play or iTunes App Store.
Please meet the co-ordinator David Manning, at the BBQ table at Opossum Creek Parkland Please be prompt as once the induction has been finished, the group will depart to the creek to do water sampling.
Lastly have fun & enjoy photographing some of the tiny creatures & bugs that live in our waterways.
Thank you for being part of this Citizen Science Bioblitz event.
