We’re so glad you’ve signed up! Whether you’re a newly hatched naturalist or an eagle-eyed expert, NCC’s Big Backyard BioBlitz is an amazing way to get to know nature better, enrich your time outdoors and contribute to conservation science.
It’s simple. From August 3 to 7, take photos or audio clips of the plants, birds, insects and other cool creatures around you, wherever you happen to be. Explore solo or bring along your family and friends. The observations you share will deepen our knowledge of Canada’s biodiversity and how to protect it.
To ensure your contributions are counted as part of this year’s Big Backyard BioBlitz, watch the video or follow the instructions below.
If you have any questions, check out our FAQs.
Using the website? Click here for instructions >
Using the app? Click here for instructions >
Boost your bioblitzing skills with these simple tips:
Starting on August 3, share a pic on social media using the hashtag #NCCBioBlitz. It could be a cool species you photographed that day, a completed activity sheet or a picture of your family out exploring nature. Share for a chance to win a Nature Conservancy of Canada prize pack and Visa gift card!
Please note that by participating in the contest, you agree to our terms and conditions **.
Get the kid-friendly Seek app
This iNaturalist add-on makes it easy for junior shutterbugs to get involved in the BioBlitz. When they snap photos of plants and animals, image recognition technology will automatically try to identify the species for them. They can also earn badges for observing different types of species and completing fun challenges.
No registration or logins are required, and no user data is collected. To include your kids’ observations as part of the Big Backyard BioBlitz, simply access your own iNaturalist account from within the Seek app.
Download Seek >If you're using the iNaturalist app, click on the briefcase icon on the bottom of the screen to find a list of projects.
If you're using the iNaturalist website, select "Projects" under the Community menu option at the top of the page. You can also use the search function. Just be sure to search for the whole project name — 2023 Big Backyard BioBlitz — and not the word "bioblitz."
If you're using the app, tap the "Observe" icon to capture your observations. Or you can upload photos and audio recordings saved on your device to the app later.
If you're using the website, click on the green "Upload" button at the top right-hand corner of the screen.
For more help and information, please visit the iNaturalist support website.
Currently, you can only upload still images and sound recordings to iNaturalist. As a workaround, you can upload a screen grab from your video, then upload the video to a site like YouTube or Google Photos, and then link to the video in the observation's description.
Confirm that you have joined the 2023 Big Backyard BioBlitz project. The project link and icon will only appear on the observations you've uploaded if you have joined the project. And don't forget: Only observations made in Canada will be included in the Big Backyard BioBlitz.
To see only your observations, from the BioBlitz project page go to "select all&" in the Recent Observations section. Once you're on the Observations page, select the "filters" option from the top menu. From there you can add your username in the "person" field, click on "update search" and you should see your observations.
When you make an observation using the app, iNaturalist should automatically fetch and display your location. It if doesn't, check to confirm you’ve enabled location services on your device. For iPhones, go to Privacy in the Settings app. For Android, go to App Permissions in the Settings app. If that still doesn't work, you can specify your location manually on the map.
If you're adding an observation to the iNaturalist website (for example, if you're using a camera and uploading your photos when you return to your computer), you'll be asked to include a location. Type in an approximate address and then adjust the map manually as needed.
You can control the geoprivacy of your observations. “Open” means anyone can see the location. "Obscured" will show a general vicinity but not the exact coordinates. "Private" hides the coordinates completely from public view. With both "obscured" and "private" only you and project curators you've given permission to will be able to view the exact coordinates.
iNaturalist automatically obscures the locations of some sensitive species. You will be able to see your observations, but others will not be able to see the exact location. If you have concerns about the species you have observed, and it is not automatically obscured, you can obscure it yourself.
Yes! As long as you have already joined the project in iNaturalist and your files are date stamped to August 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, your observations will still be counted as part of the 2023 Big Backyard BioBlitz.
When you add an observation to iNaturalist, identify the species as best as you can, even if it’s as simple as “plant,” “insect,” “bird,” etc. Other users will help confirm or improve your identification, as long as it includes a photo or sound recording, location and date.
We encourage you to focus on organisms you spot in the wild, not pets, garden plants, etc. If you do share an observation of a potted geranium, for example, checking the “captive/cultivated” option under “details” lets people know that the species you’ve photographed isn’t naturally found in the wild at that location.
More questions? Visit the iNaturalist help page.
Please email events@natureconservancy.ca.
