The Biological Survey of Canada invites you to participate in the 12th BSC BioBlitz on June 24-26, 2016.
A BioBlitz is a biological 'treasure hunt' to find as many species as possible within a short time. Bring the whole family for a week of events and talks about the environment, as well as nature walks in Carmacks with experts from around Canada. We hope to learn what animals and plants occur in this area, and with your help, we may even find new species! So take photos of everything you discover, from bugs to birches and everything in between. If you find it interesting, there's a good chance we will too.
Why Carmacks? Carmacks is a small community in south-central Yukon, 179 kilometres north of Whitehorse. The region is within the traditional territory of the Little Salmon-Carmacks First Nation. It lies at the edge of Beringia, which stretches from the central Yukon to eastern Siberia. It was an area that was never glaciated during the Pleistocene Ice Ages. Because of this ecological history, Beringia has species that occur nowhere else in the world. However Carmacks is poorly known biologically because most people drive straight through.
Make sure you download the Carmacks Bioblitz guide that we have created. When you download the guide on your phone, you can search through a huge amount of species known to the area. It is also an easy way to take photos which will help us track the animals and plants you see. Find the free iNaturalist app and download the Carmacks BioBlitz guide. Downloading is important as there is limited cell tower reception. For more information on how to download and use the guide, click here. If you would like to print off a comprehensive checklist of the species that are known or suspected of being in Carmacks to bring with you, click here.
Tentative BioBlitz Schedule: Click here to print out the schedule, map, safety information and basic checklist for the weekend.
Thursday 23rd June
7:30 - 8:30 pm - Presentations at the Beringia Interpretive Centre: What is a BioBlitz?, Edge of Beringia: Glacial History of Carmacks, Blackflies of the Yukon, Special Plants of Carmacks & iNaturalist how-to.
Friday 24th June
12:00 - 5:00 pm - Coal Mine Campground meet-and-greet
6:00 - 9:00 pm - Welcome to Carmacks talks at the Heritage Hall in Carmacks: What is a BioBlitz?, Geology of Carmacks, Blackflies of the Yukon, Microfauna of Beringia, Special Plants of Carmacks, Insects at the Top of the World & iNaturalist how-to.
Saturday 25th June
8:00 - 8:30 am - Registration at Base Camp
8:30 - 9:30 am - Bird watching*
9:300 - 10:00 am - Registration at Base Camp
10:00 - 12:00 am - Plants of Carmacks* & Bugs that Bite*
1:00 - 1:30 pm - Registration at Base Camp
1:30 - 3:30 pm - Freshwater Streams*
6:30 - 7:30 pm - What did we find today? at Base Camp
Sunday 26th June
8:00 - 8:30 am - Registration at Base Camp
8:30 - 9:30 am - Bird watching*
9:300 - 10:00 am - Registration at Base Camp
10:00 - 12:00 am - Bees! and other pollinators*
1:00 - 1:30 pm - Registration at Base Camp
1:30 - 2:30 pm - Edible Plants of the Yukon*
* All talk-&-walks will be leaving from the Coal Mine Campground aka Base Camp, and will be walking from or driving to a particular area of Carmacks.
You can stay with us at Base Camp, though you will need to book and pay for your own spot. There are also places to stay at the Hotel Carmacks, which has rooms, RV park and cabins; Mukluk Manor, which is a B&B; and another camping ground at Tatchun Creek near the Five Finger Rapids.
Click on the links for more information on Carmacks Village, arts, culture and heritage, and driving safely in the Yukon. menos ↑