Fall Bioblitz

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is hosting its Fall Bioblitz at Prairie Ridge on Wednesday, October 14, from 2:30 to 4:30 PM. It's a citizen science program, which is a fancy way of saying they take a group of people out into the field to help document the biodiversity of the property. The goal is to record as many different species as possible in a short window of time.

That range is pretty wide: you'll be looking for everything from fungi on the ground to birds in the canopy. As you find things, you record your sightings in iNaturalist, the app that turns a casual walk into actual data. It's a good way to get a better sense of what's actually living around the ridge this time of year, and your contributions end up as part of a larger record of the area's wildlife.

The session is best suited for adults and children ages 8 and over, so it works as a family outing if you've got kids in that range. It's run by the museum, and the whole thing takes place outdoors at the Prairie Ridge Eco-Station Outdoor Classroom, located at 1671 Gold Star Dr. in West Raleigh. You'll be on your feet and moving through the property for the full two hours, so come prepared for a bit of walking.

It's free to join, though you do need to register in advance. The Bioblitz runs from 2:30 to 4:30 PM on Wednesday, October 14, at the Prairie Ridge Eco-Station Outdoor Classroom in West Raleigh.