Bug-Off: BioBlitz

Citizen scientists and nature enthusiasts gather at the Shamrock Park and Nature Center for a localized insect survey. During this guided BioBlitz, participants scour the park's coastal scrub and pine flatwoods to identify and catalog as many native and invasive bug species as possible. The hands-on workshop begins in the classroom with a brief training on using field guides and smartphone apps for biological recording. Attendees then head onto the trails, contributing real-time data to regional biodiversity databases. The ecological exercise helps county environmental specialists track population shifts and monitor the health of the local habitat.