BioBlitz 2026 Recap: A week of discovering campus biodiversity

From September 21 to 25, students, staff, faculty, and community members came together for the fourth annual University of Waterloo BioBlitz.

Hosted by the Sustainability Office, the week-long event promoted exploring, identifying, and recording as many species as possible on campus. 

As part of the BioBlitz, participants logged their observations on iNaturalist. This year, 27 contributors logged 2,228 observations documenting 818 unique species across campus.

Notable species included:  

• turkey vultures 

• bald eagles 

• white tailed deer 

• beavers 

• common garter snake 

• giant puffball fungi 

To foster exploration of campus biodiversity, 11 guided walking tours were held throughout the week. Attendees searched for migratory birds, learned about native trees and plants, and uncovered the ecological importance of lichens. They also gained hands-on experience with insect sampling techniques, observed nocturnal moths and bats, and explored the aquatic macroinvertebrates that inhabit Laurel Creek.

Participants noted it was a great opportunity to step away from their regular day-to-day.

Rowan McGovern, Environmental Studies student and Ecology Lab Assistant, joined multiple tours. “While always enthralled by nature, I have hardly ever taken the time to stop and appreciate the individual species making up the whole. From the tallest oak to the smallest midge, BioBlitz is a reminder that there is a constantly evolving and changing dynamic between species everywhere. From a newfound interest in moths and bats to a renewed fascination with the minuscule invertebrates of Laurel Creek, this event was a great introduction to the subtleties of life on campus,” said McGovern. 

A total of 110 people took part in the guided activities throughout the week. Participants identified species, practiced field observation techniques, and expanded their understanding of local ecosystems. The activities connected people of all experience levels through a shared curiosity about the natural world. 

Each year, the Sustainability Office runs a competition to see who can make the most observations.

The top observers this year were:

• Ryan Leys, PhD student, recorded 700 observations and 443 unique species.  This accounted for half of the recorded species.
• Aaron Zhou, Computer Science student, recorded 619 observations and 416 species.
• Ian Yu, Planning student, recorded 201 observations and 139 species.

"This was my first time doing the Waterloo Bioblitz, and it was so much fun! It was super cool getting to see so many sides of campus that I’d never seen before, and it’s pretty crazy how many unique species are in such a small area (I was most impressed by the plant diseases). Thanks to everyone who organized the events and especially the guided walks, they were awesome! Special shout out to Ryan for the great competition and also my lifer, a grey-cheeked thrush," said Zhou.

From spotting migratory birds to discovering the hidden life of Laurel Creek, BioBlitz 2026 brought campus biodiversity into focus. Thank you to everyone who joined a tour, shared their observations, and helped build a richer picture of the species that live alongside us. Every observation contributes to a greater understanding of our local ecosystems and helps inspire future conservation efforts. 

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