Indiana Jones in Griffith Park!

Be your own Indiana Jones and discover rare species in SoCal parks in a supercool event this weekend: Bioblitz. Anyone can sign up to go out with a scientist or naturalist to hunt for mammals, reptiles, butterflies, moss, ferns, birds, etc, in any park that’s listed! They even have night hunts for owls and bats! It’s apparently organized by National Geographic, and their schedule for Los Angeles and all the parks in this area is here. The word volunteer was confusing to me when I first read about it, and it says you have to sign up 10 days ahead of time, for the event on May 30 and 31.

When I take photos through my car windshield they’re not in focus. What’s the secret? This coyote was so beautiful in the early evening sun, but since he was so blurry I did a little something special to him in Painter.

But for the first time EVER, Dept of Recs and Parks did something positive for the natural health of the park, and hired Daniel Cooper as a consulting naturalist! So I emailed him with my question about the surveys. Daniel Cooper has his own schedule up here, which I would trust more than the national one, and he said even if a walk/hike says it is full – and most of them are- he said to just show up and ask the team leader anyway. I said I want to go on his butterfly and reptile hike, and he said he’s going to invite a butterfly scientist to go with us!

Anyway, this is a rare opportunity, and according to National Geographic’s website, they find new and rare species every year. Think what could be hidden in Griffith Park’s 800 acres! And go find it and get back to me!