Join the Pinyon Jay Bioblitz on April 25th!

Northwest Nevada Bird Alliance volunteers in search of Pinyon Jays. Photo credit: NNBA

What is a bioblitz?:

A bioblitz is an exciting, fast-paced community event where volunteers come together to explore local habitats and document as many plants and animals as possible. While the Pinyon Jay Bioblitz focus will be on known Pinyon Jay hotspots around Reno, participants are encouraged to record any flora and fauna they encounter on iNaturalist as part of the City Nature Challenge. This helps create a rich snapshot of the region’s biodiversity.

More than just a fun day outdoors, the bioblitz serves as a valuable scientific tool. By repeating these surveys over time, researchers can monitor ecosystem changes and better understand species trends.

📅 Event Date: April 25 at 8am
📍 Locations: Peavine Mountain or Alum Canyon

At each site, participants will meet staff from the Great Basin Bird Observatory for a brief introduction before heading out to assigned survey plots.

Please come prepared for a full day outdoors. Bring binoculars, plenty of water, snacks, sunscreen, and sturdy hiking shoes. Be ready to traverse uneven terrain and hike off-trail.

Survey plots will vary in difficulty, and assignments will be made the morning of the event. We’ll work with participants to ensure everyone is working within their comfort level. There will also be opportunities to pair up with other volunteers or GBBO staff.

How to participate:

1.) Become a Pinyon Data Collector:

Make sure you are a registered data collector with the Pinyon Jay Hub. Sign up if you are not!

2.) Sign up for a Pinyon Jay Bioblitz survey location:

We will be focusing on two areas in the Reno region to better understand how birds are using these habitats. Are we observing one flock moving between both areas, or are they two distinct flocks?

If we’re lucky, we might uncover a vital piece of the puzzle!

Choose which area you’d like to survey:

Register for Alum Canyon
Register for Peavine

3.) Download the map, navigate to your survey area, and report your findings with Survey123:

  • Step 1: Download the map* COMING SOON* (clicking the link will download a .KMZ file). iPhone users have to save the map download to their files, and use the “send” option to open with Google Earth.

  • Step 2: Use Google Earth to navigate to previously identified Pinyon Jay survey routes! Tip: once opened in Google Earth, the map will be added to “Your maps” and can be accessed from Google Maps.

  • Step 3: Submit your results using the free app, Survey123.

    Contact us at outreach@gbbo.org if you have any questions or problems.