Wild Waterloo: BioBlitz

Presented in partnership with Families in Nature
Location: Meredith Heritage Tree Deck
Date: July 20, 2024
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Join Waterloo Greenway and Families in Nature for hands-on workshops and outdoor nature play activities including a “BioBlitz,” where citizen scientists of all ages will use iNaturalist to identify plants and wildlife within Waterloo Park. Participants might spot a blue heron fishing for lunch, a turtle perched on a log or a nutria out for a swim.

Guided Hill Country Garden Tours

  • 10:00 AM – BioBlitz led by Families in Nature
    • Family-oriented introduction to field science based on The Ecologist Guide: Waterloo Greenway.
  • 10:30 AM – BioBlitz led by Waterloo Greenway
    • Go behind the scenes and learn how Waterloo Greenway keep the park’s 90,000 native plants and 500 trees looking their best.
  • 11:00 AM – BioBlitz led by Austin Youth Riverwatch
    • Learn to sample, observe, and assess water quality (nitrates, pH, dissolved oxygen, and conductivity) using Waller Creek.
  • 11:30 AM – BioBlitz led by Travis Audubon
    • Explore the variety of lush habitats and bird inside Waterloo Park and along Waller Creek
  • 12:00 PM – BioBlitz led by Zilker Botanical Garden Conservancy & Capital Area Master Naturalist
    • Learn about the importance of native species to Waterloo Park’s ecologically rich landscape.

Urban ecosystems are remarkable natural laboratories for studying ecology and speciation. Understanding the function of urban ecosystems can help build more sustainable cities as well as provide areas of beauty and relaxation for urban dwellers.