2026 BioBlitz at Mississippi Greenway: Cliff Cave Park

Saturday, September 19, 20267:00 am - 9:00 pm

Event Details

Cliff Cave County Park, Cliff Cave Road, St. Louis, MO, USA

Description

This event is free and open to the public. This event has options for all ages and experience levels. Come explore, discover, and make a difference! Registration for expert sessions coming soon! Check back here at the beginning of August.

Be a scientist for a day! On September 19th, the Missouri Department of Conservation, St. Louis County Parks and Recreation, Great Rivers Greenway, and community partners invite you to take part in a BioBlitz. Help us we record as many species as possible within 24 hours (from birds and bugs to plants and pollinators) in a single area along the Mississippi Greenway/Cliff Cave Park area. Choose a two-hour shift or participate on your own time; see ways to participate below!

Map showing Cliff Cave upper lot and lower lot

What is a BioBlitz?

A Bioblitz is when teams of scientists, students, and community members work together to identify and record as many living species (plants, trees, liches, mosses, bugs, bees, lizards etc.) as possible within a specific area over a specific time frame. It’s a fun and engaging way to learn about local biodiversity and contribute to scientific research. This not only helps community members grow their appreciation for nature in their own “backyard,” but can also help drive conservation and land management decisions, understanding of local diversity, and possibly even discover a new species!

To identify these species, you’ll use an app called iNaturalist. Never used it before? Don’t worry, we made a how to guide you can check out here!

Two Ways to Participate

Participate by collecting data on iNaturalist anytime on your own on September 19 (no registration required!).
Sign up for expert led sessions guided by experts throughout the day

Birds: 7:00AM-10:00AM
Herpetology/Aquatic Macros: 9:00AM-11:00AM
Terrestrial Invertebrates: 11:00AM-1:00PM
Herbaceous Plants and Woodies: 1:00PM-3:00PM
Cave Survey/Fungi: 4:00PM-6:00PM
Moths and Bats: 7:00PM-9:00PM

Whether you’re a seasoned naturalist or just curious about nature, your observations will contribute to valuable conservation research!