On Saturday, May 1st, Friends of Big Canoe Creek teamed up with the Freshwater Land Trust to sponsor a "bioblitz" on the site of a proposed nature preserve in Springville. Almost fifty participants spent a day documenting flora and fauna on the 600-acre tract of land that has been nominated by Friends of Big Canoe Creek for conservation through Alabama's Forever Wild program. Scientists and naturalists from the University of Alabama, Birmingham-Southern College and Samford University were among those combing the forest and streams. Also partcipating in the event were members of Conservation Photographers of Alabama (see some of their amazing photography below).

Wikipedia defines a bioblitz as "a special type of field study, where a group of scientists and volunteers conduct an intensive 24-hour biological inventory, attempting to identify and record all species of living organisms in a given area." Information resulting from the field study will be used to bolster the nomination of the property for conservation. Among the preliminary results from the bioblitz are the documentation of more than 80 tree and shrub species and more than 50 bird species on the property. The proposed preserve includes a rich array of topographic/ecological zones -- from riparian to ridgeline -- fostering an impressive species diversity. In addition, no fewer than seven distinct geological formations are exposed on the site.

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Fish Specimens
All Photos: Emily Y. Horton, Conservation Photographers of Alabama

Other Vertebrate Specimens
All Photos: Emily Y. Horton, Conservation Photographers of Alabama

Insect Specimens
All Photos: Emily Y. Horton, Conservation Photographers of Alabama

Plant Specimens
All Photos: Emily Y. Horton, Conservation Photographers of Alabama