WHEN: Saturday, April 15, 2023, 7am-2pm

Registration opens at 7am with activities scheduled throughout the day. Detailed schedule coming soon!

WHERE: Cahaba River Shelby County Park

This free, family-friendly conservation & environmental education event – led by some of our region’s premiere nature and wildlife experts –  is a chance for people from all backgrounds to be introduced to citizen science and safe recreation in the outdoors, while participating in unique environmental education opportunities including biological surveying, nature walks, creative writing, art activities and more!

Last year, we celebrated hosting over 150 BioBlitz participants that identified over 340 unique species in 7 hours!

This year’s BioBlitz will also coincide with the Cahaba River Ramble trail race. Participants are invited to enjoy both events!

Register for free!

Register online for free. We’ll email you a detailed schedule, a map of points of interest, and other helpful information in advance of the event. Online registration is not required, but it helps us ensure that we have enough materials for everyone and that you have everything you need before the big day.

What is a BioBlitz?

During a BioBlitz, we focus on finding and identifying as many species as possible in a specific area over a short period of time. At a BioBlitz, scientists, families, students, teachers, and other community members work together to get a snapshot of an area’s biodiversity.

This BioBlitz will bring local scientists, educators, conservation organizations, and community members together to build an awareness of the biodiversity and history of Cahaba River Park while collecting useful scientific data. Teams of volunteers will work with onsite experts to find and identify as many species of plants and animals, on land and in the water, as can be found on this special site.

What will we be documenting?

With your help, we will be documenting a variety of species, including:

• Birds and mammals
• Fish, mussels, and aquatic macroinvertebrates
• Reptiles and amphibians
• Insects and arachnids
• Plant species, lichens and fungi
• Water quality

About Cahaba River Park in Shelby County

The Cahaba River-Shelby County Park is a joint venture between the Alabama Forever Wild Land Trust and Shelby County with the County taking the lead on development and maintenance of outdoor amenities at the park.  This scenic park is located at the confluence of the Cahaba River and Shades Creek with 1,838 acres including a combined 1,339 acres in the developed North Sector (1,212 acres Forever Wild Property and 127 acres Shelby County Property) on River Road (County Road 251) off County Road 13 west of Helena. The undeveloped South Sector (311 acres Forever Wild Property and 188 acres Shelby County Property) is located at the end of County Road 251 off County Road 10 west of Montevallo.

The North Sector has around 30 miles of multi-use trails for hiking, mountain biking, and trail running featuring 21 miles of professionally designed and constructed single track trails. Trails range from ridgetop trails through the pines to trails meandering along either the Cahaba River or Shades Creek to a trail past an old car that may have fallen out of the sky to a loop around a large pond with an abundance of wildlife. Picnicking and relaxing may take place at three pavilions – two of which have connected restrooms. Trail signage is found throughout the park to orient park users. A caretaker resides onsite to provide security and maintenance. Three river access points with parking are found within this sector. River Road was paved in 2021.