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From July 7 to 11, the Sustainability Office hosted the third-annual campus-wide BioBlitz, a community-led initiative that brought together students, staff, faculty, and friends to identify and record species across the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ campus.��

Throughout the week, individuals were invited to log their findings on . This year’s event was our biggest yet, with more observations recorded than in any previous year. In 2023, there were 884 total observations. That number grew to 2,178 in 2024, and this year’s BioBlitz, there was an astounding 5,074 observations. In total, 1,071 unique species were documented through the BioBlitz initiative, thanks to the efforts of 36 observers.

To help build skills and inspire discovery, 10 guided walks were offered across campus throughout the week, each led by local experts, including students, staff, faculty and alumni, who shared their knowledge of the plants and animals living on campus. These sessions provided opportunities for 113 attendees to connect with nature more deeply, ask questions, and explore spaces on campus.

The BioBlitz Community Fair, held in the ��ݮ��Ƶ Centre, welcomed 80 attendees and featured local organizations committed to environmental monitoring, stewardship, and education. Visitors had the chance to meet representatives from REEP Green Solutions, Bird Friendly City of Kitchener, WSP, the UW Entomology Club, the Ecology Lab, ��ݮ��Ƶ Region Nature, and the Sustainability Office.

A key part of BioBlitz 2025 is celebrating the contributions of the top observers. Ryan Leys led the way with an astonishing 1,160 observations and recorded 419 species. Reflecting on his experience, Ryan shared, “I love BioBlitzes because they’re a great way to encourage people to look at the natural world more closely than they otherwise would, especially with our busy lives these days. I’m always excited to participate in a BioBlitz because I never know what I might find. My most exciting find during the 2025 UW BioBlitz was a group of American Rubyspots (Hetaerina americana). I’d encourage everyone to participate in a BioBlitz. You just might learn something that sparks a lifelong interest in the natural world!”

Hannah Chung followed with 871 observations and 324 recorded species. For her, ��ݮ��Ƶ's BioBlitz was a chance to engage more mindfully with her surroundings. “BioBlitz helped me slow down and really notice the life around me,” she said. “I noticed the bugs crawling around my feet as I walked, the tiniest of plants thriving in concrete cracks, the songs of birds I shared the shade of trees with. It was a practice of mindfulness and awareness, and campus looks just a bit more beautiful to me than it did before.”

Amanda Armstrong contributed 792 observations and 195 recorded species, placing third. “The BioBlitz was a wonderful way to connect with people of all experience levels who share an interest in nature,” she shared. “I enjoyed setting aside dedicated time to explore my surroundings and learn more about the species around me. I came across species I hadn't known existed, like the red-banded leafhopper (absolutely stunning), and I believe there’s something truly magical about that."

Among the many species recorded this year, the most frequently observed were common buckthorn, with 68 observations, followed by common milkweed with 53, and bird’s-foot trefoil with 43. Alongside recognition for our top observers, all participants who submitted observations were entered into a random prize draw, adding a little extra excitement to the experience.