Like taking nature pics? The national week-long scavenger hunt for biodiversity is for you

From backyard bird sightings to interesting plants and curious mushrooms on the hiking trail, everyday nature encounters can be recorded and photographed to be added to a national biodiversity database.

Londoners are invited to join the Big Backyard BioBlitz, a Canada-wide citizen science event organized by the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), which returns for its fifth year from July 28 to August 4.

The week-long initiative invites people of all ages to snap photos or make audio recordings of the birds, animals, plants, fungi and even invasive species they come across, and upload them using the free iNaturalist app.

"It's open to everyone," said Sarah Meyer, co-ordinator of conservation biology at the NCC, on CBC London Morning. "Whether you're in your backyard, walking through a city park, or camping in the backwoods, your observations help shape our understanding of local ecosystems."

The BioBlitz is more than a fun outdoor activity, it's a crowdsourced scientific effort. Last year, participants submitted more than 47,000 observations, including nearly 22,000 in Ontario alone. Since it started, the event has helped document over 8,600 species, including rare and endangered ones.

"It's about getting more eyes on the ground," Meyer says. "We can't be everywhere at once, but this gives us a snapshot of what's blooming, what's migrating, and even when invasive species are starting to spread."

Armed with a smartphone, tablet or digital camera, participants can upload what they see and hear to iNaturalist, which helps identify species and makes the data accessible to researchers. The information gathered will help inform everything from conservation planning to habitat protection.

LISTEN | The fifth annual Big Backyard BioBlitz on CBC London Morning:

New this year, the BioBlitz has been extended from a long weekend to a full week, giving families more time to get involved, including over the August holiday.

To help engage younger naturalists, the NCC has created printable activities available online, including scavenger hunt bingo, word searches, and colouring pages.

"It's amazing what kids can spot," Meyer said. "Sometimes they're the first to see something we'd completely miss. This is a chance for them to be scientists, too."

Meyer said the BioBlitz also serves a larger purpose, especially as biodiversity faces growing threats from climate change and habitat loss.

"Every single observation adds to our knowledge," she said. "It might just feel like you're taking a photo of a milkweed or a beetle, but collectively, that data helps scientists make real conservation decisions."

To register and take part in the Big Backyard BioBlitz, visit backyardbioblitz.ca. Participants are also encouraged to share their discoveries online using the hashtag #NCCBioBlitz.