Volunteers of All Ages Tally Golf Course Species

Nearly 500 volunteers visited golf courses nationwide to participate in Audubon International’s 7th annual BioBlitz after a threeyear Covid-19 hiatus. This event provides a unique opportunity for golf courses to engage their community members in activities designed to showcase and record the abundance of wildlife found on their course landscapes. Participating courses went above and beyond in their outreach and environmental stewardship efforts. Participants also competed for awards in Community Engagement, Biodiversity, and Best Photograph.

Said Christine Kane, CEO at Audubon International, “Audubon International’s annual BioBlitz is a great way for golf courses to create an awareness among society of their wildlife habitat value, especially in urban locations. It’s also a wonderful opportunity for community members from all walks of life to meet and learn about nature while getting outside and having fun.”

Individuals volunteering to take part in the search for plant and wildlife species at their local golf course included a remarkable combination of men’s, women’s, and junior golf league members, scout troops, local birding groups, club members, golf course employees, community members from surrounding neighborhoods, entire families, school children, and other nature enthusiasts.

Over 3,000 species were recorded during this year’s BioBlitz.

Southwinds Golf Course in Florida received the Community Engagement Award with a total of 247 participants. Key to their success was both a BioBlitz Ladies Scramble with special cocktails names after local birds and a Junior BioBlitz session that included a BioBlitz themed putting contest. The Southwinds Golf Course guests and staff were excited to see BioBlitz come back this