Red Mountain Park Hosts First-ever BioBlitz This Weekend
The BioBlitz offers a hands-on way to explore the natural world while contributing to real scientific research. Participants will observe and record plants, animals, insects, and more to help document biodiversity in the park.
The event begins at noon Friday, April 17 with a training session on the iNaturalist app, a free tool for identifying and logging species. After the session, visitors can explore the park on their own or join a “Bug Walk” at 3:30 p.m. led by a Jefferson County Greenways naturalist, to discover the diversity of bugs, beetles, and crawling insects living in the park.
At 7 p.m., the BioBlitz continues with a unique after-dark adventure. Participants will get a closer look at the park’s nocturnal wildlife and see live bats in hand, observe moths at a light station, listen for spring peepers at a vernal pool, and spot spiders along the trail.
Activities resume Saturday at 7 a.m. with a bird walk guided by Dr. Winston Lancaster, Alabama Audubon Ambassador, followed by a visit to an active bird banding station led by Dr. Lianne Koczur, Science and Conservation Director at Alabama Audubon, to see how researchers study migrating birds.
A central check-in location will be set up at the new accessible restrooms and pavilion at the Frankfurt Drive entrance to Red Mountain Park. Visitors can sign in, pick up a trail map, get directions, and receive guidance from staff.
“This event is a great way for people to connect with nature while contributing to meaningful scientific data,” said Charles Yeager, Land and Water Conservation Director at Jefferson County Greenways. “We can’t protect what we don’t know is there, and BioBlitz helps us better understand the species that share our community.”
Community members are encouraged to participate either independently or by joining one or all of the BioBlitz events linked below. Please make sure to register for events you plan on attending.
BioBlitz Events at Red Mountain Park 2026
Friday, April 17
Noon - Kick-off & iNaturalist Training
3:30 p.m. - Bug Walk
7 p.m. - Creatures of the Night: Bats, Moths, Peepers, Spiders & More
Saturday, April 18
7 a.m. - Bird Banding & Bird-Watching Walk
10 a.m. - Wildflower Walk
Learn more about Red Mountain Park