Before dawn, as promised, buses lined up in a field beside the enormous Homestead-Miami Speedway to carry scientists, National Park Service rangers (here from across the U.S.), and National Geographic staff to the Biscayne visitor's center, home to BioBlitz Base Camp.
Empty trails...
... and a placid, rocky beach by Biscayne Bay...
... belied the imminent arrival of hundreds of students, teachers, families, and other nature-lovers bent on documenting the national park's living wonders over the next few days. Awaiting boats ferried the first field crews eastward across the water toward Elliott Key.
While scientists retrieved their assignments at the registration tent ...
... an early-morning snorkel team prepped to get wet.
Teens from the TERRA Environmental Research School...
... Miami's new "green" magnet high school, were first on the scene of more than 1,200 students slated to descend on the Biscayne BioBlitz.
After long months of planning, the 'Blitz is on!
Read more about the National Geographic-National Park Service Biscayne BioBlitz on NatGeo News Watch.
Photos by Tim Greenleaf