A BioBlitz is an event that focuses on finding and identifying as many species as possible in a specific area over a short period of time. A BioBlitz is also known as a biological inventory（清单）or biological census （统计）. The primary goal of a BioBlitz is to get an overall count of the plants, animals, and other organisms that live in a place.  

 A BioBlitz differs from a scientific inventory in a number of ways. Scientific inventories are usually limited to biologists, geographers, and other scientists. A BioBlitz brings together volunteer scientists, as well as families, students, teachers, and other members of the community. While a scientific survey often focuses on unique or isolated areas, BioBlitzes focus on areas that are connected to residential, urban, and industrial areas. Finally, scientific surveys may take a long period of time to conduct. A BioBlitz lasts a short period of time, traditionally 24 hours.  

 These differences make a BioBlitz a unique biological survey that encourages a relationship between the natural and human communities of a given area. Citizens work alongside scientists to learn about the biological diversity of local natural spaces. In the process, they gain skills and knowledge and develop a stronger connection to their home environment. A BioBlitz promotes and improves local natural spaces by empowering citizens to better understand and protect biodiversity.  

Hundreds of BioBlitzes have been conducted all over the world, primarily in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe. The first BioBlitz was sponsored by the National Park Service and the National Biological Service in Washington D.C.'s Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens in 1996. Surrounded by heavy residential and industrial development, Kenilworth Park was thought to have very little biological diversity. Scientists, however, tallied more than 900 species that first year and added even more species to their list at continuous Kenilworth BioBlitzes.