Thank You for Making the Fall Fungi Bio-Blitz a Success!
Saturday, November 8, 2025 at 7:16AM Hello Nature Lovers & Mushroom Hunters,
A huge thank you to everyone who took part in the Fall Fungi & Lichen Bio-Blitz on Thetis Island! Together, we made 297 observations and identified over 100 different species - an amazing snapshot of the island’s fungal diversity. Every observation you shared contributes to community (citizen) science, helping researchers, conservationists, and naturalists better understand the ecosystems that make Thetis Island so unique.
Bio-Blitz Winners:
Most Observations: Alina Ensminger with an impressive 60 observations.
Coolest Find: Fruiting body of Usnea (Old Man’s Beard lichen) by klcoutside.
Best Photo: Deceiver mushroom by Athenia Willowbrook.
Link to blog post for a selection of photos (please note that ID is not 100%): https://www.thetisislandnatureconservancy.org/single-post/thank-you-for-making-the-fall-fungi-bio-blitz-a-success
Winners - please contact Charlotte at charlotte@thetisislandnatureconservancy.org to claim your prize!
And because we can’t get enough of mushrooms, here are 5 super cool fungi (and lichen) facts to celebrate the season:
1. Fungi are more closely related to animals than plants.
They share a common ancestor with animals, meaning that, biologically, we have more in common with mushrooms than with trees!
2. The largest living organism on Earth is a fungus.
A single Armillaria (honey fungus) in Oregon spans over 2,400 acres. It’s estimated to be thousands of years old and still growing underground.
3. Lichen isn’t just one organism.
It’s a partnership between a fungus and either an alga or a cyanobacterium. The fungus builds the “house,” providing structure and protection, while the alga or bacteria make the food through photosynthesis.
4. Some mushrooms glow in the dark.
Over 80 species of fungi are bioluminescent, producing their own eerie green light through a chemical reaction called luciferin oxidation.
5. Zombie fungi exist!
Certain species of Ophiocordyceps infect insects, controlling their behaviour and sprouting from their bodies to spread spores.
Thank you again for making this year’s Fall Fungi Bio-Blitz such a success.
Happy mushrooming,
Charlotte, Amellia, and the ThINC Team.