What is a BioBlitz?
A bioblitz is a community-based effort to document the biodiversity of a specific area within short period of time, typically 12-24 hours. it involves both scientists and citizen scientists working together to identify and record as many species as possible.
Why hold a Bioblitz?
A bioblitz aims to assess the biodiversity of an area, raise the public’s awareness of the plants, animals, fungi, and other organisms present in the local community, generate data that can contribute to scientific understanding, and encourage community involvement in scientific research.
What will participants be doing during the BioBlitz?
Bioblitz participants will be exploring New Pond Farm’s woodlands, wetlands, meadows, and pastures observing and documenting all the wild species they find. To document a species, participants will snap a photo of the organism and upload it to the iNaturalist app on their phones.
Participants can also participate by going into the iNaturalist app and identifying theirs and others observations.
What will I need to bring?
A bioblitz is an outdoor event. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy footwear to navigate the uneven terrain of the trails and pasture.
Someone in your group will need a phone with the iNaturalist app already downloaded on it. We will have volunteers available to help teach you how to use the app.
We encourage everyone to bring a drink and their favorite snacks. There may be some light refreshments available during the event.
Feel free to bring along guidebooks and other identification guides. We will also have some available to share. But don’t worry if you don’t know what something is! We really need you to make the observations. There will be professional and amateur scientists working with you throughout the day to help spot species and verify identifications.
What is iNaturalist?
iNaturalist is a community-powered website and app that enables users to document, upload, share, and identify their observations in the natural world.
Why I should participate?
A bioblitz is fun! Spend the day outdoors exploring the diverse habitats on New Pond Farm’s property. You can learn about new species, connect with local conservationists and nature experts, provide valuable data to enhance environmental stewardship, and connect with the natural world around you.