About the Montpelier BioBlitz 2018
Ten years ago, the Montpelier BioBlitz 2008 was Vermont’s greatest-ever gathering of nature lovers, families, and scientists— it was the world’s first BioBlitz of a state capital. This summer, North Branch Nature Center, the City of Montpelier, and the Montpelier Conservation Commission joined forces to present this giant 24-hour outdoor community festival.
Based
at two hubs, Hubbard Park and North Branch Nature Center, this
event is equal parts outdoor celebration and citizen science adventure. Hundreds
of residents joined Montpelier’s greatest natural treasures by
joining in a huge menu of outdoor activities.
Meanwhile, biologists and
volunteers from around the northeast spread across the city gathering
critical data for environmental conservation by discovering and documenting
every species in Montpelier.
What’s
a BioBlitz?
BioBlitzes
happen all over the planet. They are a blend of science, celebration,
education, community, and loads of fun. Biologists and passionate
citizens fan out to discover orchids and otters, ferns and frogs, birds
and butterflies, lichens and liverworts. Anything living is fair game. What we
find will be cataloged and presented for anyone to see. And it all happens in
one 24-hour period. While the biologists scoured the city, the BioBlitz Hubs
(Hubbard Park and North Branch Nature Center) were alive with a jam-packed
schedule of free, round-the-clock activities for people of all ages, interests,
and abilities!
The
Montpelier BioBlitz
Vermont’s
capital city is once again breaking trail. BioBlitzes typically cover a
designated park or nature preserve. The Montpelier BioBlitz included the
entire city! This unique approach offers numerous benefits to the city, its
residents, visitors, organizations and merchants. Envision a city-wide nature
festival: willing landowners discovering the flowers and birds on their
property; schoolchildren learning about science and the natural gifts within
their community; nature films at Montpelier theaters; field guides on sale at
the city’s book stores; guest lectures on nature and science; the city’s
restaurants and other merchants joining the celebration. The event ended with a huge barbecue during which a grand tally of the species found is produced.
What's
the goal?
1.
To get Vermonters outside enjoying a wild weekend of fun in Montpelier's
greatest natural areas.
2.
To connect people from Montpelier and beyond to the furry, slimy, weird,
and wonderful residents of the capitol city.
3.
To convene our region's colorful community of naturalists and biologists for a
weekend of shared learning, teaching and exploration
4.
To provide Montpelier's natural resource stewards with the data they need to
better conserve and protect Montpelier's natural history.
~ From North Branch Nature Center web site with some modifications for tense by Bernie.
Below are photos of some of the Biologist, Naturalist, and Citizen Scientist who volunteered or otherwise participated in the Bio Blitz. There is a link at the bottom of this post to photos of some of the youth that attended the Bio Blitz.
Opening ceremony for the second in ten years, Montpelier Bio Blitz - welcoming nearly 200 biologist, naturalist, and nature lovers discovering, identifying, and recording (from 3pm July 11 to 3pm July 12, 2018) all living things (flora and fauna) for the Vermont's state capitol Montpelier - Bio Blitz.
“In the end, we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand and we will understand only what we are taught.”
~Baba Dioum
Fauna and Flora observed during the Bio Blitz is listed on iNaturalist where anyone can view the photos and names each of the documented species. View results on iNaturalist. (Montpelier BioBlitz 2018.) 4,550 observations, 1,518 species, 90 biologists, 500 public attended. Read more on North Branch Nature Center website.
View youth (photos) participation at the event here.
The Nature Conservancy - Vermont
VSECU
Vermont Mutual Insurance Group
Vermont Center for EcoStudies
University of Vermont Environmental Program
Stone Environmental
Montpelier Alive
Community National Bank
Hunger Mountain Co-op
Washington Electric
Montpelier Rotary Club
Ben & Jerry's Foundation
Deerfield Designs
Northfield Savings Bank
Cabot Creamery Co-operative
Capitol Plaza
Down Rachlin Martin
Heney Realtors
Kingdom Construction
Outdoor Gear Exchange
Vermont River Conservancy
SunCommon
F&W Forestry
Montpelier Bio Blitz was co-hosted by North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier Conservation Commission, and City of Montpelier Community Services.
Vascular Plants: Brett Engstrom, Aaron Marcus, Matt Peters, Daniel Dubie, Nathan Kiel, Charlie Hohn, Laura Spence, Mike Bald, Evertt Marshall, John Snell (trees), Peter Polshek, MaryBeth Deller.
Birds: Clay Poitras, Laura Tobin, Andy Wood, Maeve Kim, Emily Brodsky, Hugh McGuinness, Rick Prum, Everett Marshall, Bryan Pfeiffer, Peter Polshek, Brian Kane, Ted Murin, Ameila Klein, Jason Crooks, Patti Haynes, Pat Folsom, Joanne Russo, Lisa Zinn (banding), Larry Clarfeld (banding).
Bryophytes: Erika Mitchell, Aaron Marcus, Micki Colbeck, Matt Peters.
Lichens: Kay Fairweather, Hayden Smith, Deb Parrella, Lucia.
Slime Molds: Shelby Perry
Bats: Alyssa Bennett, Liz Kiumurry, Meg Lout.
Mammals: Bill Kilpatrick, Emily Brodsky, Liz Kilmurry, Andy Wood.
Ants: Aaron Ellison, Nathaniel Kiel, Alex Bryne.
Bees: Charlie Nicholson, Lief Richardson, Michael Veit, Kent McFarland.
Butterflies: Kent McFarland, Hugh McGuinness, Teri Armata, Bryan Pfeiffer, Andrew Becher.
Moths: Michael Sabourin, Hugh McGuinness, Joanne Russo, Laura Tobin, Jason Crockwell, Erika Mitchell, Sam Jaffe, Peter Polshek, Laura Gaudette, Kent McFarland.
Arachnids: Christian Liriano, Joe Warfel.
Leaf Miners: Charley Eiseman, Julia Blyth.
Orthopetra: Don Miller
Diptera: Don Miller (syrphids), Christian Liriano.
