News from the Friends of Reinstein

National EE Week Part 4: BioBlitz!

Silver-spotted skipper. Tapioca slime. Blue vervain. Nodding ladies’ tresses.

These are just a few of the species that have been recorded at Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve over time. But they are just the tip of a very large iceberg when it comes to biodiversity at Reinstein Woods. And the upcoming BioBlitz, May 13-14, will try to capture as much of that iceberg as possible!

A BioBlitz combines citizen scientists  with actual scientists to locate and identify as many species as possible in a given area in a short period of time, usually 24 hours. The first BioBlitz  took place in 1996 at Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens in Washington, D.C. Sponsored by the National Park Service and the National Biological Service, scientists counted more than 900 species despite the park’s urban setting.

More than 600 species have historically been recorded at Reinstein Woods, but that’s counting migrating birds and some species not seen in many years.  It also excludes large groups of animals, like soil-dwelling insects and many freshwater invertebrates. So the potential is there to add hundreds of organisms to the list of species residing in the  292 acres of Reinstein Woods.

You can join the fun! We’re looking for nature enthusiasts to join Field Teams to hunt for different types of organisms at Reinstein Woods, such as birds, trees, and bats. Each team will work for about two hours, finding and identifying as many species as possible.

For those not interested in joining a formal team, there will be family activities from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm on Saturday. Kids and adults can explore mini-blitz stations to explore what’s living in different habitats, participate in a photo scavenger hunt, or hunt for warblers on a bird walk.

To join a Field Team, you must register, but Saturday’s family activities don’t require registration. For more information, visit the BioBlitz page or call (716) 683-5959.