Hello, citizen scientists! Mark your calendars for Bioblitz on Memorial Day weekend May 28-30, 2022! Participants will visit Finger Lakes Land Trust preserves, discover and document living things, then submit their observations via the online platform iNaturalist.
How to Participate
1. Download the iNaturalist app to your mobile device and register as a user, or just register at inaturalist.org. From your iNaturalist mobile app or desktop browser, search “Projects” for “Finger Lakes Land Trust 2022 Bioblitz” and join the project.
2. Visit FLLT preserves on your own from May 28 through May 30, 2022. Choose the sites, times, and duration of your visits according to your own interests and schedule. Please remain on marked trails at all times!
3. Take photographs or sound recordings of the flora and fauna you find, then upload your media to iNaturalist, noting the location and date. Click “What did you see?” and select from among the options that iNaturalist suggests or enter your own identification.
In-Person Events
You may also join us for one or more in-person events led by expert naturalists in search of plants, birds, insects, and more! Trip leaders will provide basic instructions on how to use iNaturalist. Events are free but registration is required and space is limited. iNaturalist is not required to attend.
Family Insect Identification Outing
Saturday, May 28 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM (poor weather date Sunday, May 29)
Roy H. Park Preserve (south entrance), town of Dryden, Tompkins County
Jason Dombroskie, Manager of the Cornell University Insect Collection and Coordinator of the Insect Diagnostic Lab, will lead this family-friendly event on how to find, photograph, and identify insects and other invertebrates. Having your own camera or mobile phone with the iNaturalist app is recommended but not required. Kids age 4 and older are welcome but must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Please email info@fllt.org to register, providing your name and email address. This trip is limited to 30 people.
Plant Identification Walk
Saturday, May 28 from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Sweedler Preserve at Lick Brook, town of Ithaca, Tompkins County
Join botanist David Werier and learn about the wild spring plants that adorn the local landscape. This walk will help familiarize participants with the plants that occur in the rich bottomlands of the Cayuga Inlet valley, from may apple to wild blue phlox to a diversity of violet species. David has been a professional botanist for the past few decades focusing on conservation of the native wild plants of New York and beyond. He is the recent author of a book detailing all the wild plants that occur in the state. Registration for this walk is closed. The trip is full.
Fungi Walk with the Rochester Area Mycological Association
Saturday, May 28 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Wesley Hill Nature Preserve, Ontario County
Volunteers from the Rochester Area Mycological Association will be at Wesley Hill Nature Preserve for an informal walk in search of fungi, lichen, and slime molds. The walk will be followed by a one-hour discussion of findings. Participants are free to join all or part of this walk. Meet at the Gulick Road entrance.
Bird Walk with Mark Chao
Monday, May 30 from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Lindsay-Parsons Biodiversity Preserve, town of West Danby, Tompkins County
Come experience the dazzling spectacle of migrant and breeding birds, and learn about their behavior and ecology from naturalist and FLLT volunteer Mark Chao. The Lindsay-Parsons Preserve, located just 8 miles from downtown Ithaca, features a diversity of habitats for birds and other wildlife. Bring binoculars if you have them. Please email info@fllt.org to register, providing your name and email address.
Bioblitz is free to participate but donations are welcomed. General donations may be made, or please let the FLLT know if you would like to make a pledge of any amount per species by contacting us at info@fllt.org or (607) 275-9487. The total species count will be tallied on iNaturalist. Gifts can be made online—please click the box that says “This gift is in honor or memory of someone” and type in: 2022 Bioblitz.
