In celebration of the 35th Anniversary of Friends of Wilson Ponds, a BioBlitz! A BioBlitz is a communal, time-bound effort to document as many wild plants, animals, fungi, and other organisms as possible in a specific area. It transforms nature walks into scientific surveys by having participants photograph or record their findings.

BioBlitz!

How it Works

The Goal: To find and identify as many unique species as possible within a set timeframe in a designated location. The Friends of Wilson Ponds BioBlitz will continue for 35 days in honor of Friends' 35th Anniversary.

The Process: Participants use the iNaturalist App to snap photos or record the sounds of nature. The app's computer vision helps identify the organism, and the global iNaturalist community then verifies the species.

The Results: The app automatically aggregates all observations into real-time leaderboards and species lists for the event. All observations collected during this BioBlitz will also directly contribute to the long-running Wilson Ponds biodiversity project on iNaturalist.

Why use iNaturalist for a BioBlitz?

Actionable Data: Observations that are properly documented with photos/audio and verified by the community become "Research Grade" data. This data is shared directly with scientific databases (like the Global Biodiversity Information Facility) to inform conservation efforts.

No Expertise Required: You do not need to be a biologist. Anyone can join, making it a highly accessible educational tool for schools, parks, and local communities. Photographing organisms that you do not know by name is a great way to learn while simultaneously contributing to science and conservation.

Automatic Tracking: The platform handles the tedious work of logging, mapping, and counting species, removing the need for clipboards and manual tallies.