Join SVT's BioBlitz at Smith

Volunteers will help SVT assess the impact of our habitat-restoration efforts.

Viceroy butterfly. Photo by Dawn Dentzer.

Here’s your chance to be part of an important SVT project—the cataloging of bird, plant, and insect species at our Smith Conservation Land. Known as a BioBlitz, this project will help us assess the impact of our habitat restoration efforts at this wonderful conservation area on the Littleton-Harvard line.

For the past several years, SVT has been removing non-native trees and invasive plants from Smith in order to restore the native vegetation and natural systems. To measure our effectiveness, we need to first conduct a BioBlitz to identify which species are on the land now, and then conduct additional surveys in the future to see if there are any changes.
 

Starflower. Photo by Dawn Dentzer.
BioBlitz Schedule

We are seeking volunteers to participate in one or more BioBlitz events this spring (and we hope some will also participate during the entire growing season):

• Bird BioBlitz, Tuesday, May 13, 7:00 – 9:00 a.m.
• Plant BioBlitz, Saturday, May 17, 10:00 a.m. – Noon
• Insect BioBlitz, Saturday, June 14, 10:00 a.m. – Noon

Participants will walk the land, take photos with their cellphones, and upload the images to the iNaturalist app (plants and insects) or the eBird app (birds). 

You don't need to know the names of any species to use the iNaturalist app; the SVT staff and iNaturalist will handle the identification. For eBird, SVT's Mike Perrin will lead the effort to identify the birds and upload information.
 

Magnolia warbler. Photo by Ron McAdow.
Get the Apps

You can download the iNaturalist and eBird apps from the App Store on your cellphone.

  • To learn more about using iNaturalist, see the Getting Started pages of the iNaturalist website.
  • To learn more about using eBird, see this recorded webinar produced by SVT and the Boxborough Birders.
     
Register

Please register to participate in a BioBlitz through our online Program Calendar. 

Together, we will enjoy three great days of nature exploration! Thank you for your help.