Olivia Votava with a ringneck snake. Photo by Karim Olaechea
By Emma Castleberry
MountainTrue’s annual BioBlitz returns on Saturday, June 21, inviting volunteers to participate in a day of exploring and documenting the diverse species at Hickory Nut Gap Farm. This event offers a unique opportunity for participants to connect with the natural world while contributing to the scientific record by identifying and cataloging organisms through the iNaturalist app.
MountainTrue has been holding annual bioblitzes since 2016. “Our bioblitzes are unique in that they pair normal folks—citizen scientists—with expert naturalists from a variety of disciplines,” says Josh Kelly, the resilient forests program director at MountainTrue. “In any given bioblitz, we always have several vascular plant experts, and also experts in birds, mammals, salamanders, reptiles, fungi, lichen, insects, spiders and more. The expert naturalists pair up and lead groups of up to 10 people in documenting as much life as they can from a given location.”
Josh Kelly, left, and Rodney Webb identify a mushroom. Photo by Laura Boggess
The group identifies between 400 and 700 species during a typical bioblitz event, often including some uncommon and rare species. “There are more than 1,000 acres connected to Hickory Nut Gap Farm that we will be blitzing in a variety of habitats including fields, forests, streams and rock outcrops,” says Kelly. “We will also have access to nearby conservation lands, which provide hundreds more acres to explore. Attendees can expect to hike a couple of miles with plenty of stopping for exploration, identification and discussion of all of the fascinating forms of life encountered.”
Emily C. Whiteley, a senior biology professor at Catawba Valley Community College, started attending bioblitzes when they began in 2016. “These events allow for the promotion of nature exploration and discovery in a very laid-back, non-judgmental environment with everyone contributing, learning and teaching,” she says. “This year especially, with the aftermath of Helene and the politics in Washington, regional bioblitzes will be more critical in order to establish baselines to measure future recovery. How can we protect our natural environments if we don’t even know what is there?”
The event begins at 12:30 p.m. to allow time for completing waivers. The BioBlitz runs from 1–5 p.m. and all volunteers receive free admission to the barn dance at Hickory Nut Gap that takes place from 5–9 p.m. Garage BBQ food truck will be on site for dinner purchases and MountainTrue will provide snacks. Children ages 6 and older are welcome if accompanied by a parent or guardian for the duration of the event.
“The bioblitz is always a great way to meet people and meet new forms of life,” says Kelly.
For more information and to sign up, visit MountainTrue.org.
