July 20, 2024 | New Quarter Park | 8:00 am - 12:00 pm (rain date: July 21, 2024)
Open to individuals of all ages (under 18 require a guardian) and all skill levels.
CSWCD, in partnership with York County Parks and Recreation, and the Historic Rivers Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalist program is organizing a BioBlitz, the Colonial World Nature Conservation Day BioBlitz at New Quarter Park to celebrate World Nature Conservation Day. The event is open to individuals of all ages (under 18 require a guardian) and skill levels, welcoming both seasoned nature enthusiasts and newcomers eager to learn about the natural world.
As participants explore the park's different habitats, they are encouraged to observe and document any living organisms they encounter and to upload their photographs to a specific iNaturalist project using the iNaturalist mobile phone application (iPhone | Android). All of these photographs and notes will be stored in the iNaturalist database and the data will then be available to scientists and to the park.
The event will be an immersive and exciting educational experience that celebrates the park's rich biodiversity. During this BioBlitz, participants will have the opportunity to explore the diverse habitats of New Quarter Park, including its forests, wetlands, meadows, and the scenic Queens Creek. The event is open to individuals of all ages (under 18 require a guardian) and skill levels, welcoming both seasoned nature enthusiasts and newcomers eager to learn about the natural world.
Knowledgeable experts from:
Colonial Soil and Water Conservation District
York County Parks and Recreation
Historic Rivers Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
James City County Master Gardeners
John Clayton Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society
Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory
Department of Environmental Quality
Williamsburg Birding Club
Williamsburg Botanical Gardens
Virginia Department of Forestry
...and more will be on site to provide an overview of the BioBlitz objectives and provide guidance on how to identify and document the various species encountered throughout the day.
We will have a scavenger hunt for all interested participants that includes an assortment of plants, animals, and fungi to try and locate while you are in the park. For each organism you observe you can keep track in iNaturalist and on your scavenger hunt checklist and if you finish the hunt you will win a prize! There will be a special prize for the first person who completes it and there will be prizes and giveaways for other activities, including a passport that you can get stamped by visiting the different organizations' educational booths.
In addition to species surveys, the BioBlitz will offer other engaging activities throughout the day, including:
macroinvertebrate sampling and identification
plant walks and identification
discussions about the the wide world of pollinators
learning about fish diversity
talking about how to make your yard into a pollinator habitat
bird walks and identification
learning about our local watershed
opportunities to ask all of your gardening questions
talking to experts clouds and climate
insect sampling and identification
learning about erosion
and more!
We need to know how many people will be attending, so that we can be properly prepared, so please do take the time to sign up:
New Quarter Park
1000 Lakeshead Drive
Williamsburg, Virginia 23185
