Ever wondered exactly what lurks on the ground or in the air around Farmville?
Our community is teeming with diverse wildlife, from microscopic organisms to large birds and mammals. Every year, the faculty and students of Longwood’s Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences celebrates this diversity with BioBlitz, a community event in which citizen scientist—you included—from Longwood University and surrounding areas identify and record species, learn about local wildlife and natural history, and explore the world around them with experienced naturalists and Longwood science majors who help organize and run the event.
If you aren’t afraid to get your hands dirty—and even if you are—BioBlitz is always fun for the whole family.
Dr. Sujan Henkanaththegedara, a Longwood biology professor & event organizer Tweet This
This year, BioBlitz will be based at the Environmental Education Center at Lancer Park on Saturday, April 21, beginning at 9 a.m. The community is invited to explore nature in this free event.
“If you aren’t afraid to get your hands dirty—and even if you are—BioBlitz is always fun for the whole family,” said Dr. Sujan Henkanaththegedara, a Longwood biology professor and one of the event’s organizers. “We aren’t just identifying animals in the region, but cataloging plant species as well. It’s going to be a great morning at Lancer Park.”
Some of the animals groups that are cataloged each year are:
- Mammals
- Crayfish
- Birds
- Amphibians
- Reptiles
- Insects
- Plants
- Fungi
- And much, much more!
Longwood’s BioBlitz aims at promoting citizen science and hopes to underscore the importance of conservation and exploration and highlight the biodiversity of an area. It’s part of a national buildup to Earth Day, which this year is Sunday, April 22.
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