Ever wondered exactly what lurks in 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 of Longwood’s Department of Biological and Environmental Services celebrates this diversity with an annual BioBlitz, a community event in which people from across Farmville and Prince Edward identify and record species, learn about local wildlife and natural history, and explore the world around them with experienced naturalists.
This year, BioBlitz will be based at the Environmental Education Center at Lancer Park on April 20, 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.
Dr. Sujan Henkanaththegedara, a Longwood biology professor and one of the event’s organizers Tweet This
In the three years Longwood has held a Bioblitz, community members have identified nearly 500 species of animal and plants in the 30-acre flood plain—more than 120 different typesof plants alone!
“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 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 species that are cataloged each year are:
- Turtles
- Crayfish
- Birds
- Salamanders
- Butterflies
- Several species of insects
- Flowers
- Invasive plants
- Fungi
- And much, much more!
This year, you’ll be able to join exploration groups led by experts to find and identify species, and kids will enjoy “touch tables” run by Longwood students with live and preserved specimens of local wildlife before they go on a scavenger hunt!
Longwood’s BioBlitz is an effort by Longwood 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 Tuesday, April 22.
Please register for the event at blogs.longwood.edu/longwoodbioblitz.
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