Celebrate National Pollinator Week during Township’s BioBlitz event

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The Woodlands Township invites residents and nature enthusiasts to join the week-long BioBlitz during National Pollinator Week, from June 17 to June 23, 2024. Join neighbors and friends on a captivating journey to discover and catalog as many local pollinator species as possible.

National Pollinator Week brings attention to the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations. Created by Pollinator.org, this worldwide celebration is a call to action for increased efforts in safeguarding bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles. Pollinator.org is the largest organization in the world dedicated to pollinators, offering programs, resources and certification for bee-friendly farming and gardening.

During the week-long BioBlitz, participants can use the iNaturalist app to easily capture photographs and gather biological information on various species. Using iNaturalist, users can record, share and discuss their observations of nature.

This data will contribute to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, a crucial open-source repository that supports global scientific and policy-making endeavors. The Township emphasizes that the BioBlitz is open to all residents, regardless of age or expertise.

How you can participate in BioBlitz 2024

1. Download the iNaturalist app onto your phone or tablet.
2. Familiarize yourself with the app by watching a tutorial or diving right into taking photos of critters, insects or plants, and uploading them via the iNaturalist app.
3. Join our iNaturalist project by searching “The Woodlands Township BioBlitz 2024” under projects in the search bar within the app.
4. Get outside and explore! Take photos and upload them to our project.
5. HAVE FUN LEARNING AND IDENTIFYING NEW THINGS
6. Join us at the BioBooth at Rob Fleming Recreation Center on Saturday, June 22, from 8 to 11 a.m. to ask questions of the experts and peruse our display of local biological wonders.

The event culminates in an in-person BioBooth Event, scheduled for Saturday, June 22, 2024, from 8 to 11 a.m. at The Recreation Center at Rob Fleming Park, 6464 Creekside Forest Drive. This event is an opportunity for attendees to engage directly with the wonders of biology, featuring microscope stations for up-close observations of butterflies and their host plants, expert guidance on using iNaturalist, and answers to questions about local flora and fauna. This year features new guided nature walks for an in-depth look at local ecosystems. The BioBooth Event is open to participants of all ages and is free of charge.

All observations made during National Pollinator Week will be tallied and results shared with our community. Whether contributing a single observation or hundreds, participants will enjoy the great outdoors, aid important conservation efforts, and discover something new and fascinating about the community.

For more information about pollinators and Township initiatives, please visit the Township Environmental Services webpage at https://www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/1445/Plant-for-Pollinators.

For more information about these events, please visit the Township calendar BioBlitz Week and BioBooth or contact The Woodlands Township Environmental Services at enviro@thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.