A unique event will take place at Greenwich Point this weekend.
The “BioBlitz” is a 24 hour intense bio-diveristy survey that starts at 3pm on the 15th and runs to 3:00pm on the 16th.
From 10:00am until 3:00 pm on Saturday residents can meet the scientists and their teams and look at the species they will have collected.
Each year the BioBlitz takes place somewhere in Connecticut and this year Greenwich was selected.
The event is a collaboration of UConn and Greenwich’s Conservation commission and Shellfish Commission.
“UConn has done this across the state for 11 years, though not consecutively,” said Sarah Nahabedian, Conservation Resource Manager with the town. “It’s a 24 hour biological survey of Greenwich Point, where scientists come in and look for birds, mammals, fish, Invertebrates, insects, plants.”
Nahabedian said scientists will bring students with them and volunteers to go out and survey the different habitats including marsh areas, rocky areas and the shoreline areas.
There will be a tent in the clam bake area that will serve as home base for the scientists and their exhibitors, including Animal Embassy and the Maritime Aquarium who will bring a touch tank.
“Some of the groups will lead tours,” Nahabedian said. “Every half hour there will be a walk or a demonstration, including a bird walk, a nature walk, and an Amphibian guide.”
After sampling the park for 24 hours, the total number of species will be tallied. The hope is to exceed the previous record for the most species counted in a single 24-hour BioBlitz. That record was set in 2016 in East Hartford, with 2,765 species.
“In terms of biodiversity, we have an amazing resource in our back yard in Greenwich,” Nahabedian said. “I hope a lot of people will realize there is a lot more to Greenwich Point than they know.”
Find the BioBlitz event on Facebook.
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