This week we got to participate in the Urban BioBlitz in Burlington and Winooski. This was really cool because I have done a BioBlitz before, but only in a protected nature area. The event I participated in was the Spectacular Nature Challenge at the Intervale, which is a 360 acre campus that consists of farmland, trails, and open space along the Winooski River in Burlington. I mostly spent the day in the rich floodplain forest that lines the river. Below is a map of the Intervale.
The coolest thing I found while exploring the land was the Shady Horsetail. The particularly caught my eye because they glistened in the sunlight and were growing all over the forest floor. I had never been able to identify this specie, but thanks to iNaturalist it was a lot easier. Below are some photos of this cool plant.
I also got the chance to seem some other plants on the forest floor, including the Common Blue Violet, the Ostrich Fern, and the Mustard plant. I already knew how to identify these, but it was cool to see so many of them in the floodplain. Judy Dow, a nationally known Abenaki activist, led a group around the forest and gave us some information on the plants. Garlic Mustard plant is actually an invasive species that needs to be controlled because it is competing with native organisms for limited resources and altering the habitat surrounding the Winooski River. But, the plant is also edible and I got to try some mean pesto that was made by the volunteers at the event.
I want to expand a bit more on my experience with iNaturalist during this event. I have used other identifying apps, but they are just limited to plants and fungi. It was actually really helpful, and I am looking forward to using it back at home in Columbus, Ohio. One of my favorite things about the app is it creates a place for people in different cities to share what they have found and their different observations. I think the app is such a great tool for helping communities have a deeper sense of place, as understanding the landscape around us give a much larger feeling of belonging. This will help communities embrace and create goals towards conservation. But, overall I am just really stoked I got to participate in such a cool event.