Parks for Pollinators Bioblitz

Thanks to the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Georgetown Parks and Recreation is hosting a BioBlitz this September, in support of the Parks for Pollinators campaign. You are encouraged to make observations throughout the entire month of September, and we hope you'll join us at Garey Park on Saturday, September 5, 8:30-10:30 a.m. to see how many pollinator species we can document together. Registration includes access to Garey Park. What is a pollinator? A pollinator is an animal that moves pollen from a male plant to a female plant. This allows the plant to grow and produce. Examples include: bees, flies, wasps, ants, butterflies, moths, sawflies, bats, hummingbirds, dragonflies and damselflies. What is a BioBlitz? The Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz is an event where community members work with park staff to create a snapshot of the variety of plants and wildlife that can be found in Georgetown. We use an app called iNaturalist to take pictures of plants, insects and animals to see what wildlife is present in the park on this day and provide us with more information about pollinators, which are essential to our ecosystem. This information will help us understand how we can better protect pollinators and other important wildlife in our community. How do I participate? Download the iNaturalist app on your smartphone. Create an account and familiarize yourself with the program. Practice looking at the Explore, Activity, and Observe tabs on the app. While in the app, join the project page, when available. Explore Georgetown and make an observation – or make many! You can submit findings in real time using the iNaturalist app on your smartphone or save the photos and upload them later. Join us on Saturday, Sept. 5 at Garey Park for a BioBlitz! Why should I participate? Parks are essential to the health of pollinators and help make a difference in saving these critical species. Parks help pollinators in several ways – including documenting the species present within their boundaries. Pollinators are a vital component of our ecosystem, and an essential link to the world’s food supply. The United States has seen a steady decline of pollinators – a rate of about a 30% decrease annually. These projects help scientist (and citizen scientists, like you!) better understand where there is a greater need for preservation efforts. Questions? Give us a call at 512-930-6800 or email gareypark@georgetown.org . Or, stop by the gatehouse on your way in for a quick tutorial.