STARLIGHT – From June 29 to 30, teams of scientists will gather on a demarcated property for 24 hours to collect, identify, and catalog a single specimen of every single species they can find. Then they invite youth and their families to meet the scientists, see what they have collected, and learn more about biology in the context of the site.
Families, camps, and youth groups can take advantage of this free hands-on, educational opportunity on Saturday, June 30, when all ages can experience the diversity of life on a unique piece of property in Starlight on Route 191 at Route 370, which is owned by the Norcross Wildlife Foundation.
This property was the site of the first Upper Delaware BioBlitz in 2013 when the teams collected 1,022 distinct species in 24 hours.
From 9 am to 3 pm, view the specimens, meet scientists of various disciplines, and enjoy tours of the site to learn how different species live and thrive in the context of the overall property.
Nine teams and sponsoring organizations will provide information and offer educational programs on their particular areas of expertise. Participants should wear comfortable hiking attire.
The scientists are asked to identify what they find down to the species level, if possible, using specialized methods. Some of this will be done in the field either by photos or visual identification. Other items will be brought back to the collection tables for further identification through careful analysis using microscopes and reference material on site.
All of the data will be compiled into an inventory of species collected during the event and will be publicly available to help future scientists understand what was living on the site at this particular time, including rare or endangered species. Experts will travel from far distances to study this unique area of Pennsylvania.
Delaware Highlands Conservancy is the fiscal sponsor for the event, and all contributions through the Conservancy are tax-deductible.
View the flyer.