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Two-Day BioBlitz, Biodiversity Festival Coming To Nation’s Capital, Surrounding Parks

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Published Date

April 26, 2016
Red-winged blackbirds at Piscataway Park

Red-winged blackbirds can be seen at Piscataway Park./NPS

While politicians search for votes across the country during this presidential election year, scientists and volunteers will converge on the nation’s capital May 20-21 to find as many species as possible during a BioBlitz.

The event, which coincides with a Biodiversity Festival at the National Mall, will focus on finding, identifying, and documenting as many living creatures as possible at more than a dozen National Park Service sites in and around Washington, D.C. Among other activities, teams of scientists, naturalists, students and volunteers will go on early-morning birding adventures on Theodore Roosevelt Island, conduct pollinator surveys in Piscataway Park, count fish in Rock Creek Park, seek out spiders at Dyke Marsh, and observe honeybees at Manassas National Battlefield Park.

Explorers of all ages are needed. While the events are free, advance online registration is required to secure a spot on a BioBlitz inventory team.

At the same time, a family-friendly Biodiversity Festival will be held on the National Mall at Constitution Gardens, featuring hands-on science exhibits, entertainment, art, and food. Constitution Gardens will also serve as base camp for the BioBlitz and a virtual connection to more than 100 biodiversity events taking place at national parks across the country. The festival will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 20-21, with a special evening of science fun planned for Friday night.

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