BioBlitz 2016 is coming to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. May 20-21, and BHL is participating!
According to the National Geographic website:
"A BioBlitz is an event that focuses on finding and identifying as many species as possible in a specific area over a short period of time. At a BioBlitz, scientists, families, students, teachers, and other community members work together to get an overall count of the plants, animals, fungi, and other organisms that live in a place."
For the past ten years, National Geographic and the National Park Service have hosted BioBlitzes in various national parks each year. This year's event is particularly special, as 2016 marks the National Park Service's centennial. To celebrate, over 250 BioBlitzes are happening throughout the country this year.
The cornerstone BioBlitz is in Washington, D.C., May 20-21, and it will be accompanied by a two-day Biodiversity Festival on the National Mall at Constitution Gardens. The Festival, open 9am-5pm EDT, May 20-21, will feature hands-on science exhibits, food and art, as well as family-friendly entertainment and activities.
The Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL) is participating in the Biodiversity Festival with a booth showcasing BHL's free online biodiversity collections.
The booth will demonstrate how these resources can be used to help identify and learn more about the plants, animals, fungi, and other organisms that visitors might encounter both during the BioBlitz and around their own homes. We'll also have fun hands-on activities including coloring projects, online games, and image tagging which will help make it easier for people to find images of organisms from around the world.
Follow #BioBlitz2016 on social media to learn more about the BioBlitz and other planned activities around the country. If you're in the Washington, D.C. area, we hope you'll plan to participate in the BioBlitz and stop by our booth at the Biodiversity Festival:
WHERE: Constitution Gardens, National Mall 17th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington DC
DATES: Friday and Saturday, May 20 and 21
TIME: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Learn more on the National Geographic website.