Are you interested in learning more about how to identify native plants? Or maybe you are more interested in birds or butterflies? Did you ever wonder how many species of plants and animals inhabit Newton’s Parks and Conservation Areas? Maybe you have developed skills identifying ferns or pollinators and you want to share that knowledge with others? Or perhaps you are just curious to learn more about nature in Newton?
If this piques your interest, join us for an upcoming Newton BioBlitz event! We will spend a few hours surveying plants and animals, learning, and posting our observations to iNaturalist. You do not need to be an experienced naturalist or expert to participate. Families are welcome.
Read more about the BioBlitz effort in Newton in our Summer 2023 Newton Conservators Newsletter in an article by Jon Regosin – Newton Biological Survey — Surveying Plants and
Animals in our Parks and Conservation Lands.Â
Learn how to use the iNaturalist app to take pictures for documenting what lives in our open spaces such as the Dolan Pond Conservation Area. Download this free and useful identification app to your phone or tablet beforehand from the Apple App Store for iOS or the Google Play Store for Android. Here is an interesting article on iNaturalist from our Fall 2019 Newton Conservators Newsletter. The iNaturalist survey of Newton Parks can be found online HERE which includes the following areas: Webster Woods, Cold Spring Park, Edmands Park, Flowed Meadow, Nahanton Park, Dolan Pond Conservation Area, and Kennard Park.  Each of these areas has a significant number of existing iNaturalist observations. Any observations done in these areas will automatically be included in the Newton Survey.
Dolan Pond Conservation Area is one our most accessible open spaces with a boardwalk and overlooks. The vernal pools and swamp areas of Dolan Pond Conservation Area are fertile ground for adding to the iNaturalist species count in this area, currently almost 150.  Parking can be found at a number of entrances in Dolan Pond but we will meet at the Cumberland Road entrance where there is also on-street parking.  In case of rain, watch this posting for updates. Here is a link to the current iNaturalist survey for Dolan Pond.
To Register for any of these BioBlitz events, click here! Registration is encouraged but not required. Below is the current BioBlitz schedule for this summer and fall:
- (took place June 24 – Cold Spring Park BioBlitz)
- Sunday, July 16, 9-11 am – Webster Woods (west) BioBlitz – meet at Warren St entrance.
- Wednesday, July 26, 4-6 pm – Dolan Pond (Dip-netting for aquatic invertebrates). Meet at Cumberland Rd entrance near 66 Cumberland.
- Sunday, September 10, 9-11 am – Nahanton Park BioBlitz. Meet at Nature Center, 471 Nahanton St, at the canoe rental.
- Saturday, September 23, 10 am – 12 noon – Hammond Woods
(Late season pollinators and more). Meet at Hammond Pond Trails entrance next to The Street parking lot at Rte 9/Hammond Pond Parkway intersection.
Leader is Jon Regosin.
