The 2018 Upper Delaware BioBlitz was held on Friday, June 29th and Saturday, June 30th. Over 55 scientists and amateur naturalists gathered on the 65 acre site for 24 hours to collect, identify and catalogue every single species they could find visible to the naked eye. Over 40 volunteers helped stage the event.
The event was a huge success with over 200 children and their families visiting during the public portion of the event to meet the scientists, see what they collected and participate in numerous programs including walks, talks, demonstrations and workshops.
Preliminary results are in and the 9 teams representing different biological sections discovered over 765 unique species during the event. This number is expected to change and grow as the teams complete their work this fall and updated results will be posted at that time.
Here are the 2018 results identified by team:
| Team | Species |
| Aquatic Macroinvertebrates (Aquatic Insects, Mussels, Snails) | 67 |
| Birds | 59 |
| Botany (Plants) | 206 |
| Bryology (Mosses and Lichens and Worts) | 103 |
| Fish | 26 |
| Fungi (Mushrooms and Molds) | 48 |
| Herps (Reptiles and Amphibians) | 15 |
| Invertebrates (Terrestrial Insects, Worms, Snails) | 223 |
| Mammals | 18 |
| Total | 765 |
The Gales Property was also the site of the 2013 Upper Delaware BioBlitz, the first BioBlitz in the region. In 2013 the 9 teams of researchers collected 1,022 distinct species in 24 hours.
More information will be published here and on the
BioBlitz Facebook page as it becomes available.
This was the 4th Upper Delaware BioBlitz and the next one will be held
in 2020 on a site and date to be determined. If you know of a site that
represents the biological diversity of the Upper Delaware watershed you
can nominate it for the 2020 BioBlitz by contacting us at
info@upperdelawarebioblitz.com
Thank you to our 2018 sponsors, presenters, team leaders and
volunteers including:
Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University
Catskill Brewery
Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County
Dave Soete
Delaware Highlands Conservancy
Delaware Highlands Mushroom Society
Delaware Riverkeeper Network
Don Hamilton
Erik Silldorf
Faith Zerbe
Fred Krasselt
Friends of the Upper Delaware River
Hancock Community Education Foundation
Hancock Liquor Store
Howard Whidden
Isabelle Bettancourt
Janet Burgan
Jack Barnett
Joann Morsch
John Bromberg
Karen Outlaw
Kathleen Christie
Kathy Dodge
Keith Bowman
Kelley Stewart
Laura Silverman
Lindsay Barrett George
Marcia Dunsmore
Mary Anne Carletta
Matt Marshall
NACL Theater
Nathaniel Whitmore
National Environmental Education Foundation
National Park Service
National Parks Conservation Association
NE PA Audubon Society
Nicole Slevin
Norcross Wildlife Foundation
Paul Overbeck
Pennsylvania Native Plant Society
Rich Horwitz
Robin Sampson
Roy Morsch
Sandy Long
Scott Rando
Shehawken Chapter Trout Unlimited
Sierra Club, PA Chapter
Steff Kroll
Sue Currier
Sullivan County Audubon Society
Thomas LaDuke
Upper Delaware Council
US Forest Service
The John & Helen Villaume Foundation
Wayne County Community Foundation
Wayne County Conservation District
Willow Wisp Organic Farm
and many others!
The 2016 Upper Delaware BioBlitz was held on June 24th and 25th at the Ten Mile River Scout Camp (TMR) in Tusten Township, Sullivan County, New York, returning to the site of the 2014 Upper Delaware BioBlitz.
Over 60 renowned scientists and amateur naturalists comprised the 9 teams surveying the site. The biologists came from throughout the region including some people from Philadelphia, Harrisburg and New York City.
They identified 756 unique species in 24 hours.
The site encompassed a 500 acre plus stretch of the Camp from the Delaware River to and including Maul's Pond and Grassy Swamp Pond. The center of activities was at the head of Rock Lake on Cochecton Turnpike.
The public portion of the event was on Saturday, June 25th from 9am to 3pm. There were activities for children and their families including nature walks for birds, fungi and native plants, as well as other demonstrations of scientific work and programs. A workshop on nature photography was held featuring 4 renowned local nature photographers. A scientific illustration workshop helped people learn to make technically detailed drawings of specimens they found in nature.
Here are the 2016 results of species identified by team:
| Team | Species |
| Aquatic Macroinvertebrates (Aquatic Insects, Mussels, Snails) | 59 |
| Birds | 84 |
| Botany (Plants) | 249 |
| Bryology (Mosses and Lichens and Worts) | 75 |
| Fish | 17 |
| Fungi (Mushrooms and Molds) | 37 |
| Herps (Reptiles and Amphibians) | 21 |
| Invertebrates (Terrestrial Insects, Worms, Snails) | 198 |
| Mammals | 16 |
| Total | 756 |
The Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River unit of the NPS was the lead sponsor in 2016 and the Delaware Highlands Conservancy was the fiscal sponsor. The Greater New York Council of the Boy Scouts of America, who own and manage TMR, heartily supported the event.
The 2014 Upper Delaware BioBlitz was held on Saturday, June 28th and Sunday, June 29th at the confluence of the Delaware River and Ten Mile River on the Boy Scouts of America, Greater New York Councils, Ten Mile River Scout Camp.
Over 60 renowned scientists and amateur naturalists comprised the 9 teams surveying the site. They identified 884 unique species including 123 "first occurrences", species never before identified with the data publicly accessible, in Sullivan County.
The site encompassed a 500 acre plus stretch of the Camp from the Delaware River to and including Maul's Pond and Grassy Swamp Pond. The center of activities was at the head of Rock Lake on Cochecton Turnpike.
The public portion of the event was on Sunday, June 29th from 9am to 3pm. There were activities for children and their families including nature walks, demonstrations and programs.
Here are the 2014 results of species identified by team:
| Team | Species |
| Aquatic Macroinvertebrates (Aquatic Insects, Mussels, Snails) | 82 |
| Birds | 85 |
| Botany (Plants) | 247 |
| Bryology (Mosses and Lichens and Worts) | 154 |
| Fish | 25 |
| Fungi (Mushrooms and Molds) | 103 |
| Herps (Reptiles and Amphibians) | 24 |
| Invertebrates (Terrestrial Insects, Worms, Snails) | 145 |
| Mammals | 19 |
| Total | 884 |
To highlight the biodiversity of the Upper Delaware River watershed and, in particular, the portion of the watershed in Starlight, Wayne County, PA, we held a BioBlitz event June 28-29, 2013. It was held on the 63.5 acre Gales Property owned by the Norcross Wildlife Foundation
The teams assembled on the site at 12 Noon on Friday, June 28th, collected specimens, camped on site, and continued collecting until 12 noon the following Saturday.
On Saturday, June 29th from 9 AM till 3 PM, the public was invited to view the collected specimens, talk to the experts, and learn about the biodiversity of the target site.
Over 50 scientists and amateur naturalists from all over Pennsylvania and New York participated in the BioBlitz. More than 25 volunteers helped run the event. 200 visitors came to see what the teams had collected, participate in programs and tours of the site.
The final results are that 1,022 distinct species were collected and identified.
The complete report and results are available on the Science page of this site.
Here are the results of species identified by team:
| Team | Species |
| Aquatic Macroinvertebrates (Aquatic Insects, Mussels, Snails) | 67 |
| Birds | 57 |
| Botany (Plants) | 268 |
| Bryology (Mosses and Lichens and Worts) | 67 |
| Fish | 28 |
| Fungi (Mushrooms and Molds) | 51 |
| Herps (Reptiles and Amphibians) | 16 |
| Invertebrates (Terrestrial Insects, Worms, Snails) | 456 |
| Mammals | 12 |
| Total | 1,022 |
For our BioBlitz we have the following 9 teams:
In 2014 the judges reviewed the 300 photos submitted to the contest and made their selections for the Grand Prize Winner and the winners in each of 8 categories. For more information, and to see all of the incredible photos, go to the contest Facebook page.