Dear Potential BioBlitz Participant,
Together, the Scenic Rivers Land Trust and Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks are co-hosting a BioBlitz at the Bacon Ridge Natural Area in Crownsville. The event will take place from 3:30am to 11:30pm on Saturday May 10, 2025. Scenic Rivers coholds a conservation easement with the Maryland Environmental Trust to conserve and steward over 630-acres of Bacon Ridge Natural Area. Bacon Ridge Natural Area lies in the heart of the Audubon South River Greenway Important Bird Area (SRG IBA). The SRG IBA is 4,500+ acres of contiguous forest within the headwaters (Bacon Ridge Branch and North Branch) of the South River, which flows into the Chesapeake Bay.
The Bacon Ridge Natural Area BioBlitz 2025 will occur over a 20-hour period where scientists of various disciplines will offer their expertise to gain a snapshot of the flora, fauna, and other taxa within the parkland. In addition to an information gathering opportunity, this BioBlitz will serve as an educational tool for volunteers, a promoter of scientific awareness, a networking opportunity for experts and staff, and a chance to have fun in the field. There will be five 4-hour sampling periods-please use the following Google form to select the time frames most appropriate for your schedule and taxon.
https://forms.gle/yES9PzA3FCHYMAv57
The objectives of this BioBlitz are to:
• Estimate Species Richness. Identify and catalog the diversity of flora and fauna in this unique, multi-habitat ecosystem, including native and non-native species.
• Foster Partnerships. Build upon the collective knowledge of the staff and its partners, regarding this natural area.
• Inform. Scenic Rivers alongside the Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks will utilize the collected data, together with data collected in previous bioblitz events, to best inform future conservation efforts made in Bacon Ridge Natural Area.
• Education. Add to our repertoire of knowledge in order to better educate the public regarding what lives and thrives within the South River Greenway.
• Park/Scientist/Volunteer Bridge Building. Offer the park staff, experts, and volunteers a chance to network, collaborate, and connect in their common environmental interests.
As a lover of conservation, we believe you will offer a valuable service for this event. We welcome you to join us in this experience, whether or not you have participated in a past BioBlitz. Your experience is vital to the success of this event. Feel free to invite friends and colleagues and pass along my contact information.
If you are interested in participating or have any questions regarding the Bacon Ridge Natural Area BioBlitz 2025 please reach out to me at luke@srlt.org.
Sincerely,
Luke Lanham
Program Assistant- Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps
