Mobbs BioBlitz

The Jericho Conservation Commission is once again partnering with the Mobbs Committee to host a Spring Bioblitz from May 8-23, 2021.

What is a Bioblitz?

A bioblitz is a community science effort to record as many species as possible within a designated location and time period, in this case, our own backyard treasure - Mobbs Farm.

What is the Mobbs Farm?

The Mobbs Farm Property, acquired by the Town of Jericho in 1970, is located approximately one mile south of Jericho Center on Browns Trace. The property consists of over 260 acres of both open and forested land and is roughly separated into two equal halves by Fitzsimonds Road. Check out the Mobbs Farm webpage HERE.

What is our goal?

Bioblitzes are great ways to connect and learn about the biodiversity around us while generating useful data for science and conservation.

We want to learn more about the diversity of natural communities that exist within the Mobbs boundaries so we're inviting residents and others to make observations of plants, insects, birds, fungi (photographs or sound recordings) during their walks along the trails.

Who can Participate?

Anyone! But you will need to set up an account on iNaturalist to submit your observations.

Teachers - use this link to get tips on sharing this project with your students: iNaturalist Teacher's Guide

How do I sign up?

Getting Started is Easy...

1. If you don’t already have an account, visit iNaturalist.org and signup.
2. Go to the Jericho Conservation Commission/Mobbs Spring 2021 Bioblitz Project on iNaturalist and click “Join” in the upper right corner.
3. Start submitting observations to iNaturalist using your smart phone or tablet and the free iNaturalist app or a camera and your computer! All the observations you make during the project time period (May 8-23) will be automatically added to this project and also to the Vermont Atlas of Life.
4. Check back on the project regularly to see how many observations you have added and who else has contributed!

How do I post an observation on iNaturalist?

It is easy to download the app to your smartphone and then after you have created an account, to begin adding observations. Click here to view a tutorial.

No smartphone? No problem! You can take photos with any digital camera and upload the files to iNaturalist through the website.

Here are some additional details

• You can make observations any time within the specified dates (May 8-23 2021) as long as you are anywhere on the Mobbs property.
• This project will allow us to continue safe distancing while exploring nature within Jericho.
• It's not a race. Take time to carefully observe the things around you.
• Participants should NOT collect items... follow the "Take only photographs, leave only footprints" mantra.
• All participants must follow the parking guidelines and rules of Mobbs while participating in the Bioblitz.
• State of Vermont COVID-19 restrictions in place during the dates should be followed.
• Your observations also help us discover, map and monitor life across Vermont for the Vermont Atlas of Life on iNaturalist too. Join the growing community of citizen naturalists from around the Green Mountain State in discovering and sharing observations of Vermont life. Your observations can be turned into research-grade, citizen science data that will help us discover, track and ultimately conserve our natural heritage. Over the last 7 years, over 7,600 observers like you have contributed nearly 400,000 observations of about 8,000 species. We’ve discovered new species for the state, documented flower phenology, found new populations of rare plants and animals, and learned about our natural heritage from each other too.

Even if you can't make it to Mobbs Farm in person for the Bioblitz we invite you to share your love of nature with us! Please use this space to submit a poem or drawing that captures something about nature that inspires you.  (For drawings, etc. please take a photo of your work and upload the photo)