The national effort, which is organized by the National Recreation and Parks Association, aims to find and document pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, according to an Aug. 27 news release from the city.
More than 75% of the world’s flowering plants and 35% of the world’s crops rely on pollinators; however, many are now endangered or extinct, per the release. The goal of The Pollinators Bioblitz is to create and restore native habitats.
Those interested in joining can do so through the iNaturalist app. Participants then visit the city’s parks, trails, open spaces and nature preserves in search of pollinators and pollinator-friendly plants.
Data collected through the app is used in conservation practices and biodiversity research, according to the release.
Children can also participate through Seek, an app which allows children to earn badges as they identify plants and animals. The results will be shared in October, per the release.
Children can also participate through Seek, an app which allows children to earn badges as they identify plants and animals. The results will be shared in October, per the release.
Steps to participate are as follows.
- Download the iNaturalist app and create your profile.
- Join the Plano Parks for Pollinators Bioblitz project page.
- Find an individual organism in the wild and take a clear, full-frame photo.
- Add the observation to Plano’s iNaturalist project page.
More information on Plano’s Parks for Pollinators Bioblitz can be found here.
