Results are pouring in from the Montpelier BioBlitz 2018, with over 1,500 species documented and a few more to come! Even in the beginning stages of data review, we have already found many surprises. Our botanists found the first U.S. record of the Dead-nettle Leaf Beetle (Chrysolina fastuosa; a European species), feeding on its namesake Dead-nettle (Galleopsis sp.) on which it specializes across the Atlantic. Meanwhile, our nocturnal moth experts documented a whopping 250 species of moths in Hubbard Park alone, many of which are new records for the city and county. Vermont’s bat experts caught a Silver-haired Bat and detected four other species, including a Little Brown Bat, with specialized audio equipment—a victory in the study of these now-endangered creatures.
Other highlights were less about the species discovered, and more about the ways in which they were found. Wood Turtles (a Vermont species of special concern) eluded our reptile team (including Gracie, the trained turtle-sniffing canine) all weekend, until a visitor discovered one wandering the trail a stone’s throw from the BioBlitz headquarters. At Hubbard Park, Sylvan Tree Care's high-altitude tree climbing event was the perfect way for our lichen expert to reach the treetops and document species only found high in the forest canopy.
The most frequently observed species at the event, of course, was Homo sapiens! Over 600 people of all ages took part in the fun. Families enjoyed live birds of prey, met a tent-full of bewildering caterpillars, careened down giant slip n’ slides, peered through microscopes, and even found a soft spot for slugs and slime molds. Hundreds of smiling faces, muddy children, and choruses of “oh my gosh!” and “did you know!?” resounded in a successful, wild weekend of nature immersion here in our capital city.
North Branch Nature Center, the Montpelier Community Services Department, and the Montpelier Conservation Commission thanks all of you who participated in our once-in-a-decade jamboree for nature. You made it count!
We are also grateful for the nearly 30 corporate and nonprofit sponsors who contributed to the success of this event. Special thanks to our lead sponsors: The Nature Conservancy, VSECU, and the Vermont Mutual Insurance Group.
Stay tuned for full results in a few weeks, and check up on incoming data on our Montpelier BioBlitz 2018 iNaturalist Project.
Enjoy the photo highlights below!

Results are pouring in from the Montpelier BioBlitz 2018, with over 1,500 species documented and a few more to come! Even in the beginning stages of data review, we have already found many surprises. Our botanists found the first U.S. record of the Dead-nettle Leaf Beetle (Chrysolina fastuosa; a European species), feeding on its namesake Dead-nettle (Galleopsis sp.) on which it specializes across the Atlantic. Meanwhile, our nocturnal moth experts documented a whopping 250 species of moths in Hubbard Park alone, many of which are new records for the city and county. Vermont’s bat experts caught a Silver-haired Bat and detected four other species, including a Little Brown Bat, with specialized audio equipment—a victory in the study of these now-endangered creatures.
Other highlights were less about the species discovered, and more about the ways in which they were found. Wood Turtles (a Vermont species of special concern) eluded our reptile team (including Gracie, the trained turtle-sniffing canine) all weekend, until a visitor discovered one wandering the trail a stone’s throw from the BioBlitz headquarters. At Hubbard Park, Sylvan Tree Care's high-altitude tree climbing event was the perfect way for our lichen expert to reach the treetops and document species only found high in the forest canopy.
The most frequently observed species at the event, of course, was Homo sapiens! Over 600 people of all ages took part in the fun. Families enjoyed live birds of prey, met a tent-full of bewildering caterpillars, careened down giant slip n’ slides, peered through microscopes, and even found a soft spot for slugs and slime molds. Hundreds of smiling faces, muddy children, and choruses of “oh my gosh!” and “did you know!?” resounded in a successful, wild weekend of nature immersion here in our capital city.
North Branch Nature Center, the Montpelier Community Services Department, and the Montpelier Conservation Commission thanks all of you who participated in our once-in-a-decade jamboree for nature. You made it count!
We are also grateful for the nearly 30 corporate and nonprofit sponsors who contributed to the success of this event. Special thanks to our lead sponsors: The Nature Conservancy, VSECU, and the Vermont Mutual Insurance Group.
Stay tuned for full results in a few weeks, and check up on incoming data on our Montpelier BioBlitz 2018 iNaturalist Project.
Posted in BioBlitz, Citizen Science and tagged ,