Mashomack Preserve challenges you to a Fall Bioblitz!
Record as many species as possible across Shelter Island, while watching the season change from summer to fall. The challenge begins Tuesday, September 22 and continues through December 21.
To signup, create a free iNaturalist account and download the app. Look for plants and animals on Shelter Island and record your observations. They’ll be automatically submitted to the Shelter Island Fall Bioblitz.
“Witness the shift in local wildlife as some animals migrate to warmer weather or prepare for hibernation, while others arrive for the winter,” Mashomack Preserve says on its iNaturalist page, describing the challenge.
“Our ospreys will head south, some going as far as the Amazon! Amphibians and reptiles will go into dens or bury themselves in the mud at the bottom of ponds to overwinter in place.”
“Meanwhile, seals will begin to bask on rocks off-shore, otter will continue fishing in our ponds, and winter waterfowl will be diving in every bay and pond on the Island. And of course the trees will put on a show as their leaves change color then drop to the ground.”
“By tracking wildlife each year, we get a sense for how the world is changing. Your observations help scientists at The Nature Conservancy study seasonal changes on Shelter Island over time.”
To learn more about Mashomack Preserve, visit nature.org. The 2,039-acre preserve — known as the Jewel of the Peconic for its pristine ecosystems — is open daily 8 AM to 6 PM.
