More than 30 species spotted for first time at Rare reserve
CAMBRIDGE — A Leonard’s Skipper butterfly was among more than 30 species spotted for the first time at the Rare Charitable Research Reserve at a recent “bioblitz.”
The goal of the biological survey is to find and identify as many species as possible in an area over a short time frame.
More than 400 species were spotted at the 900-acre Blair Road property during a 12-hour period on Aug. 14.
“Even on a well-surveyed property like Rare, there are still discoveries to be made,” said Jenna Quinn, event organizer and program scientist.
“The more eyes looking and participating, the more you will uncover.”
This was the second year Rare hosted a bioblitz, only this time community members were invited to help count the number of different plants, animals and other organisms inhabiting the reserve.
The butterfly observation was made by a 10-year-old participant who spotted it right beside the event registration table.
More than 150 people participated in the guided blitz, with data still coming in.
Involving the community was important for Rare.
“A bioblitz is an amazing opportunity to bring together both the scientific community and the general public to create an environment for learning about species, habitats, and why conservation is important,” Quinn said in an email.
Lifelong naturalists have a wealth of knowledge from years spent birding, butterfly watching, fishing and other outdoor activities that they can share with others.
“We want to offer opportunities for community members to learn from each other and share their knowledge,” she said.
The survey done by scientists last year came up with 1,100 species that hadn’t been identified at the property before. Rare plans to make this an annual event.