FOPOS BioBlitz // 8.2.25

Join Friends of Princeton Open Space for a BioBlitz on Friday, August 2nd from 11 AM - 1 PM at the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve!

A BioBlitz is a community science event where volunteers work together to find and identify as many species as possible in a specific area over a short time. Participants will learn about some of the apps they can use to identify plants and animals (iNaturalist and Merlin Bird Id). Then we'll split into teams to explore different parts of the Preserve. Observations will be added to a dedicated iNaturalist project or recorded manually to help build an inventory of the living species that our stewardship team will use in the future to inform restoration efforts.

This community-powered biological inventory helps build a snapshot of local biodiversity -- plants, animals, fungi, and more. Unlike traditional scientific surveys, a BioBlitz brings together people of all backgrounds to learn, observe, and contribute directly to ecological monitoring. The data collected supports habitat restoration and conservation efforts while helping participants build knowledge and a deeper connection to nature right in their own backyard.

Meetup Location: Mountain Lakes House Parking Lot

Directions & Parking: We will meet at the Mountain Lake House parking lot, located within the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve. Here is a link to the parking lot location on Google Maps & Apple Maps. The address of the Preserve is 57 Mountain Avenue, Princeton, NJ 08540; this will bring you to the entrance of the Preserve, not our meet-up location. To get to the Mountain Lakes House parking lot, look for the white gate along Mountain Avenue, marked by a series of black mailboxes along the road. Drive slowly down the long paved driveway. The gravel parking lot will be on your left, approximately 1/2 mile down the driveway.

Event waiver: Please complete this event waiver - fopos.org/waiver. This needs to be completed once per calendar year.

About FOPOS: Founded in 1969, FOPOS has been working to preserve and protect natural spaces in the greater Princeton area for more than 50 years. As a part of our work, we rely on volunteers to help make progress when it comes to restoration work, such as our current forest and riparian restoration projects in the Billy Johnson Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve.

Can't make this session? Consider making a donation to show your love for our local environment! All donations support our year-round stewardship work.

Looking to volunteer this summer? Register HERE.

Also check out other Nonprofit events in Princeton, Meetups in Princeton.