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Caleb Smith State Park BioBlitz 2007 General Information |
LocationOutdoor/Environmental Education Program Date & TimeSeptember 14 - 15, 2007 IntroductionThe Caleb Smith State Park BioBlitz will be a 24-hour inventory of the biological resources of Caleb Smith State Park Preserve in Smithtown, Suffolk County, NY. This is the sixth BioBlitz event held at this park. The results from the previous Long Island BioBlitz events are available from our BioBlitz Results Page. These events are organized to help raise awareness of biodiversity in and around suburban Long Island. The Long Island BioBlitz is being organized in cooperation with:
The Caleb Smith State Park BioBlitz will officially be held from noon on Friday, September 14 to noon on Saturday, September 15, 2007. A base camp will be set up at the BOCES Outdoor Education Center (810 Meadow Road, Smithtown, NY) with tables, chairs, microscopes and other resources needed to identify organisms. Bathroom facilities will also be available. MethodsA BioBlitz is conducted by coordinating volunteer efforts of local scientists and naturalists with other interested volunteers. Groups of experts in the various taxa will then observe and record as many species as possible during the 24-hour time period. GoalsThe goals of the BioBlitz are to add to species lists for as many taxonomic groups present in the Park as possible, and to increase public awareness of what biodiversity is and the fact that it can exist within our urban/suburban landscape. Park InformationThe Nesaquake Indians originally occupied the land that is currently Caleb Smith State Park. It was later owned and leased by various members of the Smith family, during which time it was intensively farmed. The site was purchased by New York State from the Wyandach Club in 1963 as open space and in 1974 officially became Nissequogue River State Park. In 1983, the park was renamed Caleb Smith State Park after the original resident of the current nature museum. The park was designated a park preserve in 1989, one of only five in the state. This designation ensures that Caleb Smith park staff will continue environmental management, awareness and interpretation of the park’s natural resources. Caleb Smith State Park covers 534 acres and lies 15 to 140 feet above sea level. The park is bisected by Jericho Turnpike, separating it into northern and southern portions. Access to the southern portion is by permit only. The Nissequogue River runs through the park, and is a well known trout stream. In addition, the park has 4 ponds and 178 acres of Class I wetlands. The dominant community type is beech-maple forest. The New York State Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI) has helped to organize several other BioBlitz events in New York State. Previous events were held in Saratoga, Rensselaer, Rockland, New York, and Suffolk Counties. The results from the previous BioBlitzes that the BRI has helped organized are available from our BioBlitz Results Page. RegistrationInterested groups or individuals must call 631/360-3652 to register. All participants must check in at base camp for a brief orientation before beginning surveys. Maps of the Park will only be distributed at the base camp during the BIOBLITZ. Those interested in familiarizing themselves with the layout/habitats of the Park before the event can make an appointment with the Park Manager, Mr. Clarence Ware 631/265-1054, on an individual basis. If you are unfamiliar with the Park then BIOBLITZ organizers can recommend the best route for your survey depending on your area of interest and time frame. We want you to get the most from your time here. Thank you for volunteering!! |
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The BioBlitz web site is maintained by the |