The Indiana Forest Alliance (IFA), Hoosier Environmental Council (HEC), Knob and Valley Audubon Society, and Winding Waters Sierra Club, Greater Bloomington Sierra Club, and Hoosier Chapter of the Sierra Club, among others, are preparing to launch a comprehensive inventory, an "EcoBlitz," of flora and fauna, on approximately 800 acres along the East Fork of Honey Creek in the heart of the Morgan-Monroe State Forest Back Country Area, including the Low Gap Nature Preserve.
Our objective is to document the biological value of this tract of maturing, contiguous hardwood forest.
The EcoBlitz will start on June 7th and 8th, and will continue on June 21st and 22nd, and on into the rest of summer (July 26 & 27, August 15 & 16 and August 23 & 24). We have chosen to focus on birds, amphibians, reptiles, plants and fungi, and insects and spiders, and intend to focus on mammals later in the fall.
We are seeking volunteers-- both those with particular scientific expertise or interest and also folks who want to learn more about the flora and fauna of this area --
to help make this event a success!
Tasks might include:
*joining a survey team with a scientist team leader to help identify flora or fauna
*preparing or serving lunch and other refreshments
*cataloging/handling data as it comes in from the field
*shuttling participants from base camp to the survey area
*registering participants and scientists as they arrive
*helping with an evening cook-out
Lunch will be provided!
Please contact [email protected] by Wednesday, June 4th, if you would like to volunteer during either of the dates in June, or any time later in the summer, and whether or not you have particular talents to offer for this EcoBlitz.
For our forests,
The Indiana Forest Alliance