Upper Delaware BioBlitz

08/24/2026

Here is a podcast by Jim McCoy, the leader of the Birds Team from the 2024 Upper Delaware BioBlitz, on Birds, Bees, Books, Biodiversity and the BioBlitz.

https://open.spotify.com/show/5L1NL0aTWiXvTwaU3JBNaA?si=1bd95dad219f42c6

Podcast · Jim McCoy · We talk about birds, books, and being your best, along with various other topics that begin with B.

06/18/2026

If you like the UD BioBlitz, check out the Wayne County NHI update. The BioBlitz is a 24 hour site specific survey whereas the Update is a year-long County-wide biological survey. Come to the meeting on Wednesday, 6/24 at 7 pm to learn more.

The Wayne County Commissioners and the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP) invite you to a public meeting on the Wayne County Natural Heritage Inventory Update. The meeting will be held 7:00 PM on Wednesday, June 24th in the Cafeteria of the Park Street Complex at 648 W Park St, Honesdale, PA 18431.

The PNHP collects information on unique plants, animals, and natural ecological communities throughout the state. Natural Heritage Inventories (NHI) showcase a county’s biodiversity by summarizing and presenting information on unique species and natural ecological communities.

Please see the press release below for more information.

04/01/2026

12/15/2025

The Upper Delaware BioBlitz is considering organizing an event for 2026 and is now accepting site nominations. Sites should be in the upper Delaware River watershed, biodiverse, less than 250 acres, publicly accessible, and able to host science teams and public visitors. For more information, please contact us [email protected]

06/02/2025

First ever Wilkes Barre BioBlitz was held this last weekend and was inspired by the 2024 Upper Delaware BioBlitz at The Highlights Foundation

WILKES-BARRE — A census of hundreds of species living in Nesbitt and Kirby parks was conducted on Friday and Saturday this week as part of Bioblitz, a new event to the Wyoming Valley.

11/16/2024

The results of the 2024 Upper Delaware BioBlitz are in. There were a total of 756 species identified in 24 hours. 41 of them were Wayne County first occurrences. The entire catalog is available on our website at http://www.upperdelawarebioblitz.com/science/default.html. Also included on that page is a summary of the results from all 6 Upper Delaware BioBlitzes and a PowerPoint wrap up from this year's event. Thanks to Tanya Dapkey of The Academy of Natural Sciences for managing the science teams and data collection!

08/12/2024

WJFF broadcast Rosie Starr’s excellent coverage of the 2024 Upper Delaware BioBlitz including interviews with some of the scientists.

Here’s a recording: https://archive.wjffradio.org/mp3/wjff_240810_100000farmandcount.mp3

BioBlitz program starts at 7:45 after Keith Hubbard’s Startalk on the Perseids.

07/10/2024

Here’s a good article with photos that captures the spirit of the BioBlitz.

MILANVILLE, PA — After multiple years of hosting only virtual events, the Upper Delaware River Valley came alive with the hustle and bustle of scientists, naturalists and nature enthusiasts for …

07/02/2024

The Highlights Foundation site and facilities helped make this the best Upper Delaware BioBlitz ever! We had 200-300 visitors including more than 50 kids and that totally meets and even exceeds our objectives. There was a robust series of programs ranging from a BioBlitz scavenger hunt to nature journaling to native plant, bird and mushroom walks to fish and aquatic macroinvertebrates sampling demonstrations. We had music from Janet Burgan and Dave and Farmers Daughters and a puppet show from John Bromberg and Trudy Gerlach. Eight teams comprising 40 scientists and amateur naturalists worked for 24 hours to collect, identify and catalog our preliminary count of 720 unique species. Twenty volunteers coordinated everything from the programs to the food service to site setup and takedown. Last but certainly not least, thanks to all of our donors and sponsors!

Here are the preliminary species counts by team:

2024 Upper Delaware BioBlitz Preliminary Counts 6/30/24

Birds 67
Botany 173
Bryology 61
Fish 10
Fungi 37
Herps 15
Invertebrates 340
Mammals 17
______________________
Total 720

06/30/2024

The 2024 Upper Delaware BioBlitz was a big success! We had to cut it just a bit short due to the rain, but before we did we entertained and educated a whole lot of people with our nature walks, activities, and music.

And we couldn't have done it without our supporters, volunteers, donors and sponsors and supporters including:

Wayne County Community Foundation
The John and Helen Villaume Foundation
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Pennsylvania Environmental Council
Pocono Forests and Waters
Upper Delaware Council
The Academy of Natural Sciences
Wayne Conservation District
Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River
Friends of the Upper Delaware River
Here & Now Brewing Company
Cochecton Spirits
Runaway Train Brewery
The Highlights Foundation

Thanks also to all of our individual donors through NEPA Gives and the Wayne County Community Foundation! Thanks to all of the volunteers, Science Team leads and members, presenters, performers, workshop organizers, and the BioBlitz Steering Committee who help produce this event. And of course thank you to our amazing hosts at the Highlights Foundation Retreat Center.

And stay tuned to this space for the final results from our science teams!