Cahaba River Society BioBlitz uncovers 345 different species at historic Camp Fletcher

On April 29 & 30, 2022, over 150 participants joined Cahaba River Society for a BioBlitz at Camp Fletcher, an historic outdoor retreat and nature preserve founded in 1926 by Pauline Bray Fletcher, the first African American registered nurse in Alabama, as a haven for inner city Black children and families to explore nature and the outdoors.

During the BioBlitz, experts led teams of volunteers in searching for and documenting plants and animals on the site, creating a snapshot of the biodiversity found there over a 24-hour period. Together, they amassed over 607 photos, audio recordings, and observations of 345 separate species of birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, insects, trees, plants and other life found on site.

Participants also documented water chemistry of Shades Creek where it flows through camp, conducted surveys for archaeological relics, and participated in community art and storytelling events to reflect upon the rich history of Camp Fletcher, honor the legacy of Pauline Bray Fletcher in creating the 300-acre wooded preserve and camp that continues to provide outdoor experiences for children and families today, and celebrate the phenomenal biodiversity that thrives there.

“I have participated in many BioBlitzes, and this one was by far the best,” said Dr. Anthony Overton, Cahaba River Society Board President and Samford University Biological and Environmental Sciences Chair. “The large number of people participating, especially from the surrounding community, and the education about nature and inclusion of art and story-telling made this a truly unique event.”

The data collected during the BioBlitz will be used to enrich the environmental education program of Camp Fletcher, helping to teach campers about the phenomenal biodiversity found there.

Pauline Fletcher chose her site for the camp along Shades Creek, which is part of the Cahaba River system, one of the most biodiverse waterways on Earth. It has more species of fish than any other river of its size in North America.

The Cahaba also flows through some of Alabama's largest cities and most developed areas, making the undeveloped area protected by Fletcher Preserve especially valuable in terms of its natural significance.

This BioBlitz brought local scientists, educators, conservation groups, and community members together to build an awareness of the biodiversity and history of Camp Fletcher while collecting useful scientific data. Participants represented universities including Samford, Birmingham Southern College, Miles College, and UAB as well as numerous primary schools.

Over a dozen nonprofit partners represented included Camp Fletcher, Friends of Shades Creek, Little Garden Club, Outdoor Afro, Freshwater Land Trust, Alabama River Diversity Network, Fresh Air Family, ¡HICA!, Urban Turtle Project, Alabama Rivers Alliance, Environmental Educators of Alabama, Jones Valley Teaching Farm, Magic City Poetry Festival, and GASP.

A successful BioBlitz needs many partners. Cahaba River Society especially thanks the Ratliff Charitable Foundation, Friends of Shades Creek, the Camp Fletcher staff, and professors from area universities for making this event possible.

Publicado el viernes, 20 de mayo de 2022 a las 03:27 PM por katieshaddix katieshaddix

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