Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

GLOCESTER, R.I. -- At the sound of the horn at 3 p.m. Friday, volunteers went down for the count -- of every bug, bird, moss, mammal, snake and tree at the Sprague Farm in Glocester, site of the Rhode Island Natural History Survey's 10th annual BioBlitz.

The former farm of almost 1,000 acres is managed by the Glocester Land Trust, which describes the setting this way:

"Approximately 200 years of agricultural activity has left several open fields, which help to diversify the habitat, as well as a clearly defined set of trails. At three different locations, these trails cross permanent streams via beautifully constructed stone bridges. The immense capstones of these structures are testament to the skill and ambition of the early settlers."

Roy Najecki of the Glocester Land Trust confirmed that the count started despite the rain, and that volunteer scientists and naturalists were hard at work. Already they had found a snake he'd never seen, he said. Microscopes and other equipment was set up inside a big tent, where specimens are brought for identification.

The count will continue for 24 hours, with some of the volunteers camping out Friday night. At 3 p.m. Saturday, the horn will sound again, and the counting will stop.

The farm entrance is near pole 33 across from 162 Pine Orchard Road. Visitors are welcome, and Saturday promises to be sunny and nice.

Last year, the BioBlitz volunteers inventoried every species of organism at the Grills Preserve in Westerly.

 Tags  Glocester RI

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