Explore the Biodiversity of Our Newest Park
On Saturday, Sept. 13, from 11 a.m.–1 p.m., the Sonoma Land Trust will host a California Biodiversity Day BioBlitz on the Southeast Greenway. Participants will gather at Sumner Lane and Park Vista Court for a short orientation, then set out to see how many plants, insects, birds, and other living things the group can find.
Why does it matter? Biodiversity—everything from native plants and pollinators to fungi and birds—keeps ecosystems healthy and resilient. The Southeast Greenway is home to an impressive variety of habitats right in the middle of Santa Rosa, as we explored in a recent article on the diverse ecosytsem of the Greenway.
What is a Bioblitz? It’s a fun, fast-paced way to discover that richness. If you join the event, bring your cellphone. We recommend that you download the free iNaturalist app before you arrive. You’ll learn how to use the app to take photos of what you see. The app helps identify each species, and the results are added to a worldwide database used by scientists and conservationists to track biodiversity.
Think of it as a treasure hunt in your own backyard—you never know what you’ll spot until you’re out there looking. Who knows? Your photo might be the one that adds a new species to the Greenway’s growing list.