BioBlitz and spring weather brings species count to 900

Over the last two weeks, the Dawson community and friends have collectively added over 1,300 observations from 200 new observers. The number of new species added is 64, bringing our 1,000 Species in 1,000 Days count to 900.

On Monday, April 29, about 100 people attended the worldwide BioBlitz at Dawson. Participants included students, faculty, staff and even members of the public.

“Together, we added 625 new observations with 40 new species,” reported organizer and 1,000 Species project lead Brian Mader (Faculty, Biology).  “New species included the Nashville Warbler, captured by Physics professor Jeremie Choquette, which isn’t particularly rare in general but arrived a bit early this year. He also captured a red-shouldered hawk with a snake in its talons being chased by a crow. He believes the snake is a small garter snake or a large Dekay’s Snake.”

Photo: Physics professor Jeremie Choquette captured a red-shouldered hawk with a snake in its talons being chased by a crow

Jeremie told Brian that Dawson has been added as a brand-new hotspot on ebird https://ebird.org/hotspot/L31129162.

Another new species added was the red trillium captured twice; once by Pure & Applied Science student Yasmine Conyers and again by Brian Mader’s son Noren Mader. Yasmine also provided this feedback: “This event made my whole week; it served as a fun break from the intensity of the end of the semester.”

As for the City Nature Challenge, the large global competition that this event was part of, Montreal is ranked #1 for overall participation across Canada!

A very special thank you to the Office of Sustainability (especially Sophie La Font), the Dawson Foundation, Adamo Petosa (Geology) & Cory Deegan (Physical Education) for bringing their classes out and Environmental Science students Giulia Wu, Juliana Cavalheiro, Danika Belzile, Natalia DiGenova and Jacob Davies for volunteering their time.

Photo credit: Sophie La Font