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“Tally the Valley” butterfly project

by Community Contributor

Explore, Identify, and Report butterflies at home or with a FoHVOS Land steward

Introducing a new community conservation project that offers hands-on environmental education right in your own backyard – “Citizen Science” allows the public to contribute to scientific research.

Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FoHVOS) is launching a comprehensive citizen science series known as “Tally the Valley” that provides a fun and educational way to collect and report data using a phone app known as INaturalist.

Have you spotted an insect or a flower and wondered what it was? Under Tally The Valley, an iNaturalist Collection Project, you snap a picture and it will search a vast database of flora and fauna to identify the subject and log its GPS location. Other members can confirm your findings and add their own, which helps gather data on sightings throughout the world.

Tally the Valley will launch the first of the series on Sunday in your own backyard and in all of our preserves with butterfly data collection. This collection project will be open until further notice. Keep an eye out for additional “Tally the Valley” Projects to be launched later this year.

To join this project, Follow the steps below:

  1. Download iNaturalist (compatible with Android and iPhone) and create an account.
  2. Familiarize yourself with the app. -more information here.
  3. Join our “Tally the Valley: Butterflies” project by selecting on “More” in the bottom right of the screen and search for our project name. Then select “Join”.
  4. Use our “FoHVOS: Hopewell Butterflies” Guide to help you spot species in the Valley. You can log sightings in your backyard or we encourage you to visit one of our many preserves. Accessing our guide is as simple as joining our project, simply select “More” then “Guides”, and search “FoHVOS: Hopewell Butterflies”

In addition, FoHVOS will host its annual North American Butterfly Association Butterfly Count on Sunday June 28 from 9am-10am at our Thompson (Marshalls Corner) Preserve. If you would like to join our land stewards at this event, please be sure to register here! Due to COVID-19, our attendee cap will be limited to 10 persons to ensure adherence of social distancing, so registration is mandatory.

NABA Butterfly Count

  • Sunday, June 28, 2020 (9-10am)
  • Free to all attendees
  • Masks are required and must be worn when within 6 feet of other persons.
  • Event is limited to 10 persons, registration is mandatory.
  • EVENT REGISTRATION HERE or visit event page at fohvos.org

iNaturalist Tally the Valley Project

  • Opens Sunday June 28th, 2020
  • Download iNaturalist App and Join the Project
  • Participation can take place in your Hopewell Valley yard or any FoHVOS preserve.
  • Observations must be Butterflies

Submitted by Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space (FoHVOS), which is an accredited nonprofit land trust dedicated to conserving the Valley’s character by collaborating with the community to preserve land, protect natural resources, and inspire a new generation of conservation. Since our inception, we have preserved over 7,500 acres of land and inspired thousands of partners and volunteers. To learn more about FoHVOS, call 609-730-1560 or visit www.fohvos.org.

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