Parks for Pollinators 2026: Wekiva Wild & Scenic River System
The Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz is a yearly nationwide campaign organized by the National Recreation and Park Association to raise public awareness of the pollinator crisis and encourage local action through parks and recreation.
Join the Wekiva Wild & Scenic River System and parks throughout the country in a fun challenge to see how many pollinator species can be documented throughout the month of September.
It is easy to participate by joining an event or making observations on your own, using the iNaturalist app. With the iNaturalist app, you simply take a picture of a pollinator (bee, butterfly, bat, etc.) or plant, and the online community will help identify the species.
You can participate by exploring the nature and wildlife in the Wekiva basin area. Any observation you make will count during our event. Park and recreation agencies across the country will host Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz events throughout the month.
You can learn more about the Parks for Pollinators initiative and see which agencies are participating by visiting nrpa.org/BioBlitz.
Whole World in Your Pocket
Your phone is a direct line to understanding the world around you: and free platforms like iNaturalist can help you connect with others.
A flora and fauna identification apps, here you can upload nature observations, participate in bioblitz events, and discuss findings with other community members.
Joining local groups on this platform can help you learn more about your pictures and identifications, and create a growing database of local wildlife.
The graphic below is a short guide on using iNaturalist, provided by the National Recreation and Park Association for the Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz.
A Few Simple Steps:
Download the free iNaturalist app on any smart device. Create an account, and join the Wekiva Wild & Scenic Parks for Pollinators Project.
Observe local nature and upload pictures to iNaturalist into the project.
Share your observations and categorize them as best as possible. If you are unfamiliar with an observation, ask for help from community members.
Pollinators are a vital component of our ecosystem and an essential link to the world’s food supply. In fact, they are responsible for the reproduction of 90% of the world’s flowering plants, including two-thirds of our crops.
Not only do our pollinating pals support biodiversity, but they also build resilient and healthy communities by helping fight against climate change, heat island effect and water quality issues!
The data collected by the community during this bioblitz can demonstrate the biodiversity of our local parks and provide park professionals with important information on how to manage parks to support pollinators and other species.
Images taken from Florida Wildflower Foundation.
Learn more at www.flawildflowers.org/category/pollinator-profile/
The Wekiva Wild & Scenic River System welcomes nature lovers and community scientists of all backgrounds to document pollinators in the basin throughout the month of September. This will be a generally self-directed event, with every interested person participating through our iNaturalist project.
The Wekiva Wild & Scenic River System’s River Ambassador Val Hahn and community member Ellie will also be holding an evening bioblitz event at Wilson's Landing that will count toward Parks for Pollinators participation.
The event will be held Saturday, September 19th from 8:00 - 10:00 PM. Registration is required, so be sure to sign up here.
