Do you enjoy meandering hikes?
Do you like to learn about flowering plants?
Want to help preserve special flowering plants in Calvert County?
Join us 10:00 Saturday, April 26, 2025 at Flag Ponds Nature Park
We'll meet at the Duncan Pond Trailhead along the beach road. Plan to arrive with enough time you will need to get from the parking lot to the trail head.
You will learn about
- The Calvert Orchid Conservation Program history and objectives.
- Terrestrial orchids of Calvert County and how to recognize them and report them.
- What you can do to help preserve and protect these orchids.
We are looking for:
- Folks who just want to learn about orchids in our county.
- Folks who want to learn how to properly report sightings of orchids on iNaturalist that they find while rambling through the beautiful natural areas of Calvert County.
- And some special folks who are willing to monitor orchid sites in specific areas where orchids are presently found.
For adults only. Entry fees to Flag Ponds are waived as this is a volunteer education program. Limit 10 participants. Priority to those who are looking for a volunteer project. Snacks provided. There will be about an hour of hiking to search for orchids on North Ridge Lower Trail and Duncan Pond Trail.
Participants should download iNaturalist app on their phone if they do not already have it. Please bring a fully charged cell phone, and your iNaturalist password for the iNaturalist training portion of the program.
Our training program equips volunteers with the skills needed to conduct thorough field surveys, and gather essential data crucial for conservation efforts. Orchids can be good indicators of healthy ecosystems because they have a low tolerance for changes in their environment.
Stay for the afternoon to learn more about iNaturalist and the City Nature Challenge: https://calvertstewards.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=1060411 or https://www.calvertparks.org/CNC
iNaturalist Links:
- Calvert Orchid Conservation & Research Project: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/calvert-orchid-conservation-research-project
- iPhone App: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/inaturalist/id421397028?mt=8
- Android App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.inaturalist.android
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The Project aims to facilitate the documentation, research, and conservation of orchid species within Calvert County. Orchids are often considered indicator species, reflecting the health of their ecosystems, yet they face significant threats from habitat loss, climate change, and illegal trade. This project encourages citizen scientists, researchers, and conservationists to collaborate in identifying orchid species, recording their distributions, and monitoring their populations. By leveraging the collective knowledge and observations of participants, the project seeks to enhance our understanding of orchid ecology, guide conservation efforts, and ultimately contribute to the preservation of these charismatic and ecologically important plants in Calvert County.
