Maryland Biodiversity Quad-busting Trip (Sunday)

Sponsored by Maryland Biodiversity Project

In 2025, MBP editor Sue Muller will lead a series of “quad-busting” field trips. Just what does that mean?  There will be a focus each year on USGS quads that have fewer than 500 species.  The chosen quads this year are Alexandria, Leesburg and Waterford.  Sue will be leading trips to each of these quads this year where we will conduct mini-blitzes and get as many species as we can.  The targets for each quad by the end of the year will be:

Alexandria – 1000 species (Prince Georges County)
Leesburg – 500 species (Montgomery County
Waterford – 1000 species (Montgomery County)

The Maryland Biodiversity Project April Quad-busting trip will be heading to Montgomery County (Sunday April 6th), to work on the Leesburg (141 species) and Waterford (279 species) quads.  The goal is to reach 500 species.

in the Leesburg quad and 1000 species in the Waterford quad by the end of the year.  As you can see, both of these quads need a lot of work, THINK PLANTS!!


We have a great place to survey!  The C & O Canal NHP (https://www.nps.gov/choh/index.htm)
is in both of these quads and parking at White's Ferry provides access to both.  We will focus on ephemerals for sure.

Please have iNaturalist installed on your phone, and create an account.  Remember your password!


As usual, the plan includes something for everyone!  First, if you are new to using iNaturalist, you can meet me from 8:30am to 9am for a lesson and get you started.  At 9am, if you want to get some exercise as well, I will lead the group to the Leesburg quad which is a 2-mile hike along the towpath.  If you want to survey only for the morning or come on your own time, just park at White's Ferry and survey around there and upriver along the towpath to milepost 38 which is in the Waterford quad.  

If you are new to MBP and iNaturalist, no worries!  This is the perfect adventure for  you to learn.  Sue is more than happy to work with you showing you how to use iNaturalist to submit data.  Just email Sue that  you want to attend and you will receive more details including that top 20 list!  

To register and for information Email Sue,  green12205@gmail.com

https://www.marylandbiodiversity.com/blog/?p=1612