Each year, BEAT’s Berkshire Biodiversity Day (also known as Berkshire BioBlitz) brings together people from across western Massachusetts to celebrate the incredible diversity of life found right here in the Berkshires. At a time when biodiversity is declining worldwide, this free public event provides an opportunity to explore the natural world and discover just how much life surrounds us.
Over the course of 24 hours, community members join biologists, naturalists, and other experts in identifying as many living things as possible — plants, animals, fungi, and more — within a designated natural area. Each year, BEAT selects a different location in Berkshire County — often in partnership with local conservation organizations or schools — to highlight the region’s remarkable variety of habitats and the species they support.
Berkshire Biodiversity Day offers participants the opportunity to experience diversity firsthand. Throughout the event, participants may witness a monarch butterfly emerging from a chrysalis, learn to identify birds by their songs, discover tiny aquatic insects living beneath stream rocks, or encounter fungi they may have never noticed before. Every observation contributes to a better understanding and appreciation of the remarkable biodiversity found in the Berkshires.
Berkshire Biodiversity Day offers participants the opportunity to experience diversity firsthand. Throughout the event, participants may witness a monarch butterfly emerging from a chrysalis, learn to identify birds by their songs, discover tiny aquatic insects living beneath stream rocks, or encounter fungi they may have never noticed before. Every observation contributes to a better understanding and appreciation of the remarkable biodiversity found in the Berkshires.
Designed for anyone curious about the natural world to experienced naturalists, Berkshire Biodiversity Day offers something for everyone. Throughout the two-day event, BEAT curates a full schedule of guided walks, hands-on demonstrations of field survey techniques, presentations, and family-friendly activities that introduce participants to the fascinating flora and fauna found throughout western Massachusetts.
Register for Berkshire Biodiversity Day
- September 19 @ 12:00 pm – September 20 @ 12:00 pm
- Bartholomew’s Cobble, a property of The Trustees located at 105 Weatogue Road in Sheffield, MA
- Participation is free and open to everyone, regardless of age or experience.
Join us for guided walks, species surveys, demonstrations, presentations, and hands-on activities celebrating the remarkable biodiversity of the Berkshires.
A BioBlitz is part scientific survey, part educational event, and part community celebration. Scientists and volunteers work together to identify as many species as possible within a designated area during a 24-hour period. Every observation contributes to a better understanding of local ecosystems, creating valuable records that can inform future research and conservation efforts.
The first BioBlitz was held in 1998 at Walden Woods in Massachusetts. Since then, BioBlitzes have taken place around the world, inspiring thousands of people to explore nature, contribute to community science, and develop a deeper appreciation for biodiversity and the ecosystems that support us all.
When many people hear biodiversity, they likely picture tropical rainforests or coral reefs. Yet the diversity of life in the Berkshires is extraordinary in its own right. The region’s forests, wetlands, streams, meadows, and mountains are home to countless species — many of which go unnoticed. Together, these organisms form healthy ecosystems that provide clean water, fertile soils, pollination, flood protection, and countless other benefits that sustain both people and wildlife.
A BioBlitz provides a rare opportunity for children, adults, and seasoned naturalists alike to learn directly from experts, contribute to meaningful scientific work, and share in the excitement of the natural world. Whether attending for an hour or for the full 24-hour event, participants leave with greater awareness, appreciation, and a desire to protect the incredible biodiversity right here in Berkshire County.
Browse species lists and reports from some of our past events: