Annual Report for 2023
The Mount Holly Biodiversity project has completed its third full year of work and thanks to a total of 4,336 contributions from 228 volunteer observers we have identified 1,200 species of plants, animals, and fungi in Mount Holly since beginning work in January 2021! This small town in the Green Mountains of Vermont has an amazing biodiversity and it’s encouraging to see that there are so many people who care enough to help us learn about our natural world. Observations were submitted by residents and visitors, by hikers and gardeners, by children and retirees, and many who simply wanted to learn the name of common and rare plants or animals and to share that knowledge with the community.
Beyond our own community it is exciting to know that we are part of a much bigger effort to understand and to conserve our natural world. Our local data gets fed into the statewide Vermont Atlas of Life (https://val.vtecostudies.org/ ) database managed by the Vermont Center for Ecostudies. The Atlas has now documented over 14,000 species in Vermont with information vital to conservation and sustainable development. Further, Mount Holly is also a contributor to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (https://www.gbif.org/) which is documenting all biodiversity on the planet! The GBIF has received over 40 million observations from 1 million observers worldwide and identified over 450,000 species. A number of those submitted observations turned out to be brand new species never identified before and several species thought to have gone extinct were found by volunteer observers!
Here's what we have found in Mount Holly as of December 2023:
528 Plant species identified (48 new this year). Over 100 of our common plants are really introduced species, a few of which have become invasive concerns. (Goutweed, Bull thistle, Hemp nettle, Wild Parsnip, Giant Knotweed, and Phragmites). These are the species that degrade natural habitats like Star Lake and may harm native species, including people. Local efforts to remove or control them are often recommended and maps on the Biodiversity Project website show where they are found in town
334 Insect species identified (44 new this year). We have confirmed 24 non-native insects and a few of them are troublesome invasives such as Japanese Beetle, Spongy moth (formerly Gypsy moth), European Earwigs, and Winter moth. Although not yet confirmed in Mount Holly, the Emerald Ash borer, Asian Longhorned Beetle, and Spotted Lanternfly are in Vermont and threaten our forests and farms making regular monitoring very important to prevent damage.
107 Bird species identified (19 new this year). Common birds seen in town include American Robin, Song & Chipping Sparrow, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Eastern Bluebird, American Goldfinch, House Finch, Chickadee, Blue Jay, Red-winged Blackbird, and Crow. A few special sightings included Red-eyed Vireos, Cedar Waxwings, Wood Thrush, and Indigo Bunting. Many species are migratory and they have now flown south to follow their food supply. The best way to protect birds is to conserve their habitats such as forests, wetlands, and meadows.
141 Fungi species identified (36 new this year). Fungi (mushrooms, molds, etc.) include a whole Kingdom of very interesting organisms that many people enjoy finding (and eating). Some common fungi we found in Mount Holly include Chanterelles, Shaggy Mane, White Coral, Ink Cap, Puffballs, Toadskin Lichen, and Amanita mushrooms.
27 Mammal species identified (3 new this year). Mammals include the animals we often think of and include Gray & Red Squirrels, Eastern Chipmunks, White-tailed Deer, American Beaver, Snowshoe Hare, Red fox, Porcupine, Moose, and Black Bear.
The remaining species include Arachnids (spiders), Reptiles & Amphibians (snakes, turtles, frogs & salamanders), Mollusks, Worms, and Fish. While small in numbers and sometimes harder to find, these species are very important parts of our environment and have vital ecological functions.
Finally, we have identified 39 species of threatened and endangered species in Mount Holly, including Common Loons, Merlin, Butternut, Purple Pitcher Plants, Yellow-banded Bumblebee, and American Elm. These species and their habitats are especially vulnerable and warrant extra conservation efforts if they are to survive.
