Rhode Island
The results are in for the 25th annual Rhode Island BioBlitz – What's Up Newp
The RI Natural History Survey presented its initial findings on the twenty-fifth annual Rhode Island BioBlitz at Middletown Town Hall on Thursday night. This BioBlitz, which took place on June 7-8, 2024, surveyed the biodiversity at the Norman Bird Sanctuary, making the Middletown sanctum one of two repeat locations a BioBlitz has been held (the other repeat being Roger Williams Park). The first time the sanctuary was surveyed for biodiversity was in 2001 at the second annual BioBlitz. The twenty-three-year gap between the two surveys gives Rhode Island officials, scientists, conservationists, and the general public the ability to compare datasets tailored to one specific Rhode Island site and begin to make hypotheses about the health of the local environment over a long period of time.
“A BioBlitz is an effort by volunteers to find as many species as possible within twenty-four hours on one piece of land,” explains Dr. David Gregg, the executive director of the RI Natural History Survey. The idea was created in 1997, and Rhode Island started leading expeditions in 2000. The Rhode Island BioBlitz is the longest running BioBlitz in the history of the event.
While the purpose of a BioBlitz is, of course, to catalogue local biodiversity, the RI Natural History Survey views the BioBlitz as a way to further other goals of citizen science projects, which include: to introduce everyone to the idea of (hands-on) conservation; to form a welcoming community of people interested in nature, conservation, and backyard ecology; to encourage communication about the environment; to engage with science and with nature; and to get kids outdoors, learning and exploring.
What nature can support is the limit in trying to document as many species as possible. “Does this place support this organism” is the question to ask when considering documenting a species during the BioBlitz. Or, for a more specific rule, the RI Natural History Survey counts cultivated plants, but not annuals or crops. The key test to think about whether this specific organism would still be at this specific place if humans were no longer there (no human intervention).
Even with that limit in place, the 2024 BioBlitz broke multiple records. In total, 1,426 species were found on Norman Bird Sanctuary Property (about 250 acres of land, which is relatively small for a BioBlitz, according to Gregg) through the efforts of 395 participants and volunteers. The species count was “a good hundred species more than the next BioBlitz,” and Gregg credits the record-breaking number of volunteers to Norman Bird Sanctuary’s fantastic “brand” as a conservation area and a beloved community hub. In terms of student participation, about 52 kids from kindergarten through grade six, 20 seventh and eighth graders, 24 undergraduates, and 10 graduate students were dedicated to the community science project.
Comparing the 2001 survey to the 2024 survey at the Norman Bird Sanctuary, the total number of species found increased by 85 percent. Only one species of moss was found in 2001 compared to 79 different species from this past BioBlitz. Likewise, there was a 500 percent increase in the species of spiders found, and a 160 percent increase in crustaceans. “This is a broadly diverse place,” Gregg explained. “A lot of taxa broke records.” He also noted that the vascular plant count seemed to have decreased between the two datasets, but admitted that the 2001 survey included Oakland Forest, which might a source of the discrepancy.
To keep discovery efforts similar across the different types of organisms, participants were split up into teams, who then reported in their findings. The moth team found 246 species of moths, a new record. At this, Gregg reminded the audience that “every species correlates with a niche,” so discovering 246 species of moths at the Norman Bird Sanctuary means that there are 246 niche habitats (for moths). Some of the moths found included the beautiful Green Marvel – which Gregg personally referred to as the “Mint Chocolate Chip Moth” – the Abbott Sphinx, and the Trumpet Vine Sphinx moth. The latter is native to the South, were trumpet vines grow. Through the efforts of this BioBlitz, the RI Natural History Survey documented that Rhode Island is becoming the northern tip of the moth’s range.
“Rhode Island is the boundary between cold northern and warm southern,” Gregg explained, which can be increasingly seen as climate change makes its impact felt, and as ranges for different organisms are expanding and contracting. The state’s latitudinal spot, diversity of habitats, and unique weather patterns and climate make Rhode Island the “last hang-on” for both Southern and Northern species.
Other teams had various amounts of success. The beetle team found 112 species, and another team documented 91 species of flies, which sounds like quite a bit, but was, in fact, a mildly deflating number to see. “A bunch of people who were looking for flying insects were surprised they didn’t get more,” Gregg said. Potential cause of the low level of insects could be the two large fields of swallows that inhabits the front sections of the Norman Bird Sanctuary.
There was a large bee team at the BioBlitz who used the event as an opportunity to continue the state’s efforts to atlas bees and pollinator insects; they found 40 species of bees and wasps on the property. Also found were 21 species of ants, 24 species of fish (16 saltwater, 8 freshwater – numbers that did not satisfy nor impress Gregg), 5 types of turtles, 8 amphibians, and 15 mammals that included raccoons, deer, and the Southern flying squirrel. Participants from URI, Roger Williams, Salve Regina, and Wheaton College documented a whopping 75 species of algae.
The birding team had a strong turnout of participants. “This is a site that is stewarded for bird conservation, and we had good bird teams [at both Norman Bird Sanctuary BioBlitzes],” Gregg said, referencing the turnout for the 2001 BioBlitz. This team documented a total of 92 bird species, including rare ones like the piping plover, bobolinks, and osprey; compared to the survey in 2001, that is an increase of 12 bird species and it could correlate to successful continuous stewardship of the land.
Vascular plants were recorded at 282 total species, with maybe two species (one is still in question) on the rare list. “This is diversity, not rarity,” Gregg explains. But while finding rare species can be exciting, the overall diversity of the site can be even more encouraging; the sheer number of different plant species at Norman Bird Sanctuary showcases the good ecological health from a site that has been used for various purposes over the centuries – from wild land to sheep farming and corn production, to vineyards and orchards to bird conservation efforts and land stewardship.
Gregg did note that 40 species on the vascular plant list were invasive. The Norman Bird Sanctuary has had an ongoing battle against invasive species for years. Some of the invasives were known offenders, like the three kinds of privet and the Amur corktree. Others were more surprising, like the chocolate vine, which is a “relatively new invader,” the Russian olive, and the tree of heaven, also known as “the primary host plant for the spotted lantern fly.” Despite the worrisome significance that the tree of heaven was found on the property, Gregg noted that a recent study found that if the spotted lantern fly does not feed on the tree of heaven, birds will eat them. The invasive insect is only unpalatable to birds and acquires its toxicity if they eat from the tree. Cut down the tree and stop one invasive problem may prove helpful in solving the other.
Finally, Gregg reported that the BioBlitz documented 69 species of fungi and 62 species of lichen. The fungus teams had struggled to find deep, warm humus in the woods, and therefore struggled to find some larger varieties of mushrooms. The lack of humus might be because the woodlands on the property are a relatively new forest, and because privet and other invasive plants have shallow root systems that lock out nutrients and moisture from seeping deeper into the soil. The lack of humus and the mushrooms species that thrives in its presence is a sign of a less than healthy forest floor.
These findings, however, are preliminary, and all conjectures made from them are only observational hypotheses. More research is required to answer questions like “What might be impacting soil health?” “What is the long-term trend of bird diversity?” “How is the changing climate affecting the biodiversity of the Norman Bird Sanctuary and the state?” and “Why did the BioBlitz not find even more aquatic species (especially fish)?” For concrete answers, deeper studies are needed, and Gregg recommends venturing into the more remote, hard-to-get-to areas of the sanctuary to continue surveying the biodiversity of the area.
The 2025 RI BioBlitz will be held June 6-7 at the Steere Hill Preserve in Glocester off of Route 44. The “big parcels of old forest” and the remoteness of the site should make the upcoming BioBlitz a “blockbuster” in terms of species count. Those who want to participate should plan ahead and be aware of the tough conditions this remote location will bring: there will be no power or water, so volunteers and team members should come prepared.
Some photos of the presentation follow;
WATCH: Jake Bauer wins the Rhode Island Amateur over Tyler Cooke
WATCH: Jake Bauer wins the Rhode Island Amateur over Tyler Cooke on Friday, July 10, at Ledgemont Country Club.
SEEKONK, MA – If given a choice, Jake Bauer would have traveled a different road.
Friday felt like nothing but potholes and lane closures until the afternoon conclusion at Ledgemont Country Club. It was far from an uneventful ride.
The destination was something he’s chased for nearly a decade – a second crown at the 121st Amateur Championship – one that came thanks to a sensational rally past Tyler Cooke.
Bauer’s three straight birdies to start what proved to be his final five holes of the week allowed him to catch and pass Cooke. A sizeable morning deficit was gone in the 36-hole match play title round, and Bauer was suddenly on his way to a 2 and 1 triumph.
“For any golfers out there – cash games, junior golfers – don’t do it,” Bauer said. “It’s not fun. But if you do pull through, it’s a really, really cool story to say you did it.”
Cooke was 6 up after the opening morning nine and looked at times like he would cruise to his first championship. Bauer started applying pressure with an immaculate second nine holes and continued to push until finally breaking through. His curling uphill birdie putt at the par-3 15th – the 33rd hole of the match – found the cup to give Bauer a lead he never relinquished.
“I don’t even know what just happened on the last six or seven holes,” Bauer said. “You sort of just black out. I’m speechless.”
Bauer added a par at the 16th to go 2 up and only needed to halve either of the remaining two holes with Cooke to get the job done. Each made bogey at the uphill par-4 17th, with Bauer lagging his par putt to within inches. Cooke conceded the final stroke, and Bauer was able to take a deep breath while hugging his father and caddie, Jim.
“My dad was really good,” Bauer said. “He doesn’t really get too technical with me. He’s a very calm soul to have on the bag.”
Bauer needed every bit of that even temperament to survive the early stages. Cooke collected seven birdies through his first 23 holes, the last coming at the par-4 fifth. That gave him a 3-up lead, and he was able to remain in front until Bauer buried clutch putts at the par-4 13th, the par-4 14th and the 187-yard downhill tester.
“[The birdie putt] definitely had some speed,” Bauer said. “I think if that didn’t go in we would have probably been on 18 or in extra holes.”
Bauer carded five bogeys on his opening nine before a solid birdie at the par-4 10th gave him a first taste of momentum. He racked up seven pars and another birdie at the par-4 18th before entering the lunch break just 2 down. It was a similar charge to the one Bauer made in the quarterfinals, as he won five of the last six holes to edge Jason Kalin, 1 up.
“I performed really well this whole week in stroke play and other matches,” Bauer said. “I said if I just stick to that same game plan I will end up on top.”
Cooke battled his way into the match play bracket after an opening 76 in Monday’s steady rain. He rebounded with a 73 under more precipitation Tuesday and immediately produced an upset by knocking out No. 4 seed Sam Powell. Cooke has been a steady winner since an All-State career at Toll Gate and college tenure at Connecticut, including a record five titles at the Four-Ball Championship with brother-in-law Bobby Leopold.
Bauer had just graduated from Johnson & Wales when he won for the first time here, an impressive victory over Matt Broome. He fell in last year’s final to Mike Calef, surrendering a late lead in a 1 up loss at Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington. Bauer wasted no time booking a third appearance in the title match and did so with some extra support – his wife, McKenna, was in the gallery less than a month after they exchanged vows in June.
“We didn’t even know each other back in 2018,” Bauer said. “For her to experience this – I don’t even know what emotions she was going through. I’m really happy to share it with her.”
bkoch@providencejournal.com
On X: @BillKoch25
Rhode Island
Our Favorite Write-Ins From the 2026 Best of Rhode Island Readers’ Poll – Rhode Island Monthly
If you haven’t heard, our upcoming Best of Rhode Island party has many exciting additions and surprises this year, and we at Rhode Island Monthly cannot wait to celebrate with all of you at the WaterFire Arts Center on July 23 (get your tickets here if you haven’t already!). But to tide us all over in the meantime, we decided to continue the tradition of sharing some of the silliest write-in entries we came across while tallying the Best of Rhode Island Readers’ Poll.
But first, let me provide a quick refresher of the process. As many know, the ballot is made up entirely of write-in entries, meaning you can submit whatever you like for Best Restaurant, Best Influencer, Best Wedding Venue, etc. And believe me when I tell you that people do truly submit whatever they like. This year we had the task of combing through more than 100,000 (!) votes and once again (see examples from 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025) found ourselves chuckling at quite a few along the way. Below you’ll find a roundup of some of our favorites, as well as what was going through my mind as I noted and compiled them. (And as always, I’d like to throw in the disclaimer that I am just as much a victim of my own typing skills, so these are all in good fun!). Enjoy!
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE RESTAURANT
“Daddychill” and “Daddychillllll”
— If I had a nickel for every time someone said this, I’d have two nickels — which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.
“Blinked to Beauty”
via GIPHY
“Christina Erne” and “TJ Delsanto”
— Christina and TJ are meteorologists, not meat.
“All Four Paws” and “Mind Your Dog”
— “Hello, is this PETA?”
“Altered images tattoo” and “Massage envy”
— I think you’ll satisfy different kinds of cravings and needs here.
“Boozy book club”
— Yo Reilley, you got snacks?
“Buns and bites”
— Sorry to have to disappoint, but Laura serves looks and recs, not meals.
“Comedy bus”
— It’s taking everything in me not to recycle my (terrible) joke from last year.
“Same day content Reel Candid”
— I guess the camera always eats first.
“Vampire (hallie)”
— Are you trying to be the main course?
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE NEW RESTAURANT
“Applebees”
via GIPHY
“Timmtuffknuckles”
— How are his knuckle sandwiches?
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE LATIN RESTAURANT
“Lklk”
— Not me trying to see if this is a latin root.
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE ASIAN RESTAURANT
“Quads n. Attleboro”
— Geography class really isn’t what it used to be, huh.
(My clearly grumpy, not-so-gentle reminder that we’re looking for the best of Rhode Island).
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE INDIAN RESTAURANT
“Ho HoHOHO”
— Why did I read this like Santa tried a spicy curry for the first time and had a rough go of it.
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE BREAKFAST SANDWICHES
“Duncan donuts” and “Dunking donts”
— I don’t know what I’m judging more: the voting for a national chain or the misspelling of said very, very popular chain.
“Bacon egg and cheese on a croissant.”
“Women & Infants Hospital – No, I’m not kidding! IYKYK”
— Well, now we know. Still hope I don’t have reason to find out for myself any time soon 😅
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE BRUNCH
“Cry cafe”
— You know, after a few mimosas, sometimes brunch is the best time to have a good cry. Not that I’m speaking from experience.
*Typo translation: Cru Cafe
“Karies (used to be jiggers south)”
— We found a real Rhode Islander, folks.
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE CHEAP EATS
“They don’t exist in ri”
Not in this economy.
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE COCKTAIL BAR
“Jefferson speakeasy??”
— Wanna think about it for a sec?
“Bar Lizzo”
— I mean, she is 100% that b*tch.
*Typo Translation: Bar’Lino
“Justine’s RIP”
— Yeah, this one hurts. Pour one out for the homie.
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE WINERY
“Kingdom of the hawk”
— Sick name. Wrong state.
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE DIVE BAR
“Oooogie’s”
via GIPHY
“(Against my better judgement) scurvy dog”
— Woof.
“BRADLEY CAFFEEEEEEEE”
— Love the enthusiasm.
“Irish Spring Soap”
— Alright smartass. There’s only room for one us here.
“O’roughs”
— Looks like someone had one too many at O’Rourke‘s the night prior.
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE OYSTER BAR
You’d think after all the fire and the new location headlines, people would remember how to spell Matunuck. Alas, we still got:
“Matonk,” “Matoonik,” “Mahtunuck,” “Mattunuack,” “Mettunic,” “Matunickk,” “Metacunack” and many, many, many more.
*Typo Translation: Matunuck Oyster Bar
“THE OYSTER BAR”
— THANKS JANET BUT WHICH ONE?
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE BARBER SHOP
“City hall”
— Is that what they do there?
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE
“Barnes and Noble”
— You and I have different definitions of independent.
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE TV METEOROLOGIST FEMALE
“Dylan Drier, SORRY she’s the BEST”
— SORRY but not in RHODE ISLAND.
“Kathy bates”
— Yes, and I’m the one in Misery.
*Typo translation: Kelly Bates
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE SPORTSCASTER
“[redacted], new and upcoming”
— When I Googled this name I could only find criminal court cases (and no Rhode Island sportscasters) so, yea, I’m gonna go ahead and agree that this person has a lot more coming up to do.
“Channel 10 reporter”
— You can Google too, ya know.
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE TELEVISION NEWS REPORTER
“Jamie coelho”
— She is always ready for her closeup!
“jean value cent”
— I really thought I had seen all the spellings at this point, but someone always proves me wrong.
*Typo translation: Gene Valicenti
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE MORNING SHOW
“Drew Barrymore”
via GIPHY
“Road show”
— C’mon. Have some respect for the pun.
*Typo translation: The Rhode Show
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE LOCAL NEWS SHOWS
“r/Providence (Providence reddit page)”
— I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t also gotten my news from this thread some days…
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE LOCAL MUSICIAN/BAND
“No exit 5”
— You’re right, there is none.
*Typo translation: No Exit 4
“Dropkick Murphy’s”
— Does owning Yellow Door make them local? I’ll take it.
“Taylor Swift”
— Well, maybe if she had tied the knot here… (No we aren’t bitter).
“I am a god!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
— I know this is an actual band name, but this was still a jump scare.
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE LOCAL FASHION DESIGNER
“DADDDDDDDDYYYYYYYYYYYY I want you badddddd”
— Okay someone’s gotta be effing with me.
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE LOCAL ARTISAN
“Fankiemademedoit”
— I don’t think that will hold up in court.
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE FOODIE INFLUENCER
“Jamie Coelho”
— No arguments here.
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE DATE NIGHT
“catching rats with butterfly nets in kennedy plaza.”
— Jotting that one down.
“Eating out and a movie”
via GIPHY
FOUND UNDER STATEWIDE CANNABIS DISPENSARY
“All suck tbh”
— Daddy chill. (This might be my new favorite term).
“Northeastern”
— You know you don’t have to buy from your college roommate any more, right?
*Typo translation: Northeast Alternatives in Fall River and Seekonk 😮💨
FOUND UNDER PROVIDENCE RESTAURANT
“Ed the barber”
— I see the Sweeney Todd fan has returned.
“Permission.”
Granted, you may proceed.
*Typo translation: Persimmon
“Seeking tailor”
— Did you think we were ChatGPT?
FOUND UNDER PROVIDENCE VEGAN/VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT
“Pianta pianta pianta!”
— Is this how the kids play Bloody Mary nowadays? Does a Veggie Tales character show up? (Honestly that would terrify me more.)
FOUND UNDER PROVIDENCE OUTDOOR DINING
“Federal hill”
via GIPHY
FOUND UNDER PROVIDENCE DINER
“1st one I wrote is actually in Blackstone valley”
— Thank you for your candor.
“Haven’t bros”
— I think they have.
*Typo translation: Haven Brothers
FOUND UNDER PROVIDENCE SANDWICH SHOP
“Wise guys in Cumberland”
— Not very wise of you.
FOUND UNDER PROVIDENCE INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE
“Heartless”
— I think Penny would beg to differ!
*Typo translation: Heartleaf Books
FOUND UNDER PROVIDENCE LOCALLY OWNED CLOTHING BOUTIQUE
“Locally owned clothing boutique”
via GIPHY
FOUND UNDER PROVIDENCE CONSIGNMENT SHOP
“The one on brook near wickenden”
via GIPHY
FOUND UNDER PROVIDENCE MUSIC VENUE
“Lupo’s heartbreak hotel”
— Who knew they’d still be breaking hearts all these years later.
FOUND UNDER PROVIDENCE LOCAL EVENT
“Best of RI”
— Eeeyyyyy
“BEYBLADE X TOURNAMENTS”
— I didn’t know this was a thing and now I am intrigued.
“TJ Delsanto Facebook Photos of RI and stories of beaches in RI”
— TJ is that you?
FOUND UNDER SOUTH COUNTY NEIGHBORHOOD BAR
“Cheers!”
— I’ll be sure to call up Sam and Diane.
FOUND UNDER SOUTH COUNTY INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE
“Waldens in Wakefield”
— What a throwback.
FOUND UNDER NEWPORT COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER
“Bahaha Cat Cafe”
via GIPHY
*Typo translation: Bajah’s Cat Cafe
FOUND UNDER NEWPORT COUNTY DELI
“Garlic Clove”
— So close.
*Typo translation: The Roasted Clove
FOUND UNDER EAST BAY RESTAURANT
“Chello is great family restaurant to take your family the waitress and waiter are great”
— Shout out to that waitress and waiter.
FOUND UNDER EAST BAY ITALIAN RESTAURANT
“Olive Garden, south Attleboro”
via GIPHY
FOUND UNDER EAST BAY BREAKFAST
“Green eggs and ham”
— Okay sam I am.
*Typo translation: Green Eggs
FOUND UNDER EAST BAY BURGER
“Chimp”
— … Has anyone checked in on Punch lately?
Typo translation: Chomp Kitchen and Drinks
FOUND UNDER EAST BAY SPECIALTY FOOD STORE
“Johnson’s Toadside Market”
— That’s sure is a specialty food.
*Typo translation: Johnson’s Roadside Farm Market in Swansea 😮💨😮💨😮💨
FOUND UNDER EAST BAY LOCAL MUSIC VENUE
“Bring back Bold Point!”
— I’d sign this petition.
FOUND UNDER EAST BAY LOCAL EVENT
“Oops”
— I am concerned.
FOUND UNDER WEST BAY BREAKFAST
“Dante’s inferno”
— That would certainly wake me up.
*Typo translation: Dante’s Kitchen
FOUND UNDER WEST BAY BURGER
“Vegan. Don’t Eat.”
— PETA thanks you for your service.
FOUND UNDER BLACKSTONE VALLEY RESTAURANT
“Hotel for Homeless Dogs.”
— …But really do I need to call PETA?
For those who made it this far, I hope you enjoyed the ride! Don’t forget if you want to learn who the actual winners are before the rest of the state (and party with them) you can still pick up tickets to the event here.
“Temporary water use advisories will be posted where applicable and nearby residents and visitors should keep pets from drinking from these waters for at least three days,” the release said
The herbicide treatments target specific invasive aquatic plants, including variable water milfoil, fanwort, water chestnut, sacred lotus, and various algae species, according to the release.
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