Inter-island Bioblitz:

Friday, July 24, 2026 through Friday, August 7, 2026.

Results are currently being compiled and the official winner will be announced on Friday, August 14. The contest is a close one, with some data still being entered, so results are not yet certain.

As of Thursday morning, August 13, the smaller island, with 114 observers contributing, had submitted 8,357 observations, vs. 8,084 from Martha’s Vineyard. The Vineyard, though, after multiple lead changes in a very close race, was ahead in species documented, 1,695 to 1,672. These numbers may continue to evolve as identifications are improved or corrected and any final observations are submitted by the 5:00 p.m., Tursday, August 13 deadline.

Regardless of the eventual winner, this event was an outstanding success, engaging numerous naturalists and producing a torrent of data. A remarkable total of 153 observers contributed to the Martha’s Vineyard effort, logging hundreds of observer-hours in the field. Observers on both islands found many rare or specialized species and added new species not previously documented. Thanks to all who participated, and congratulations to our sister island for their incredible performance!

In addition to posing a fun challenge, this event substantially advanced the Martha’s Vineyard Atlas of Life (MVAL). BioBlitz particpants propelled the MVAL iNaturalist project past the 86,000-observation mark and boosted the number of species documented in that project to 5,811. You can see the magnitude of the event by comparing BioBlitz results with Vineyard iNaturalist activity from the same period in 2025: numbers jumped from 893 observations, 475 species, and 84 observers in 2025 to 7,800 observations (an 870% increase), 1,652 species (a 350% increase), and 152 observers (a 180% increase). 

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Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket islands have a lot in common. They’re related by their glacial origins and the sandy geology that resulted. They share a long history of settlement by Europeans, and a longer, much longer, history of habitation by Indigenous peoples. Both feature immense biodiversity and a wealth of rare or highly specialized species. Conservationists on both islands face similar challenges and opportunities, and they often work together closely, sharing expertise or addressing regional problems. Meanwhile, residents of both islands have a strong sense of community and local pride — and a firm conviction that THEIR island is best!

Tapping into the good-natured rivalry that exists between these islands, BiodiversityWorks and the Martha’s Vineyard Atlas of Life teamed up with the Linda Loring Nature Foundation, one of Nantucket’s leading conservation organizations, to launch the first-ever Inter-Island BioBlitz. At stake were bragging rights for most observations and species entered into iNaturalist from either island during the time frame of the two-week event.

Competition aside, there is a serious angle to this event. Like any bioblitz, it offered an opportunity to engage and educate the public about local biodiversity, its value, and its conservation. The event also generated a huge data set allowing easy comparison of the species mix found on each island, and on how the islands differ in their seasonality.