Genesee River © Joe Philipson via Flickr (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
What kinds of life can be found in just 1 cubic foot of the Genesee River?
Join Seneca Park Zoo and RBA this month as we find out!
Seneca Park Zoo is partnering with photographer and environmentalist David Liittschwager, RBA, and many local and regional organizations to assess the biodiversity and health of the Genesee River.
The initiative is called One Cubic Foot.
The project will heighten the awareness of water quality and other environmental issues in the River. Once declared one of the United States’ most polluted rivers, the Genesee River is coming back to life through the efforts of many, allowing the reintroduction of North American river otters and lake sturgeon.
In partnership with Liittschwager, author of A World in One Cubic Foot: Portraits of Biodiversity, a one-cubic-foot frame will be placed in nature to record every species that moves through it in a 24-hour period. (See images and find out more about the book at National Geographic.)
From the coral reef to Central Park, One Cubic Foot has been all over the world — and now, it’s coming to the Genesee River. RBA has chosen to be involved in the project because of the river’s important to birds and wildlife. The river serves as a main artery that birds follow as they migrate, and the marshes, wetlands, and other habitats found along the river sustain birds during various stages of their life cycles.
Events are scheduled throughout August (in particular, see David’s lecture on August 20th/George Eastman House), and project partners are formulating additional events to keep the partnerships and conservation discussions alive throughout the year.
Learn more on the project website or on Twitter, using @SenecaParkZoo or #OneCubicFoot.
Case in point: Stay posted for updates about an evening guided nature tour on the Sam Patch leaving from the Reserve in Brighton. Likely dates: August 24, September 8, and October 6.
This venture will be a joint effort by the RBA, Genesee Audubon, Corn Hill Navigation, and the Zoo as part of the One Cubic Foot project.
