Join Biologist Edward M. Barrows and Congressional Cemetery Staff for a unique biodiversity walk through the cemetery!

With firefly flight being predicted to be in the beginning of June, Historic Congressional Cemetery is an ideal place to see them amongst the trees and gravestones. Guided by Dr. Barrows, we will be searching for, spotting, and identifying native species of fireflies as well as other insects of all sorts that call HCC home.

For those interested, we will have a brief tutorial on the phone app ‘iNaturalist’, and how it can be used to identify and document different species of animals (including insects), fungi, and plants as well as documenting their sightings for the greater community.

This walk will take place June 6th starting at 7:00 PM, with a rain date of June 14th! 

Come prepared with clothing and shoes appropriate for an outdoor walk. Be warned that the ground off of paths is uneven, and conditions will be dark, please bring a flashlight if you have one. We will meet at the front gate of the Cemetery at 1801 E St SE. 

Fireflies are creatures of their own! We cannot guarantee firefly populations on June 6th. 

RSVP HERE — LIMITED SPOTS (20)

About Our Guide: Dr. Edward M. Barrows

Edward M. Barrows (Edd) [Pictured right, photoshopped into a 1950’s Jaguar with founder of the American Red Cross, Clara Barton.] was born in the Motor City. He graduated from
Center Line High School in the Detroit Metropolitan Area. Then, he attended
the University of Michigan as a Botany-Zoology co-major with some art and
conservation training. He remained in the Midwest and attended the
University of Kansas where he performed research on native Bees and the
nonnative Western Honey Bee and earned a Ph.D. in Entomology. From
1975–2023, he was an administrator, researcher, and professor at Georgetown
University. After he retired, he took photography classes at Photoworks in
Glen Echo Park, Maryland. Edd is currently working on two e-books — The
Congressional Cemetery Ecosystem and The Big Dipper Firefly.