Mark your calendars for April 27 - 30! We need your observations!

Calling all naturalists in and around Dallas/Fort Worth! We need YOU! This year's City Nature Challenge is on April 27 - 30, so you can go anywhere within the range (the ten counties that make up the DFW metroplex: Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, Wise) and make observations that will count this year. This is a competition among 65 cities in 15 different countries around the world. Can Texas compete? We think so! But we need your help. Any and all observations count, but the most valuable observations are made on public property (parks, right-of-ways, preserves, etc...) and are of wild (non-cultivated/not captive) organisms. Other observations count, of course, but the wild organisms found on public property can influence management and policy. Wherever you are, observe some things on April 27 - 30! Observations have to be uploaded before May 4 to count as well.

There is a global website here: http://citynaturechallenge.org/

Texas website here: https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/wildlife_diversity/texas_nature_trackers/naturechallenge/

Tagging some of the big users around DFW-- please tag others that you think would also want to participate. It's also quite fun to get together with others and deeply explore an area -- connect with some of the other naturalists in the area! :)

Also, if you would like to join with some of the other naturalists in DFW, please come to one of these events! Remember, ANY and ALL observations count!

City Nature Challenge - BioBlitz events in DFW

Friday, April 27
Burleson – 9 – Noon at Wakefield Heights Park (704 Elizabeth Dr., Burleson, TX 76028)
Denton – 10:30 – 11:30 AM at UNT Discovery Park at the Pollinator Prairie (3940 N Elm St., Denton, TX 76207)
Dallas – 1 – 2 PM - UTD Campus Monarch/Bee Waystation (2114 University Parkway, Richardson, TX 75080)
Grapevine – 4 – 6 pm at Parr Park (3100 Parr Ln, Grapevine, TX 76051)
Midlothian – 8 – 11 PM - Mothing at Mockingbird Park (1361 Onward Road, Midlothian, TX 76065)
Cedar Hill – 8 – 10 PM - Mothing at Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center (1206 W Fm 1382, Cedar Hill, TX 75104)
Pilot Point – 8 – 10 PM – Moth madness at Ray Roberts State Park (Kid Fish Pond, Ray Roberts State Park, TX 76258)

Saturday, April 28
Flower Mound – 9 – noon at the Flower Mound (2450 Flower Mound Road, TX 75028)
Dallas – 9 – noon - BioBlitz at Crawford Park (8600 Elam Road, Dallas, TX 75217)
Dallas – 9 – noon – BioBlitz at Hines Park (9701 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75220)
McKinney – 9 AM – 1 PM at Heard Museum (1 Nature Pl, McKinney, TX 75069)
Pilot Point – 10 – 11 AM – Bioblitz at Ray Roberts State Park (Kid Fish Pond, Ray Roberts State Park, TX 76258)
Grapevine – 10 – noon at Grapevine Botanical Garden (411 Ball St, Grapevine, TX 76051)
Pilot Point – 11 – noon – How to use iNaturalist (Kid Fish Pond, Ray Roberts State Park, TX 76258)
Flower Mound – 1 – 4 PM at Green Acres Farm Memorial Park (4400 Hide-A-Way Lane, Flower Mound, TX 75022)
Grapevine – 1 - 3 PM at Parr Park (3100 Parr Ln, Grapevine, TX 76051)
Dallas – 2 – 5 PM - BioBlitz at L.B. Houston (1775 California Crossing Road, Dallas, TX 75220)
Pilot Point – 3 – 4 PM – BioBlitz at Ray Roberts State Park (Picnic Pavilion 1, Ray Roberts State Park, TX 76258)
Arlington – 4 – 10 PM – BioBlitz at Southwest Nature Preserve (5201 Bowman Springs Road, Arlington, TX 76060)
Fort Worth - 6 – 7:30 PM – Wildflower walk at Tandy Hills (3400 View St., Fort Worth, TX 76103)
Cleburne – 7 – 10 PM – Mothing at Cleburne State Park (Cedar Lodge Patio, Cleburne State Park, TX 76033)
Plano – 6:30 – 9 PM – Night hike at Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve (5901 Los Rios Blvd., Plano, TX 75074)
Fort Worth – 8 – 11 PM – Mothing at Ranches East Park (3801 Lazy River Ranch Road, Roanoke, TX 76262)

Sunday, April 29
Flower Mound – 8 AM – Noon at Cross Timbers Trail (Dunham Road Trailhead, east of Hwy 377, south of FM 1171)
Dallas – Noon – 3 PM - BioBlitz at Emerald Lake (6102 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, TX 75249)
Dallas – 1 - 4 PM - BioBlitz at Twelve Hills Nature Center (817 Mary Cliff Rd, Dallas, TX 75208)
Grapevine – 2 – 4 PM - Nature walk at Meadowmere Park (3000 Meadowmere Ln, Grapevine, TX 76051)
Fort Worth – 2 – 5 PM at Chisolm Trail Community Park (4936 McPherson Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76123)
Lantana– 2 – 5 PM at Lantana Trails (11555 Lantana Trail, Argyle, TX 76226)

Posted on 21 January, 2018 18:42 by sambiology sambiology

Comments

Sam - I noticed on the global challenge site that the challenge this year is actually in two parts, with the ID part happening May 1-4. That's an awesome change that gives us a bit longer to identify all those observations uploaded at the last minute on April 30. No more marathon midnight April 30 ID sessions needed. That should also help ensure more of the observations get confirmation and reach research grade.

Posted by naturemom about 6 years ago

So, observations CAN still be uploaded after April 30th (as long as they took place between April 27 - 30) -- I predict a lot of us will be busy uploading our observations like mad on May 3rd! I do think there may be a little bit of that midnight ID'ing craze again this year. :)

To sum up: observation period is April 27 - 30, but observations have to be uploaded before May 4th to count. ID's can happen any and all time, with the priority on May 1 - 3 (as people are completing their uploads).

Posted by sambiology about 6 years ago

Tagging these folks:

@sambiology @cgritz @kimberlietx @annikaml @bob777 @walkingstick2 @wildcarrot @naturenut @tfandre @suz @itmndeborah @denver @andyk @brentano @charley @mchlfx @tadamcochran @zooga1961 @butterflies4fun @dfwuw @jblinde @kalamurphyking @cwd912nb @galactic_bug_man @daniel112 @atassin @rmorgan @cameralenswrangler @alchemist2000 @rehb @squaylei2000 @melindawpajak @aguilita @mustardlypig @elizrose @fiddleman @catenatus @mertmack1 @gaberlunzi @jwn7882 @griff @oddfitz @genebem @lkholt @taharms48 @picklepastures @phlank @cindylcobb5 @brennan3909 @spqnancy @brenledbetter @andrewbrinker @sy25805 @lulubelle @wlhwildlife @nativefishnic @lovebirder @drtifflipsett @dwboston @chuckd @katelyn3 @miscelaineous @rainahmcintyre @lbullington24 @donaldhapp @nerdywithnature @sbetzen @briangooding @juliayl @lpenn @jbwhite @littlebitt_of_nature @karinsaucedo @rangertreaty50 @radicalsingularity @taosit @justjenny7 @ryan3 @jillnugent @aynhart @birdsbatsandbugs @sara3 @postoak @brendakayforest @sarahg @wilddallas @mnbrewer @sammyjames @danimal @spteng @ntc @fratto @kimberlywalks @wincal @amynature @jimllippert @rmarusak @ordoneznikki @vadalton @jbe_fleischman_fam @pat_ry @mduross @missypelican @karenledet @itsjoprairie @diatomwu @apcorboy @williamedwards @dagmar @happynaturalist @hawkilitle @iheartprairie @rangerrick @rebecca_nh @trantiusrune @carey8 @katiesmith @catkai @bbenz @jaquiring @flowerfreak @jaydubyah @obidaddy @laurastracke @rrichter @luvessy @ninamarieb @valt @cosmiccat @abigailmm @betsymarsh @ceph0761 @lseman @allopatry @collinswill @k8thegr8 @lindamorriss @forester14 @michelleluster @joshmols @cmoret @mikef @mkc123 @colormeamber @corynorris @pollinatorgrrl @donyoung @snapshotswithsheila @schylerbrown @cdpeebles @eangler @naturemom @gregfw @kenttrulsson @anschad @greg1414 @asoberning @magatr0n @christopher46 @stephaniehughes @troutlily57

Posted by sambiology about 6 years ago

Calendar has been marked :)

Posted by rmorgan about 6 years ago

What's the deadline time on April 30 and on May 4 for making observations and for uploading/ ID-ing? Midnight local time, or Greemwich, or what?

Posted by abigailmm about 6 years ago

Can TPWD or MN's get posters up in places like the Nature Centre, LLELA, botanic gardens, TCU etc? Maybe even City of Fort Worth and Dallas City?

Posted by andyk about 6 years ago

How exciting!

Posted by littlebitt_of_nature about 6 years ago

I can't wait!

Posted by sammyjames about 6 years ago

Thanks for the reminder, I have marked my calendar!

Posted by spqnancy about 6 years ago

My yearly Shutterfly photo calendar was created with this printed in ;)

Posted by tfandre about 6 years ago

I can't wait!!! Let's do this Team DFW!!! :)

Posted by jillnugent about 6 years ago

I am so ready!!!!!

Posted by walkingstick2 about 6 years ago

We got this! Go team DFW!!!

Posted by diatomwu about 6 years ago

Sorry for my confusion, is there some place I sign up or do I just post pictures on my Inaturalist site. I also cannot find the map showing where this is taking place. Is it the whole metroplex or just inside Dallas city limits.

Posted by carey8 about 6 years ago

Lets do this! As the Klingons say on Star Trek Qapla! (Success) I am itching to get this underway. I am getting my battle plans perfected. I have been looking forward to this since it was announced.

Posted by galactic_bug_man about 6 years ago

Sounds fun!

Posted by justjenny about 6 years ago

I think I’ll be around Benbrook Lake and the Chisholm Trail Community Center on Saturday the 28th.

Posted by observerjosh about 6 years ago

In 100% and on the calendar!

Posted by wilddallas about 6 years ago

Marked!

Posted by iheartprairie about 6 years ago

Finally hopping on, thanks for tagging me. We are excited to be apart of the challenge again this year!! I'll be with Rio Brazos chapter this year and hope to join a couple other events!

Posted by katelyn3 about 6 years ago

Sounds great! I think I'll go to Cedar Hill State Park.

Posted by cosmiccat about 6 years ago

I'm in! Go DFW!

Posted by rlseman about 6 years ago

@donald_wiese This is the information for City Nature Challenge in DFW April 27-30. Feel free to participate if you're up to it.

Posted by observerjosh almost 6 years ago

If public lands are a high priority for the City Nature Challenge, the range map for the DFW City Nature Challenge takes in all Federal lands administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers surrounding Grapevine, Lewisville, Lavon, Joe Pool and Benbrook Lakes. It also takes in the Denton County portion of Ray Roberts Lake. There is a perimeter of Federal land around each of these lakes although some of the lands are leased to cities and other public entities. Plenty of public land on which to make observations.

Posted by donald_wiese almost 6 years ago

Here is the list of events going on in the DFW metroplex. Again, ANY and ALL observations within the 10 counties that make up DFW count, but if you'd like to gather with other folks, here are the bioblitzes that I know of!

City Nature Challenge - BioBlitz events in DFW

Friday, April 27
Burleson – 9 – Noon at Wakefield Heights Park (704 Elizabeth Dr., Burleson, TX 76028)
Denton – 10:30 – 11:30 AM at UNT Discovery Park at the Pollinator Prairie (3940 N Elm St., Denton, TX 76207)
Dallas – 1 – 2 PM - UTD Campus Monarch/Bee Waystation (2114 University Parkway, Richardson, TX 75080)
Grapevine – 4 – 6 pm at Parr Park (3100 Parr Ln, Grapevine, TX 76051)
Midlothian – 8 – 11 PM - Mothing at Mockingbird Park (1361 Onward Road, Midlothian, TX 76065)
Cedar Hill – 8 – 10 PM - Mothing at Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center (1206 W Fm 1382, Cedar Hill, TX 75104)
Pilot Point – 8 – 10 PM – Moth madness at Ray Roberts State Park (Kid Fish Pond, Ray Roberts State Park, TX 76258)

Saturday, April 28
Flower Mound – 9 – noon at the Flower Mound (2450 Flower Mound Road, TX 75028)
Dallas – 9 – noon - BioBlitz at Crawford Park (8600 Elam Road, Dallas, TX 75217)
Dallas – 9 – noon – BioBlitz at Hines Park (9701 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75220)
McKinney – 9 AM – 1 PM at Heard Museum (1 Nature Pl, McKinney, TX 75069)
Pilot Point – 10 – 11 AM – Bioblitz at Ray Roberts State Park (Kid Fish Pond, Ray Roberts State Park, TX 76258)
Grapevine – 10 – noon at Grapevine Botanical Garden (411 Ball St, Grapevine, TX 76051)
Pilot Point – 11 – noon – How to use iNaturalist (Kid Fish Pond, Ray Roberts State Park, TX 76258)
Flower Mound – 1 – 4 PM at Green Acres Farm Memorial Park (4400 Hide-A-Way Lane, Flower Mound, TX 75022)
Grapevine – 1 - 3 PM at Parr Park (3100 Parr Ln, Grapevine, TX 76051)
Dallas – 2 – 5 PM - BioBlitz at L.B. Houston (1775 California Crossing Road, Dallas, TX 75220)
Pilot Point – 3 – 4 PM – BioBlitz at Ray Roberts State Park (Picnic Pavilion 1, Ray Roberts State Park, TX 76258)
Arlington – 4 – 10 PM – BioBlitz at Southwest Nature Preserve (5201 Bowman Springs Road, Arlington, TX 76060)
Cleburne – 7 – 10 PM – Mothing at Cleburne State Park (Cedar Lodge Patio, Cleburne State Park, TX 76033)
Plano – 6:30 – 9 PM – Night hike at Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve (5901 Los Rios Blvd., Plano, TX 75074)
Fort Worth – 8 – 11 PM – Mothing at Ranches East Park (3801 Lazy River Ranch Road, Roanoke, TX 76262)

Sunday, April 29
Flower Mound – 8 AM – Noon at Cross Timbers Trail (Dunham Road Trailhead, east of Hwy 377, south of FM 1171)
Dallas – Noon – 3 PM - BioBlitz at Emerald Lake (6102 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, TX 75249)
Dallas – 1 - 4 PM - BioBlitz at Twelve Hills Nature Center (817 Mary Cliff Rd, Dallas, TX 75208)
Grapevine – 2 – 4 PM - Nature walk at Meadowmere Park (3000 Meadowmere Ln, Grapevine, TX 76051)
Fort Worth – 2 – 5 PM at Chisolm Trail Community Park (4936 McPherson Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76123)
Argyle – 2 – 5 PM at Lantana Trails (11555 Lantana Trail, Argyle, TX 76226)

Posted by sambiology almost 6 years ago

Hi, Sam! Thanks for the great list. Just wanted to note that the last one on the list, the Lantana Trails event, is actually in Lantana and not Argyle. So, just substitute Lantana where it says Argyle, and you'll know where it is. Our Post Office is in Argyle (several towns share the Argyle PO), but our physical location is Lantana. It's all good, though...Google Maps should get you to the right place with either name.

Posted by naturemom almost 6 years ago

Sam, the Fort Worth Audubon Society is holding its annual Spring Bird Count on Saturday, April 28. It's an all day event. The species counted will only be birds, but I'll try to get as many observations posted as I can. Click here for more info: http://www.fwas.org/showthread.php?3096-2018-Spring-Migration-Bird-Count

Question, the contest is to get as many identifiable observations as possible, not the number of species?

Posted by lovebirder almost 6 years ago

@lovebirder , the competition will be based on 1. total number of observations, 2. number of species, 3. number of participants, and then some other things like... Number of verifiable observations (observations that are wild with photo/sound). There may be some other metrics that we'll look at like endangered/threatened species. :)

With bird lists, you can upload species without evidence (no photos or sounds), and they'll still count in the competition, but ideally, we want verifiable observations. :)

Posted by sambiology almost 6 years ago
Posted by sambiology almost 6 years ago

Are our observations automatically added or do we have to do something special?

Posted by lovebirder almost 6 years ago

Mark your calendar for next year's City Nature Challenge!!!!
April 26-29, 2019!

Stay tuned for more details, but make sure you mark those dates on your calendar! :)

Posted by sambiology over 5 years ago

Sam! It is marked in big bold print!!!!🤸🏾‍♀️🤸🏾‍♀️🤸🏾‍♀️ 🦋🐞🕷🐟

Posted by walkingstick2 over 5 years ago

Calendar is marked :)

Posted by rmorgan over 5 years ago

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