City Nature Challenge 2019: Dallas/Fort Worth's Journal

07 May, 2019

DFW did GREAT this City Nature Challenge! Again the winner: nature!

DFW results: 7th globally in observations, 9th in species, and 10th in observers! This is incredible!

In Texas, DFW is 1st in both observations and observers and 2nd in species. Amazing.

We documented 2626 species in 36384 observations by 1012 observers. Also, huge props to the folks that dedicated time to ID’ing other folks’ observations. 62% of the observations were identified or verified by others. This is great, and super helpful. If you’re still up for it, there are about 12k observations that are still awaiting ID’s or verifications: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/identify?project_id=city-nature-challenge-2019-dallas-fort-worth

Across the board, we did better than last year and the year before!
2018: 35048 observations of 2441 species by 826 observers
2017: 24077 observations of 2309 species by 542 observers

Most importantly, these numbers are being used. Each observation gives information on where something is found in space and time, and when combined with all of other other observations, we have a pretty good idea of what’s out there! Overtime, this information is becoming more and more useful – we can compare this data to future data. Each time you make an observation, recognize this!

Also, this information is being used by public land managers and policy makers. They’re seeing the biodiversity in the area, but just as importantly, they’re seeing the constituency of naturalists that seek out areas of biodiversity. This is meaningful!

Great job to all! Don’t let the observations stop – it’s still spring and wildlife wants to be documented! ;) Many thanks to all the participants of this year’s City Nature Challenge. It was a great one!

Posted on 07 May, 2019 19:45 by sambiology sambiology | 2 comments | Leave a comment

24 April, 2019

City Nature Challenge this weekend! Friday - Monday -- ready?!? We need you!

The weather should be nice. The critters and plants are gonna be out. Let's document EVERYTHING! City Nature Challenge - April 26-29... Any observation made within DFW (10 counties around DFW: Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant and Wise) will automatically count... Must be uploaded before May 5th. WE (Nature in DFW) NEED YOU!

Lots of events going on, although you don't have to attend any of these to participate:
Friday, 26 April:
Tarleton State University Fort Worth Campus Bioblitz: 9 am – 5 pm *
Coyote Loop in Burleson: noon – 3 PM *
UT Dallas Monarch Waystation (meet at gazebo): 11 am - 1 pm
Windmill Garden at Brookhaven College: 1:30 - 3:30 pm
LLELA bioblitz: 2 pm - 8:30 pm
Mothing at Mockingbird Nature Park, Midlothian: 8 pm - 10 pm *
Bat BioBlitz in Parr Park, Grapevine: 7:30 pm - 9 pm

Saturday, 27 April:
Elise Walker Outdoor Learning Center, Irving: 7:30 am - 9:30 am
Parr Park, Grapevine, how to use iNat and bioblitz: 9 am - 11 am
Dogwood Canyon bioblitz at Cedar Ridge Preserve: 9 am – noon
Dallas Parks and Rec BioBlitz at Gatewark Park on Jim Miller Road: 9 am – noon *
Blackland Prairie Conservatory and Atelier in Dallas: 10 am - noon
SouthWest Nature Preserve: 2 pm - 5 pm
LLELA bioblitz and mothing: 7:30 am - midnight *
Fort Worth Nature Center NatureCon: 9 am – 3 pm
Coppell Nature Park: 10 am - noon

Sunday, 28 April:
Twelve Hills, Dallas: 10 am - noon
Heard Museum, McKinney: 1 pm – 3 pm
Meadowmere Park in Grapevine bioblitz: 1 pm - 4 pm
Lakewood Outdoor Learning Area, Dallas: 1 pm – 3 pm
Chisholm Trail Community Park in Fort Worth: 2 pm – 5 pm

Monday, 29 April:
Frisco Commons Park :8:15 am - 9:15 am

I hope hope hope that you will participate. It'll be great fun!

Also, very important here: this data is going to be used. We can monitor the biodiversity around DFW, we can see where and when species exist, we can see which areas have high/low amounts of natural variety. I promise that we also use it to show the policy makers and public land managers this biodiversity AND the people that care about it. They recognize a constituency. So, yes, we need you big time. I hope you'll participate! :)

Feel free to reach out to me @sambiology, sam.kieschnick@tpwd.texas.gov, sambiology@gmail.com, or my cell: 214 215 5605

Posted on 24 April, 2019 15:32 by sambiology sambiology | 32 comments | Leave a comment

06 March, 2019

DFW events! Please post if you know of others!

Friday, 26 April:
Tarleton State University Fort Worth Campus Bioblitz: 9 am – 5 pm *
Coyote Loop in Burleson: noon – 3 PM
UT Dallas Monarch Waystation (meet at gazebo): 11 am - 1 pm
Windmill Garden at Brookhaven College: 1:30 - 3:30 pm
LLELA bioblitz: 2 pm - 8:30 pm
Mothing at Mockingbird Nature Park, Midlothian: 8 pm - 10 pm *
Bat BioBlitz in Parr Park, Grapevine: 7:30 pm - 9 pm

Saturday, 27 April:
Elise Walker Outdoor Learning Center, Irving: 7:30 am - 9:30 am
Parr Park, Grapevine, how to use iNat and bioblitz: 9 am - 11 am
Dogwood Canyon bioblitz at Cedar Ridge Preserve: 9 am – noon
Dallas Parks and Rec BioBlitz at Gatewark Park on Jim Miller Road: 9 am – noon *
Blackland Prairie Conservatory and Atelier in Dallas: 10 am - noon
SouthWest Nature Preserve: 2 pm - 5 pm
LLELA bioblitz and mothing: 7:30 am - midnight *
Fort Worth Nature Center NatureCon: 9 am – 3 pm
Coppell Nature Park: 10 am - noon

Sunday, 28 April:
Twelve Hills, Dallas: 10 am - noon
Heard Museum, McKinney: 1 pm – 3 pm
Meadowmere Park in Grapevine bioblitz: 1 pm - 4 pm
Lakewood Outdoor Learning Area, Dallas: 1 pm – 3 pm
Chisholm Trail Community Park in Fort Worth: 2 pm – 5 pm

Monday, 29 April:
Frisco Commons Park: 8:15 am - 9:15 am

Posted on 06 March, 2019 03:11 by sambiology sambiology | 3 comments | Leave a comment

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