sambiology's Journal

So, spring has sprung, and the observations are a'coming in numbers... The trend will continue into April, and the city nature challenge is going to be bonkers with new observations!

Just this past week, in TX alone, there were 19,000 observations:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?created_d1=2019-03-24&created_d2=2019-03-30&place_id=18&subview=grid

Lots of new observers too! It's a good thing overall, but some of the observations (particularly from the students being forced to make them) are a bit lacking...

Anyways, a shout out to all of the folks adding in ID's for others! Thank you big time. Just as an encouragement, know that when you add an ID to an observation, it welcomes the observer to the naturalist community. So, please, keep it up!

I've decided to focus a bit more at a region than at a particular taxon or group. Be sure to use the identify screen with a filter for the place -- you can filter by county or by general region (if there's a place created).
I usually use the "cross timbers and blackland prairies ecoregion" place:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=128161&subview=grid

Now that more and more observations are coming in, I'll narrow it down to the "DFW metroplex:"
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=57484&subview=grid

Filter by county, filter by state, or filter by taxon -- each and every ID welcomes new observers! :)

So, April is sneaking up on me, but I know of a few events going on in the DFW metroplex for the City Nature Challenge this year! Please let me know if you know more details, and I can update. Also, if you know of other places where bioblitzes are happening, leave a comment!

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

@bouteloua is a rockstar. :)

cassi put together this great page that shows some of the tips and tricks on iNat. I highly suggest you check these out:
http://www.cassisaari.com/inaturalist-tips-tricks/

Now, we just need to convince cassi to come down and visit us in Texas some day! :)

iNaturalist is freaking awesome.

I'm sure that people did bird watching before binoculars, folks gazed up at the stars without a telescope, and people looked close at stuff without magnifying glasses/microscopes. However, because of those tools, the activities were amplified by a tremendous amount!

iNaturalist is a tool that makes traveling so much more fun. I went to Florida last month, and I was blown away by how different it is than Texas -- the wildlife was so unique and amazing. I took photos of a whole slew of things that I had no clue of their identity. However, I knew that when I uploaded them onto iNaturalist, I'd be able to find out the names (or at least get an idea of how to search for them).

I'm extremely grateful to all of the naturalists that spend time going over observations and give ID's. It's such a welcoming act of sharing your knowledge about a taxon or location. It makes the data better, and it is definitely appreciated by the naturalists making the observations! It feels good to know what to call something. :)

I actually like the concept of 'lifers' too -- this is a species that I hadn't seen before (or at least, one that I hadn't documented before). It's likely pretty silly, but I enjoy seeing a critter or plant or fungi for the first time. That organism has existed on the planet for millennia, and I'm fortunate to see it! I'm challenging myself to not just learn the name of a 'lifer,' but to learn a bit more about it -- the stuff it's related to, how it lives, the various adaptations it has, and where all it's found. The name is the first step of the learning process.

Another neat thing about iNaturalist is that one doesn't have to travel far to go exploring! :) Even when I go to a new park, I realize that there's going to be new stuff for me -- even if they're species that I've seen before, I hadn't seen them before in that exact area or that exact time. What fun to explore! :)

So yep, iNaturalist is pretty cool. I'm super lucky to use this tool and be part of this community.

Quote from @scottking 's great new book (https://www.amazon.com/Following-Earth-Around-Scott-King/dp/1545508402/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1549862387&sr=8-1&keywords=following+the+earth+around)
"Names introduce species to humanity... All awareness, conservation, and research starts with the question: What species is that?" ~K.D. Dijkstra

So, I'm super excited about going to south Florida. Big time thanks to these folks for suggestions and advice: @susanhewitt @gcwarbler @joemdo @alisonnorthup @madisong @raulagrait @tpalmer @lovebirder @oddfitz @bennypoo

Here's the main agenda (with fabric store visitations as well)...

18 Jan, Fri
Get into Miami international at around 1 pm, start heading north...
Once Upon a Quilt, Stitchcraft, Sew Much Fun (quilt stores in Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton)
Hugh Taylor Birch State Park
Stay in Boca Raton

19 Jan, Sat
Drive south
Bill Boggs Cape State Park on Key Biscayne
Castellow Hammock Preserve and Nature Center?
*look for Red-whiskered bulbul around South Glenver Heights
Stay in Homestead

20 Jan, Sun
Drive to Keys!
John Pennekap Coral Reef State Park
Stay in Marathon

21 Jan, Mon
Everglades!!! (hopefully not completely abused or trashed out from the gov't shut down...)
Stay in Homestead (or drive towards Naples in evening and stay there)

22 Jan, Tues
Drive to Naples
Flash Sew and Quilt (quilt store)
Collier Seminole State Park
Stay at Sanibel Island

23 Jan, Wed
Early shell hunting at Sanibel!
Three-Crafty Ladies (quilt store)
Hopefully more shell hunting throughout day...
Stay in Fort Myers

24 Jan, Thurs
Maybe jump back down to Sanibel...?

Quilt Lovers Hangout, Susie Q's Quilts and Sewing Center (quilt stores)
LaBelle Nature Park
Manatee Park
Stay again in Fort Myers

25 Jan, Fri
Drive to Clewiston
Taylor Creek Conservation Area?
Maybe stay around Lake Okeechobee

26 Jan, Sat
Pam's Fabric Nook, Quilter's Choice, Lara's Sewing and Quilt Shop (end of quilt shopping!)
Lake Park Scrub Natural Area?
Fly out in the PM...

That's the general agenda so far! It's a bit of a whirlwind of a trip, but I think it'll give me a good flavor of the different areas around South Florida. While my wife is in the fabric stores, I'll be around the ditches, getting some of the weeds and maybe some bugs. :) Hopefully the weather cooperates for the nature stuff. If I'm missing some crazy good nature spots, or some of my nature parks/spots should be skipped, PLEASE let me know! Oh, and if you know of any other fabric stores, please let me know that too. ;)

Using the observations from Jan, Feb, and December in this area for some ID help:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?month=1,2,12&nelat=26.940636858221612&nelng=-79.85941509111592&place_id=any&subview=grid&swlat=24.215863298237775&swlng=-82.54496211512753

Oh, and if you're in/around South Florida at this time, toss me a text!
817 771 8793

iNaturalist connects people with nature and to each other.

I joined iNaturalist in September of 2013 when I was introduced to it by Derek Broman, a former Texas Parks and Wildlife Urban Wildlife Biologist. I just used the app... and well... I was a bit bored. I even thought it was kind of lame. I think I deleted it from my phone! I didn't really get the full effect of iNat by just using the app...

I returned to it later on by visiting and exploring the website. It didn't take too long, and I was totally hooked. Since 10 March 2015 (1,374 days ago), I've been making at least one iNat observation a day... I do this to make a point: each day we interact with nature! I interact with it by observing it.

The first word that some folks associate with me is "iNaturalist." I take this as a big compliment! A few of my professional colleagues put it as a "one trick pony" kind of tool, but I know what it really is -- a powerful network, extensive database, and valuable professional development tool.

First of all, I've learned a tremendous amount from using iNaturalist. I can identify lots of the bugs and plants and birds from around my area and beyond. This skill is not innate -- it's a learned skill by using iNat. I've also become a much more broad naturalist. When I worked in a herbarium, I was so narrowly focused towards plants that I became oblivious to all other organisms. With iNat, I finally appreciate the entire ecosystem. And, I've found out that I've got a lot more to learn! I love this.

I've used iNaturalist professionally a lot too. As I work with land managers (public and private), I show them just how many different critters and plants that use the land by what we've documented. BioBlitzes have extreme power in influencing management and policy decisions. I'm fortunate to be in a position as an urban wildlife biologist where I can translate the results of a bioblitz or of citizen science to the policy makers and land managers. I've been pleased to see some positive results.

I'll be totally honest: using iNaturalist makes me really happy. Like, seriously happy. It's just a tool that connects me with nature and with other naturalists, but for whatever reason, I really really REALLY enjoy using iNat. I think of the genuinely good friends that I've met (or haven't even met in person yet), and that's a cool feeling. As I've read some of the correspondence of naturalists of the past (Darwin, Audubon, Wallace, Lincecum, Lindheimer, etc...), I can feel what they feel when they write to their fellow naturalists and friends. It's the same sort of experience (with a modern touch) that I get through using iNat! It connects me with fellow naturalists that are curious and passionate about nature. What a cool feeling.

So, I'm giving a little bit back to iNaturalist financially. I'm really glad that iNat has this new feature: https://www.inaturalist.org/donate I'm not able to give as much as I'd want to (I do work for the State, remember?!?), but I'm willing to drop a few coins in the bucket.

Of course, there should never be an obligation in this, but if you've enjoyed using iNaturalist, I encourage you to write up a little journal entry on it. It'd be fun to read how you use and enjoy iNat. It's fun to read journal entries: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal

I'm extremely lucky to be part of this community. The nature is real, and the naturalists are real -- this tool connects us all. Woo hoo! :)

So, what are you doing like 6 months from now? Let's gather for another fun TX bioblitz!

@pfau_tarleton had mentioned a fairly recently acquired piece of land by Tarleton State University in Mills County (central TX) that would be a nice spot for a bioblitz. Most importantly, Mills County has very few observations, so this will be a fun way to fill some gaps and document lots of stuff.

Russell Pfau has put together this document about the bioblitz/gathering:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1cmBB7JuZvEu1iIWFNmWKAQrf2Mj6itnSRUGIte03-nw

Just in case, here it is copy and pasted:

Tarleton State University’s Timberlake Biological Field Station is an educational and research facility located on the Colorado River in the heart of Texas--midway between Austin and Abilene. The 790 acre property has approximately 2.88 miles of river frontage. Information about the facility can be found here: https://www.tarleton.edu/programs/timberlakeranch
https://www.facebook.com/TimberlakeRanchTarleton/

Observations at the Field Station (within the polygon encompassing the property) can be found here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=118103

The facility is correctly located on Google maps. Coordinates are 31.269722,-98.6245465.

Nearest airports: Killeen-Fort Hood Regional (64 miles away) and Austin-Bergstrom International (110 miles away)

For overnight accommodations onsite, there is plenty of room for tents, and restroom facilities with showers are at the camping area. A small bunkhouse is available, but as of now, all the bunkbeds are taken! Goldthwaite is the closest town (16 miles away) and has a couple of small-town motels. San Saba is 30 miles away with more upscale hotel accommodations and B&Bs. Most of this mileage is on gravel roads (to both Goldthwaite and San Saba), so expect the drive to San Saba to take up to an hour depending on road conditions.

Electricity is available near the camping area, which is adjacent to the river bottom.

Drugs and alcohol are strictly prohibited at the field station.

For more information, contact Russell Pfau.
pfau@tarleton.edu
iNaturalist: @pfau_tarleton

Also, in the bioblitzes of the past, we've gone to several locations, and there are some nice other spots nearby: Colorado Bend State Park and Lake Brownwood State Park aren't too too far away. But, I'm planning on staying at Timberlake to document as much as possible. Should be a blast! :)

If you want to see the bioblitz from last year, enjoy what @tiwane put together: https://vimeo.com/286463430

Please let me know if you can make it, or if you have any questions/concerns. :) Oh, and tag other folks that you want to include.

A wonderful paper that folks should print out and read! (or just read...)

Big time kudos to @jmheberling @huntingbon and @mmwebb for publishing this. As someone who worked in a herbarium (BRIT) for just a few years, I too really appreciate iNaturalist as a supplemental tool to the natural history collection of plants. Now, I'm using the tool as a supplement to public engagement on land management and public policy. Faults it may indeed have, but there's a tremendous amount of benefit that this tool gives all of us.

It's a great article! Well done.

Heberling, J. M., and B. L. Isaac. 2018. iNaturalist as a tool to expand the research value of museum specimens. Applications in Plant Sciences 6(11): e1193. (8 pages)

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/aps3.1193

I do adore iNaturalist -- those that know me know that I'm totally bonkers about iNat. I learn so much personally, I use it a lot professionally, and it's great fun. :)

Venting alert!

I know this is a magnificent tool, but it drains me when a school uses it without LOADS of guidance from the teachers/professors. iNat has a wonderful teacher's guide, and I wish wish wish that more teachers would use it.

This is not to say that some students don't totally run with the tool and provide some magnificent records. However, for that to happen, lots of stewardship of the data has to come from the teachers.

I'm putting all of this in a journal entry to let you know how I typically deal with student observations. It's fairly easy to see a student observation -- it's around a school, and it's usually a cultivated plant or classroom pet. :) I usually spam lots and lots of the observations with something along these lines:

.............

If you would, please tell your teacher/professor to give some extra guidance on how to use iNaturalist properly. Some of these observations could use some extra help.

He/she should look at all of these observations, give some pointers on the difference between cultivated/captive and wild organisms, and assist with how to properly take pictures for identification.
http://www.inaturalist.org/pages/teacher's+guide
Thanks!
Also, if there is a great getting started page that you should check out too:
http://www.inaturalist.org/pages/getting+started

...........

In some cases, I'll even create a place all around the campus of the school and link to that so that the teacher could use it to watch all of the observations coming in...

By all means, feel free to copy and paste this message (or modify it as you'd like to) and post it as much as you'd like on student observations! :)

So, there are quite a few bioblitz events going on in and around the DFW area this fall. I had been meaning to put together this list for a while, and hopefully it's not too late to toss some of these on your calendar.

If you know of others, please comment with the details!!!

Saturday, September 29
5 - 9:30 PM
Overton Ridge Park, Keller
Happy birthday bioblitz to Kimberlietx! (and Brentano the day before)

Lots of details here:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/kimberlietx/18784-keller-bioblitz-sept-29th-5pm-9-30pm

Wednesday, Friday - Saturday, October 10, 12-13
Various times
Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area
Please join me for some blacklighting on Wednesday and Friday evenings, and then lots of various events and objectives for Saturday! Details: https://www.llela.org/activities-programs/bioblitz

Saturday, October 20
1 - 3 PM
Harry Moss Park, Dallas
After a volunteer project to work on removing invasives in the AM, folks are going to document some of the pollinators around Harry S Moss Park in Dallas. This will be with the TPWD Pollinator BioBlitz.
https://www.dallasparks.org/415/Harry-S-Moss

Saturday, October 20
7:30 - 9:30 PM
Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center, Cedar Hill
Blacklighting and documenting some of the nocturnal critters at Dogwood Canyon.
https://www.visitdallas.com/things-to-do/events/view/7170/Dogwood-Canyon-Audubon-Center.html

Saturday, November 3
9 am - noon
Oliver Nature Park, Mansfield
https://www.mansfieldtexas.gov/event/7567/fall-mini-bio-blitz-all-ages

Saturday, November 10
9 am - noon
Rockwall (location TBD) -- more details coming!

BioBlitzes are fun. :)