2020 Review of nature at Southwest Nature Preserve

Using iNaturalist’s “Year in Review 2020” post as inspiration, we’ve taken a look at what happened at SWNP during 2020, as seen through iNaturalist Observations.

Totals: Observations - 3,295; Species - 761; Identifiers - 432; Observers - 74

First observation of 2020: made by pynklynx (Jack-o'-lantern Mushrooms (Genus Omphalotus)) on January 1. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/37172471

Last observation of 2020: made by Jim Frisinger (Silver Bluestem (Bothriochloa laguroides)) on December 28. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/67357312

Below are our top observers for 2020

Top Observers:
Rank	iNaturalist ID	Name	# Observations	# Species
1	bob777	Bob O’Kennon	589	284
2	brentano	Brent Franklin	472	206
3	charley	Charley Amos	294	156
4	sambiology	Sam Kieschnick	236	179
5	apcorboy	Annabelle Corboy	177	103
6	postoak	Jan Miller	158	83

During 2019, the largest number of observations by far were made in April, but during 2020, April was a big month, but so were June, September, and October. A week in April benefited from the City Nature Challenge and a week in September from the Fall DFW Socially Distant BioBlitz, but once COVID driven socially distance guidelines were in force, SWNP was busy until November.

More Observation counts:

Animals - 1137 Fungi - 146 Plants - 2005

Most common bird (Aves) Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 16 Observations

Most common mammal (Mammalia) Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger) 4 Observations

Most common class of animal was Insecta, with 815 Observations. Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) 41 Observations. Eastern Pondhawk was a repeat in popularity from 2019

Most common spider (Arachnida) Green Lynx Spider (Peucetia viridans) 6 observations

 

Many fungi observations are not identified to the Species level The most common ID of a species was Splitgill Mushroom (Schizophyllum commune) 4 observations

Most common plant (Plantae) 369 Species observed during 2020. Most common - Blackjack Oak (Quercus marilandica) 30 observations

Click here for more numbers and photos

To checkout iNaturalist’s Year in Review 2020, use this link - https://www.inaturalist.org/stats/2020