DC Area iNaturalists Get Creative as Event Opens to Steady Rain

Washington DC area iNaturalists are chomping at the bit as the first day of the City Nature Challenge 2018 opens to a steady rain. Anticipating the bad weather conditions, @carrieseltzer was first out of the gate at the stroke of midnight with a flashlight-illuminated ichneumonid. Not to be outdone, @krosenthal scored the second observation with a shot of raccoon footprints on a trash can (which have surely washed off by now), reminding us that observations can also include tracks, nests, scat, shells, bones, etc., not just living organisms. A fine shield lichen represented Family Parmeliaceae in @ana_kaahanui’s stunning shot submitted at 00:06, representing the best in midnight botanizing. @dbarber got mileage out of some nocturnal nuisance species with observations of an Indian meal moth, a garden-munching Eastern cottontail, and audio evidence of a very loud mockingbird before retiring for the evening.

Meanwhile, in arch-rival city Baltimore, National Aquarium staff member @mduffy submitted a stunning triple photo of a celery leaftier moth, demonstrating that an overturned jar is a great way to photograph the underside of any tiny animal that would prefer escaping to becoming an iNaturalist observation. Early the next morning, Mduffy’s Aquarium colleague @laurabankey captured observations of a sleepy earthworm, soon to be followed by many plant observations in the weak morning light. Clearly the Baltimore team will be a force to be reckoned with and will keep the DC team on their toes as they try to keep up!

Back in the DC area, @jacobogre has pulled into the lead as of this writing with multiple observations from Charles County MD. @jmgconsult is not far behind with native and exotic plant observations from the Hyattsville area, and @arbiess has Front Royal, VA covered with bird feeder observations representing both mammals and birds. @jyeingst and @christopherhugh have also submitted multiple valuable observations.

As weather conditions remain bleak through the morning, anticipate a string of DC-area sightings heavy with rain-soaked outdoors organisms liberally sprinkled with cellar and garage creepy crawlies (ahem, invertebrates).

Great job iNaturalists, keep those observations coming!

Posted on April 27, 2018 12:30 PM by dbarber