City Nature Challenge 2021 (CNC) is imminent, and this is an invitation to join!
A quick recap below….
Dates for Observations:
Friday 30 April to Monday 3 May 2021 (i.e., all observations to be made during these four days only).
Uploads and Identifications:
Can take place till midnight, Sunday the 9th of May. Do not delay uploads. Identifications must be done by then - so be sure to upload your photos by Friday or Saturday to allow for that.
The Stats
Each area has a dedicated iNaturalist Project which logs numbers of Observations, Species, Observers (and Identifiers) for the four days. The Project page features general information by the respective organisers and Journal items – please follow these. There are status bars on the umbrella Projects, and these allow for easy comparisons between participants. There is also a map and all observations for that city or region will reflect as soon as observations are made Friday the 30th of April. Links are given below.
Identifications:
Please assist where you can.
How:
In South Africa iNaturalist is the vehicle used for CNC, via www.inaturalist.org is the website or free smart phone App. Be smart and become familiar with iNat beforehand. Enquire about training possibilities and people who can help you in your area: Contact Christine wessageorge@isat.co.za.
Where in the Garden Route?
Within the boundaries of the Garden Route District Municipality (GRDM) - plus two nautical miles to sea!
The seven local municipalities are:
Hessequa, Mossel Bay, George, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Oudtshoorn & Kannaland.
What to record:
Photographs of organisms and plants that are where they want to be.
Natural and wild but does not have to be indigenous.
For CNC captive and cultivated organisms count as observations too. Please mark as Captive/Cultivated, but preferably only in retrospect after an ID has been confirmed (become Research Grade).
Focus & Reminders:
Focus on good quality observations:
Clear, identifiable photographs.
Often more than one photo is needed to get to an identification!
Only one species per observation.
No unnecessary multiple observations of the same plant or organism.
Please focus on quality and as wide as possible variety of species.
Make sure you know where your photos are taken.
Check that the date, time, and time zone on device are all correct!
Synchronise time on devices, for example when using a GPS or tracker together with a camera for georeferencing.
CNC Projects on iNaturalist:
There are umbrella Projects which feature the various areas. Click on the relevant bar to view the city or area you are interested in. For easy access Bookmark the frequently used sites on your browser.
Global: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2021
GR: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2021-garden-route
SA: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-southern-africa-2021
Six cities or regions are taking part in southern Africa: Cape Town, Gaborone & SE Botswana, Tshwane, eThekwini, Nelson Mandela Bay, Garden Route are taking part in the 2021 event. However, observations from ANYWHERE outside the registered places are welcome and are accommodated for.
All Project Statistics will start running on the 30th of April. After the 9th of May, the Project stats for identifications will keep running and change over time.
News & Guidance:
Follow the news items posted on the South African and Garden Route Project pages (remember to read the Journal items too) as well as Facebook and on the iNaturalist South Africa & Garden Route City Nature Challenge Facebook pages.
GR: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2021-garden-route
SA: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-southern-africa-2021
Facebook
https://web.facebook.com/GardenRouteCNC/
or @GardenRouteCNC
& @iNatureZA
There is a wealth of information on the Project pages of the previous CNC’s. iNat curator, Dr Tony Rebelo also gives marvellous guidance during the CNC and Identification process. It is very helpful – please follow. There are useful links (e.g., to municipal boundaries, habitats and reserves, prizes) and sections dealing with Frequently Asked Questions on the Garden Route Projects pages. Users can also contact Shaun Swanepoel via the Project page. He is one of the main organisers on the Garden Route and manages the iNaturalist Project page and Garden Route City Nature Challenge Facebook feed.
Bioblitz Events:
Encourage interested parties to arrange mini surveys in area that interest them and notify Shaun Swanepoel. He’ll add these to the GR Project page. Anyone is most welcome to pitch in and have fun.
Training:
Various training options are available. Videos, live online sessions and many experienced iNaturalist users and trainers on the Garden Route who can help you. It is a good idea to become familiar with the website and smart phone App before the City Nature Challenge weekend.
Lovely Prizes:
A handover ceremony will be held at the Garden Route Botanical Gardens on 22 May 2021 at 14h30 for the lovely prizes:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2021-garden-route/journal/50042-up-for-grabs-to-6-lucky-participants-of-the-garden-route-city-nature-challenge
General Reminders:
NB!!!: Routinely check that dates, times, time zones are correct on all the devices & that these are in sync if you use a separate tracking device to your camera.
Do sweeps of your observations to check that your localities are correct. Phones sometimes add weird locations! You do want your observation to be inside the GR.
Another NB!!! Please Monitor your Activity on iNaturalist at least once or more a day during CNC and also keep your input up to date on other people’s observations. “Hanging ID’s” are very inconsiderate to other users, especially CNC time. Do not hesitate to add notes at your own observations or a comment for other users to clarify things. People mostly do not read minds well 😉.
All prevailing Covid-19 protocols are to be followed during CNC 2021
Global: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2021
GR: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2021-garden-route
SA: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-southern-africa-2021
https://web.facebook.com/GardenRouteCNC/
or @GardenRouteCNC
& @iNatureZA
https://m.facebook.com/CitynaturechallengeCT/events/ (short, online, themed training options)
http://citynaturechallenge.org
Garden Route City Nature Challenge Core Committee
Shaun Swanepoel: grd.cnc@gmail.com
Christine Ridge Schnaufer: wessageorge@isat.co.za
Foot Note – Last year’s Project pages:
2020 – Challenge completed, but ID stats continue to run:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2020
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2020-cape-town
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2020-garden-route
City Nature Challenge is a joint initiative of Project of California Academy of Sciences and Natural History Museum
www.iNaturalist.org is a joint California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic venture
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