If you have any questions, queries or suggestions Shaun is your GoTo person
https://www.inaturalist.org/messages/new
In the "TO" block and type
Shaun Swanepoel (the username shauns will be displayed. click it)
Voilà, you can send your message
Just remember to press the "Send" button at the bottom.
https://botanicalsociety.org.za/botsoc-webinar-citizen.../
or watch the video on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w3ZwMCV520
All projects participating in the City Nature Challenge 2021 in Southern Africa
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-southern-africa-2021
Note: the City Nature Challenge 2021 Southern Africa rural is not an official project. This project catches all the other observations outside those registered. It may be key to highlighting where other CNC projects could be formed.
Please see our Facebook page for the courses available free if you want to get ready for the City Nature Challenge.
All courses are 15-30 minutes with lots of time for questions and discussion. Please feel free to join.
https://www.facebook.com/CitynaturechallengeCT/events/
Please join both this project and the Facebook page to get the most from the Event.
FREE access to the Garden Route Botanical Garden on offer to the public to access the gardens for the City Nature Challenge days (29 April 21 to 04 May 21).
One person, one phone.
All you need to do is display an active iNaturalist account on your phone. (Active: means display a registered account to iNaturalist on your phone to the gate staff.)
An iNaturalist account is also FREE.
Download the App from your favourite store and discover the wonders of the Garden Route Botanical Garden in the heart of George.
https://www.botanicalgarden.org.za/
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/garden-route-botanical-garden-biodiversity
Cape Nature, SANParks, and the Garden Route Botanical Gardens have all offered incentives for lucky observers.
Details to follow
The City Nature Challenge runs from the 29th of April 21 to 03 May 21.
All you need to do is participate in the Garden Route City Nature Challenge over the above dates to qualify.
See criteria below for different prizes.
We would like to reward 6 lucky participants with the following.
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2021-garden-route
Garden Route Botanical Garden is offering 4 Annual Memberships to the Garden for 1 person each.
To qualify for this draw, you must have uploaded a minimum of 40 identifiable Observations depicting no less than 20 Species over the above dates. Remember 1 observation is for 1 species. Do not upload multiple species into 1 observation.
1 Person = 1 Annual membership. 4 Total.
https://www.botanicalgarden.org.za/
SAN Parks is offering 1 ticket for 4 people to visit Ebb and Flow in Wilderness. Also includes access to canoeing. Valid until end of November 2021.
To qualify for this draw, you must have uploaded a minimum of 80 identifiable Observations depicting no less than 40 Species over the above dates. Remember 1 observation is for 1 species. Do not upload multiple species into 1 observation.
https://www.sanparks.org/
Cape Nature is offering 1 ticket for 2 nights for 4 people at either Goukamma, Gamkaberg or Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserves. Valid for 6 months from date of issue.
To qualify for this draw, you must have uploaded a minimum of 160 identifiable Observations depicting no less than 60 Species over the above dates. Remember 1 observation is for 1 species. Do not upload multiple species into 1 observation.
https://www.capenature.co.za/
Thank you to all for their generous sponsorship to this great challenge.
Terms & Conditions
• Competition entries shall be judged, or winners selected based on those criteria specified.
• No cash alternative to the prizes will be offered. The prizes are not transferable. Prizes are subject to availability and we reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice.
• We may undertake publicity activities relating to competitions and prize awards. The winner therefore agrees to the use of their name, photograph and disclosure of town or region of residence in any post-prize-winning publicity names, surnames, towns or regions of residence and prize details.
• Competition shall open for entries at the time and on the date specified by the City Nature Challenge.
• Prizes will only be valid for observations and species taken within the Garden Route District Municipality.
• Any observation received before the opening or after the closing of the competition will be invalid and will not be entered into the competition.
• All observations must be uploaded to the iNaturalist platform (https://www.inaturalist.org/). Either via the web, or through the cell phone app.
• Winners will be drawn as soon as the results for the City Nature Challenge is official worldwide (within 5 days after the 9th of May 21).
• Reasonable efforts will be made to contact the prize winner for 10 days but if the winner fails to respond to our notification attempts within this time or fails to meet any of the eligibility requirements or is otherwise unable to comply with the competition terms and conditions, we reserve the right to disqualify that entrant and offer the prize to the next eligible entrant and thereafter until a winner is found.
• Winners will be notified on our Facebook platform (facebook.com/GardenRouteCNC). On the Garden Route City Nature Challenge project page. And, through a personal notification to the winners iNaturalist messenger service.
• A handover ceremony will be held at the Garden Route Botanical Gardens on 22 May 2021 @ 14h30.
• No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received for whatever reason.
• We reserve the right to cancel or amend the competition and these terms and conditions without notice.
• If a competition entrant does not meet the eligibility requirements or is subject to any entry restrictions, that entrant shall not be entitled to be adjudged a winner and will not be entitled to a prize in any circumstances.
• Our decision in respect of all matters to do with the competition will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
• All participants uploading observations will be eligible for the prizes and will be deemed as acceptance of all these terms and conditions.
• You warrant to us that all observations uploaded are your own, that you own all of the copyright in those entries, and that our use of the entries in accordance with these rules will not infringe any person's intellectual property rights or other legal rights.
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
Do you want to take photos using your cell phone, but concerned you run out of data, or use all your data?
You can turn off automatic uploading while in field. Then when you back to Wi-Fi connect and synchronize everything.
Do not turn off your data, as your GPS will not work then.
See the example pics where to go change the settings on the app.
For iPhone, and Android.
Make sure when you get to Wi-Fi you unselect these options.
Important. Do not close the app until everything has been synchronized.
See post in Facebook for pictures of settings:
https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=306089534262983&id=101835558021716&scmts=scwspsdd
Birds – (Needs ID & Casual)
Grid format:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?captive=true&place_id=any&project_id=city-nature-challenge-2021-garden-route&quality_grade=needs_id&verifiable=any&iconic_taxa=Aves
Identify format:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/identify?quality_grade=needs_id%2Ccasual&iconic_taxa=Aves&project_id=86747&place_id=any
Amphibians – (Needs ID & Casual)
Grid format:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?captive=true&place_id=any&project_id=city-nature-challenge-2021-garden-route&quality_grade=needs_id&verifiable=any&iconic_taxa=Amphibia
Identify format:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/identify?quality_grade=needs_id%2Ccasual&iconic_taxa=Amphibia&project_id=86747&place_id=any
Reptiles – (Needs ID & Casual)
Grid format:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?captive=true&place_id=any&project_id=city-nature-challenge-2021-garden-route&quality_grade=needs_id&verifiable=any&iconic_taxa=Reptilia
Identify format:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/identify?quality_grade=needs_id%2Ccasual&iconic_taxa=Reptilia&project_id=86747&place_id=any
Mammals – (Needs ID & Casual)
Grid format:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?captive=true&place_id=any&project_id=city-nature-challenge-2021-garden-route&quality_grade=needs_id&verifiable=any&iconic_taxa=Mammalia
Identify format:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/identify?quality_grade=needs_id%2Ccasual&iconic_taxa=Mammalia&project_id=86747&place_id=any
Fish – (Needs ID & Casual)
Grid format:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?captive=true&place_id=any&project_id=city-nature-challenge-2021-garden-route&quality_grade=needs_id&verifiable=any&iconic_taxa=Actinopterygii
Identify format:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/identify?quality_grade=needs_id%2Ccasual&iconic_taxa=Actinopterygii&project_id=86747&place_id=anyhttps://www.inaturalist.org/observations/identify?quality_grade=needs_id%2Ccasual&iconic_taxa=Actinopterygii&project_id=86747&place_id=any
Mollusks – (Needs ID & Casual)
Grid format:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?captive=true&place_id=any&project_id=city-nature-challenge-2021-garden-route&quality_grade=needs_id&verifiable=any&iconic_taxa=Mollusca
Identify format:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/identify?quality_grade=needs_id%2Ccasual&iconic_taxa=Mollusca&project_id=86747&place_id=any
Arachnids – (Needs ID & Casual)
Grid format:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?captive=true&place_id=any&project_id=city-nature-challenge-2021-garden-route&quality_grade=needs_id&verifiable=any&iconic_taxa=Arachnida
Identify format:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/identify?quality_grade=needs_id%2Ccasual&iconic_taxa=Arachnida&project_id=86747&place_id=any
Insects – (Needs ID & Casual)
Grid format:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?captive=true&place_id=any&project_id=city-nature-challenge-2021-garden-route&quality_grade=needs_id&verifiable=any&iconic_taxa=Insecta
Identify format:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/identify?quality_grade=needs_id%2Ccasual&iconic_taxa=Insecta&project_id=86747&place_id=any
Plants – (Needs ID & Casual)
Grid format:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?captive=true&place_id=any&project_id=city-nature-challenge-2021-garden-route&quality_grade=needs_id&verifiable=any&iconic_taxa=Plantae
Identify format:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/identify?quality_grade=needs_id%2Ccasual&iconic_taxa=Plantae&project_id=86747&place_id=any
Fungi and Lichens – (Needs ID & Casual)
Grid format:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?captive=true&place_id=any&project_id=city-nature-challenge-2021-garden-route&quality_grade=needs_id&verifiable=any&iconic_taxa=Fungi
Identify format:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/identify?quality_grade=needs_id%2Ccasual&iconic_taxa=Fungi&project_id=86747&place_id=any
Protozoans – (Needs ID & Casual)
Grid format:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?captive=true&place_id=any&project_id=city-nature-challenge-2021-garden-route&quality_grade=needs_id&verifiable=any&iconic_taxa=Protozoa
Identify format:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/identify?quality_grade=needs_id%2Ccasual&iconic_taxa=Protozoa&project_id=86747&place_id=any
Unknown
Grid format:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?iconic_taxa=unknown&place_id=any&project_id=city-nature-challenge-2021-garden-route&verifiable=any
Identify format:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/identify?iconic_taxa=unknown&project_id=86747&place_id=any
