City Nature Challenge 2022: Saskatoon, SK's Journal

The City Nature Challenge Results are in!

Thank you Video

Here is a pdf chart which you can download to see Saskatoon's standing or ranking worldwide, and in the prairie provinces.

Did you know that Saskatoon ranked second in Canada's participating prairie province cities?
Did you know that globally out of 447 cities Saskatoon was in the top percentile for cities ranked in the same hemisphere and climate zone?
Did you know that similarly Saskatoon ranked in the top percentile for having total observers out by city area?
Did you know that in the ranking of cities by population size, Saskatoon was in the top half of cities for the percentile ranking there as well!

There is no doubt about it, the people who took part did take action towards global conservation efforts. It was Great to Be the Reason Nature Believes in Humanity. Thank you one and all for taking part for Saskatoon and Area!

Thank you so much to everyone for being an observer or identifier, and to everyone who took part one way or another in Saskatoon's very first City Nature Challenge competing against 447 cities worldwide!

Here is a hint and tip about identifications for the City Nature Challenge from the Frequently Asked Questions Page!

"On iNaturalist, why is the species number different in my city's project vs. in the umbrella project? Which one will count for the results?

We use the numbers in each city’s project, so you can think of it as branch tips (or “leaves”) – if there are observations identified to a genus but nothing in that genus is IDed to species, then the genus itself will count as a “species.” If there are observations identified to a family but no observations IDed to a genus or species in that family, then the family counts as a “species.” This is how “species” are counted in collection projects.

If you look at the umbrella project for the CNC, the species count for each city is lower, because the umbrella project is only counting actual species.

But for the CNC itself, we will use the “species” number from each city’s project as we compile results from each city.

For the overall collaborative results, we will use the number in the umbrella project."

At the current moment of time on May 3, the city's project shows
1,213 observations
308 species
100 Identifiers
69 Observers

And this concurs with the umbrella project showing 1,213 observations.

The BioSmart Saskatoon City Nature Challenge shows
2,263 Observations
1,668 Identifications
507 Species
109 People
BioSmart combines eBird, Observation.org and iNaturalist. The two main platforms used were iNat and eBird.

If you want to help with identifications, but have not done any before, here is a YouTube Video on identifications!
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End of Day 3 and the Endangered Species Listing

City Nature Challenge the End of Day 3 CNCYXE2022
It is the end of May 1, the third day of the Saskatoon City Nature Challenge April 29 to May 2. Thanks to everyone who has added observations on iNaturalist! Come out on Monday May 2, and make a difference!

It was an interesting day to follow through on the Insect Workshop. So, when you take a peek into pond water of marshes like the Chappell Marsh at Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, there are bugs in the water swimming around! Here is a Pond Life video of the Caddisfly larva which was found! And following up on the Fungi including Lichen Workshop, 60 different observations have taken place for Lichen and shelf fungi are being noted at this time of the year.
Stay tuned for the follow up identification party virtual zoom workshops so you can discuss your finds during the City Nature Challenge with specialists!

And, now just a bit of a word about our Saskatoon and Area Species at Risk which were found so far…By randomly taking pictures across Saskatoon and area, it is fantastic what was discovered! Read more about the endangered species!

City Nature Challenge
Take part outside in nature
With the inaturalist app
Find it
Snap it
Share it
What will you discover?
April 29 – May 2
City Nature Challenge
More information
Friendsareas.ca
CNCYXE2022 Hosted by Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.
Celebrate 50 years! Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional park were planted to trees in 1972, 50 years ago. Come out and say Happy Birthday!
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#CityNatureChallenge #iNaturalistCanada #Biodiversity Founded by @NHMLA and @CalAcademy Community Science hosted by #friendsdareas #NatureCanada #CityNatureChallenge #BioBlitz #CitSciMonth #CommunityScience #CitizenScience #UrbanNature #UrbanBiodiversity #NatureInTheCity #NatureIsEverywhere #NatureForEveryone #NatureNerd #cnc #outdoors #nature #conservation #photography #biodiversity #citizenscience #inaturalist #wildlife #plantlife #wanderlust #naturelovers #optoutside #instagood #picoftheday #volunteer #training #parks #optingoutside #CNCYXE #CNCYXE2022 #FriendsAreas #FriendsAfforestation #citizenscience #communityscience #EcologicalEmergency #naturelovers @sasktel #inaturalist #saskatchewanbirds #yxebirds #getoutdoors #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #citynaturechallenge2022 #yxe #thegreatoutdoors #citynaturechallenge2022 #citynaturechallenge #Canadacitynaturechallenge #citizenscience #Volunteering #nativeprairie #grasslands #wildlife #bees #pollinators #prairiepollinators #ExploreSask #NatureSask #wildlifewatcher #prairielife #sasklife #nativeprairie #speciesatrisk #conservation #KeepSaskWild #socialdistance #citizenscience #wildlifephotography #beesknees #LeavetheLeaves #NoMowMay #nature4all #FriendsAreas #FriendsAfforestation @FriendsAreas #saskatoon #saskatooning

Today, the end of Day 3 there will be two recaps. This one is about Pond Life!
As Greg Pohl Says.... Bugs rule the numbers game!

Pond Life

The Richard St. Barbe Baker Marsh Pond Water! Fantastic!

CNCYXE 2022 End of the Day Results!
CNCYXE 2022 Beginning of Day Two
CNCYXE 2022 End of Day One Recap of highlights
CNCYXE 2022 beginning of Day one April 29
Just do it

Sneak peek into the life of a water drop in your favourite marsh or wetlands!

Easy as 1-2-3-

Search snap share for science

Come out Monday April 2 the last day of the Saskatoon City Nature Challenge

BE THE REASON NATURE BELIEVES IN HUMANITY

Be inspired~!

How to protect nature

Three easy steps

Find it

Snap it

Share it

Enjoy the outdoors whilst supporting vital conservation research by making observations April 29 to May 2 on the iNaturalist app during the City Nature Challenge

CNCYXE2022 brought to you by the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.

https://stbarbebaker.wordpress.com/

http://friendsareas.ca/

😃🍁🍄🥀🌼🌞🌷🌾🎋🌳🌲🐾🐀🐿🐁🐇🐇🕷🐛🦋🐞🐜🐌🐛🕷🦗🐢🐍🦇🐦🦉🦅🦆🐥🐣🐦🦇🐌🦋🦋🦄

#CityNatureChallenge #iNaturalistCanada #Biodiversity Founded by @NHMLA and @CalAcademy Community Science hosted by #friendsdareas #NatureCanada #CityNatureChallenge #BioBlitz #CitSciMonth #CommunityScience #CitizenScience #UrbanNature #UrbanBiodiversity #NatureInTheCity #NatureIsEverywhere #NatureForEveryone #NatureNerd #cnc #outdoors #nature #conservation #photography #biodiversity #citizenscience #inaturalist #wildlife #plantlife #wanderlust #naturelovers #optoutside #instagood #picoftheday #volunteer #training #parks #optingoutside #CNCYXE #CNCYXE2022 #FriendsAreas #FriendsAfforestation #citizenscience #communityscience #EcologicalEmergency #naturelovers @sasktel #inaturalist #saskatchewanbirds #yxebirds #getoutdoors #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #citynaturechallenge2022 #yxe #thegreatoutdoors #citynaturechallenge2022 #citynaturechallenge #Canadacitynaturechallenge #citizenscience #Volunteering #nativeprairie #grasslands #wildlife #bees #pollinators #prairiepollinators #ExploreSask #NatureSask #wildlifewatcher #prairielife #sasklife #nativeprairie #speciesatrisk #conservation #KeepSaskWild #socialdistance #citizenscience #wildlifephotography #beesknees #LeavetheLeaves #NoMowMay #nature4all #FriendsAreas #FriendsAfforestation @FriendsAreas #saskatoon #saskatooning

In these busy times, people may be working, or at school. So, how to be involved in the City Nature Challenge? Search where you are! Download a pdf hints and tips for searching for nature around your home!
or the Fungi pdf is another great download!

The birds are coming back! Which ones will you discover? It is a great way to monitor the songbird population! Will you see or hear meadowlarks, Robins, Blue Jays, Black Capped Chickadees doing their two note spring territory call? What about insects? Remember what Greg says; "Bugs rule the numbers game! " Flies, butterflies, Boxelder bugs, ladybugs (lady betles), cocoons, ants may catch your eye. Remember to leave no stone unturned! Look on top of branches and stones for lichens, conks, or shelf fungi. Peek into the bark of trees, or into the cracks of fences, never know what may be found!

And have a lot of fun! Discover nature in a greenspace, or in your yard, along your sidewalk, in the afforestation areas, in the swales of Saskatoon, along the River Bank!

Check out the past events here, and the upcoming virtual Identification parties here!

New finds! Species that haven’t been recorded in particular areas before. Important finds of rare/endangered/threatened species. Observations that have a great story that go along with them. Really cool photos. Fun finds!

Send your photos of yourself, your friends or your family taking images in nature with iNaturalist!

Eventbrite page for BioBlitzes and workshops
YouTube Channel

FriendsAreas.ca
FriendsAfforestation@gmail.com
[Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas](bit.ly/381g29B (bit.ly/381g29B)

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Discover 7 hectares [17 acres] of West Swale wetlands nestled within 132 hectares [326 acres] of woodlands planted 50 years ago now a diverse, semi-wild, area to roam and enjoy. Named in honour of Richard St. Barbe Baker, silviculturist, conservationist, environmental activist & prolific author, who contributed greatly to worldwide forest protection, reforestation and desert reclamation

George Genereux Park 60 hectares [148 acres] of semi-wilderness habitat to explore and celebrate. Honouring Gold Olympic medalist Dr. George Genereux, radiologist, professor, and meticulous illustrator

Four known scheduled BioBlitzes open to the public. There are other group meetings happening which are private, and are very wonderful for those to be taking place also in various areas for the Saskatoon and Area City Nature Challenge

CITY NATURE CHALLENGE Connect with Nature
George Genereux Urban Regional Park
Friday, April 29, 2022 at 7:00 PM CST

CITY NATURE CHALLENGE Connecting to Nature. Calling all Nature Lovers
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
Saturday, April 30, 2022 at 2:00 PM CST

CITY NATURE CHALLENGE Nature Lover Observation Party
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area -at a different meetup location
Sunday, May 1, 2022 at 2:00 PM CST

CITY NATURE CHALLENGE George Genereux Nature Canvass
George Genereux Urban Regional Park
Monday, May 2, 2022 at 7:00 PM CST

Eventbrite page for BioBlitzes and workshops
YouTube Channel

FriendsAreas.ca
FriendsAfforestation@gmail.com
Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas

Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area Discover 7 hectares [17 acres] of West Swale wetlands nestled within 132 hectares [326 acres] of woodlands planted 50 years ago now a diverse, semi-wild, area to roam and enjoy. Named in honour of Richard St. Barbe Baker, silviculturist, conservationist, environmental activist & prolific author, who contributed greatly to worldwide forest protection, reforestation and desert reclamation

George Genereux Park 60 hectares [148 acres] of semi-wilderness habitat to explore and celebrate. Honouring Gold Olympic medalist Dr. George Genereux, radiologist, professor, and meticulous illustrator

Workshops now posted on YouTube on the City Nature Challenge Playlist!

City Nature Challenge Backgrounder Online event Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at 6:00 PM CST

Citizen Science Event Planning Online event Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at 7:00 PM CST

Do you want to take your iNaturalist observations a step further?

Watch these virtual workshops now on YouTube to take a photo of insects, or a photo of Fungi or Lichen for great iNaturalist identifications

Specialists will be at these hints and tip workshops so you know what to have showing in your image to help get a great identification!

Sorting out noxious invasives from beneficial pollinator species
Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at 12:00 PM CST Online

Fungi and Lichen Hints and Tips
Monday, April 25, 2022 at 7:00 PM CST Online

Insect Hints and Tips
Tuesday, April 26, 2022 at 7:00 PM CST Online

After the City Nature Challenge observation stage, observations will begin May 3-8.

You are invited!

Grab your favourite beverage, and set yourself by your computer, and have fun at a virtual ID party!

For collaboration on
INSECTS specialists will help out Tues May 3 at 7:00 pm CST virtually an iNat ID party

PLANTS specialists will help out Wed May 4 at 7:00 pm CST virtually an iNat ID party

FUNGI INCLUDING LICHEN specialists will help out Thurs May 5 at 7:00 pm CST virtually an iNat ID party

There is an iNat ID party on Friday May 6 at 7:00 CST virtually to flip unknowns!