Projektin City Nature Challenge 2023: San Antonio Metro Area Päiväkirja

QUICK SUMMARY - WE- SAN ANTONIO METRO AREA - DID GREAT!

In Texas rankings - we are move up in observations standings to 3rd Place out of 15 cities. (Texas VIEW)

• Outstanding number of observations at 19,967! 64.1% when to Research Grade - Tied for 3rd in Texas.
• Outstanding number of Species at 2564 whereby per iNat 30 species are on the Treaded list. (TBD - TNT to provide final SGCN list for TEXAS)
• Number of participant Observers dropped by 94 from 2022 BUT our average observation per observer when up from 17.75observations / person 2022 to 23.27 observations per person in 2023.

 MAKING up a 3000+ gain over all and MOVING San Antonio Metro Area 3^rd place standings – passing Great Austin Area for the first time in CNC history!

More stats:

In Global ranking - we also moved up also in observations stands to 18th out of 482 cities (iNat Global VIEW)

Comparing our CNC-San Antonio Metro Area - History - great Gains. (iNat History VIEW)

New this year:
Intra - Nature Challenges Rankings (Summary- Below) 

Campus Nature Challenges (1, 2, 3 order):
Observation : STMU, UTSA, UIW
Species : STMU, UTSA,UIW
Observers: UTSA, Trinity, UIW

Chapter Nature Challenges (1, 2, 3 order):
Observation : TMN-Alamo, NPSOT, TMN-Guadalupe County
Species : TMN-Alamo, NPSOT, Audubon
Observers: TMN-Alamo, NPSOT, Audubon

Community Nature Challenge: SARA- River Warriors (by default)

Corporate Nature Challenge:
1) Toyota Manufacturing 
2) Chase - San Antonio

Intra - Nature Challenge Details : 

1) CNC2023 San Antonio Metro and “Intra” details in PDF file format (Link Here )
or Google Sheets with sub iNaturalist links with detail results (Link Here).
 

Stay tuned for our CNC2023 “After Party” in June.
Plans are - thank you to our power users, partners, and organizers.

Thank you for all your amazing contributions and continued support to make the City Nature Challenge – San Antonio Metro Area successful!

@PeterJoseph

San Antonio Metro Area is running a very tight friendly race for 3^rd place in the Texas City Nature Challenge! The observation period for City Nature Challenge and the intra-Nature Challenges in the umbrella projects has wrapped up as of May 1st and it is exciting to see we (San Antonio Metro Area) have collectively contributed over 18.2K observations so far! Out doing our previous years in observations and species counts.

🌿 Some quick reminders about the next steps for CNC this week: 

• 🌺We are now in the uploading and identification period. Technically you all have until 9 am on Monday, May 8th to get all your observations uploaded. You can upload any photos/recording you took from April 28th - May 1st. The sooner the better- to help identify before then and get them to “Research Grade”, if possible.
• 🌵 A reminder to everyone that we’re really hoping to document wild plants and animals, and if they did make observations of organisms they know are not wild, to please mark them as captive/cultivated (and as people work to identify observations, they can also mark anyone’s observation as not wild in the Data Quality Assessment section)
• 🌳 Global CNC admin organizers will record our city’s results as of 9am on Monday, May 8, and will send out the full results and infographic around 4-5 pm. Will share as soon as we receive them via Journal Notes.

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Open – Q&A Zoom Calls:

Being that we are in a tight race, and we have some new iNaturalist users and enquiring minds that may have questions! Zoom Meeting Calls have been created for Q&A for participants that may need some help with CNC – iNaturalist.

Agenda –

• Quick status of City Nature Challenge and the Umbrella project.
• Now what – I made my observations; how do I agree or disagree?
  (hint: Best to go to your iNaturalist dashboard and review)
• What is the identification period?
• What questions you may have about CNC-iNaturalist. Observations / Identification.

San Antonio Metro Area – Zoom Calls Open to the public. If you have CNC or iNaturalist questions hopefully you can make one of these calls .

• May 4^th – 11:30am – 12:30pm è Zoom Q&A Call#1 - Register Here
• May 4^th – 06:00pm – 07:00pm è Zoom Q&A Call#2 - Register Here
• May 5^th --11:30am –12:30pm è Zoom Q&A Call#3 - Register Here

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NEW- This Year - "After Party"

In partnership with the San Antonio River Authoring and the SARA – River Warriors, plans are in motion for a “iNaturalist – City Nature Challenge 2023 After Party" in late June. Covering CNC Results and your contributions. Details -TBD. Stay Tune! 

Hoping you all had incredible events both public and private, time outdoors walking the trails or just in your backyard, and some exciting moments documenting nature. Thank you for all your amazing contributions and continued support to make the City Nature Challenge – San Antonio Metro Area successful. 

Quote from Star Wars on this day:

“Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.” —Yoda

Monday is the last day for City Nature Challenge Observations!

Enquiring minds want to know " HOW we (SA Metro Area) is doing comparison to the 14 other TEXAS CITIES in the City Nature Challenge ?

To see the Texas 15 Cities Umbrella Project.=> CLICK HERE

SO LETS KEEP IT GOING - GO SAN ANTONIO METRO AREA GO !!
We can do it !!

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FYI... 

Upload or Sync your observations before May 7th. The sooner is better! To have time to ID your observation.

Having trouble uploading and/or do not see your observations on the CNC2023 project. Please use the comment section below to post issues.

Remember for your observations to count: Your observations must be verifiably. Which means observation :

Must have a date observed between (April 28-May 1st).

Must have a location (inside SA Metro Area or the 12 counties around Bexar). 

Naturally have a picture/recording that brings out the charactericis of the species you are observing . Helps your observations get to "Research Grade"

THANKS! Be SAFE and have FUN!

Happy Fiesta weekend and its 6^th Annual City Nature Challenge – SAN ANTONIO METRO AREA!

Get ready Take the " City Nature Challenge" - Join Here

Below are group events open the public for City Nature Challenge in the San Antonio Metro Area.
Remember CNC is a 4-day time event (April 28^th -thru May1st) across 12 Counties (Atascosa Bandera Bexar Comal Gillespie Goliad Guadalupe Karnes Kendall Kerr Medina Wilson) in the San Antonio Metro Area. iNaturalist observations made in this time and within our geolocation zone, whether from your backyard, your local parks, in private groups or public group events (i.e., below list) will be accounted! Make sure you SHARE your iNaturalist observations by Sunday May 7^th. Sooner the better for Identification purposes

If you have more to add, please add them in a comment and/or message me via iNaturalist app: https://www.inaturalist.org/messages/new TO: @peterjoseph

--------------- Friday – 4/28/2023 ---------------------------------

Host: Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
Type: CNC-2023 Bioblitz at MLAC.
 Extended Hours Friday Open until 7pm.
Plus, iNaturalist Orientation For to CNC 2023
Where: Mitchell Lake Audubon Center 10750 Pleasanton Road San Antonio, TX (Google Map)
Time: 4:00AM– 7:00PM Friday – 4/28/2023
Additional Info: Orientation for City Nature Challenge@ 5:30pm FREE with Entry Fee - $5 General | Members Free. In Person | Registration Requested | RSVP Here More Information POC: Erin Magerl, Senior Education Coordinator, at 210-531-6476.
Web Link: https://mitchelllake.audubon.org/events/city-nature-challenge-extended-hours

–
Host: Native Plant Society of Texas San Antonio Chapter
Type: CNC-2023 Event at Encino Park Area. Plant/ Nature Walk

Where:20138 US-281 (Park behind Top Gun Car Wash) (Google Map)
Time: 9:00AM -12:00PM Friday – 4/28/2023
Additional Info Limited to 10 walkers/ RSVP by 4/27/2023 Off trail walk in rocky Edwards Plateau habitat in North Central Bexar County.
Go to MEETUP app for details and to register: RSVP Here
Web link: https://www.meetup.com/san-antonio-native-plant-events/events/293014574/

--------------- Saturday 4/29/2023 ---------------------------------

Host: Native Prairies Assoc. of Texas- San Antonio Chapter
Type: CNC-2023 iNaturalist Flora/Fauna BioBlitz at Kirchoff Farm

Where:Kirchoff Family Farm 1444 County Rd 210 · Floresville, TX(Google Map)
Time: Gate opens: 7:30AM – Gates Close at 4:30PM Saturday 4/29/2023
Additional Info Open Farm. RSVP: Don Kirchoff Email: donkirchoff@earthlink.net Text: 713-562-7681 (Check in at the Barn) 200-acre farm.
More info at Web link: https://www.meetup.com/san-antonio-native-plant-events/events/291430841/

--------------- Sunday 4/30/2023 ---------------------------------

Host: Mitchell Lake Audubon Center
Type: CNC-2023 Bioblitz at MLAC. (Sunday Free Entry Day)
Where: Mitchell Lake Audubon Center 10750 Pleasanton Road San Antonio, TX (Google Map)
Time: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Sunday 4/30/2023
Additional Info Plan your MLAC visit see: Click Here Note: April 30th Sunday Free Entry.
(April 28th /April 29th -open with a small fee. Closed Monday.)
Web Link https://mitchelllake.audubon.org/visit/plan

Host: Bexar Audubon Society and Native Prairies Assoc. of Texas- San Antonio Chapter
Type: CNC-2023 Bird BioBlitz /Survey at Kirchoff Farm)
Where: Kirchoff Family Farm 1444 County Rd 210 · Floresville, TX (Google Map)
Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM Sunday 4/30/2023
Additional Info Limited to 25- must RSVP. Bird Survey from 8am-10am.
10am – 12pm – Farm will be open to the public for general bioblitz.
 See BAS Web link--> https://bexaraudubon.org/3174-2/?sheet_id=50

--------------- Monday 05/01/2023 ---------------------------------

Host: Cibolo Creek Ranch and Native Plant Society of Texas – San Antonio Chapter
Type: CNC-2023 iNaturalist Flora/Fauna BioBlitz at Cibolo Creek Ranch
Where: Cibolo Creek Ranch Gate entrance at : 1410 Obst Rd, Bulverde, TX (Google Map)
Time: 10 AM – 04:00 PM Monday 05/01/2023
Additional Info Open Ranch - 211 ac. Ranch in the hill county and part of the Great Texas Wildlife Trail. Visitors sign in at the Main House. For details and to RSVP - Click Here.
Additional info see Meetup
web Link: https://www.meetup.com/san-antonio-native-plant-events/events/293089662/

BE SAFE and HAVE FUN! 

2023 Video available to download or share link in your social media : https://tinyurl.com/CNC2023-Video 

Less than 2 minute video on "Look Around You" and how you can help in making observation using iNaturalist for the City Nature Challenge. Find out who you are helping and how. Take the the city nature challenge 2023. Its a global event with about 464 cities/areas participating at last count. 15 cities in Texas.  This is San Antonio Metro Area - 6th Annual in participating in the City Nature Challenge. Hope the video will insire you to take the San Antonio Metro Area- City Nature Challenge... 

Starts Friday, April 28 through Monday, May 1

 Get ready to deeply engage with nature on these four days! With recent rains flora and fauna are going to be popping with life. Let’s observe and document what is wild in our backyard to what is in our parks.

For the past 6 years, the citizen scientists in San Antonio Metro Area remind the world just how much biodiversity exists here amongst us. The City Nature Challenge is an excellent way to highlight not just this biodiversity but also the active group of folks that engage with nature with their smartphones and cameras.

Let get into Fiesta spirit and into mindfulness of Nature April 28 - May 1 -- City Nature Challenge 2023!!! All observations made on these four days from the 12 counties that make up San Antonio Metro Area. ((Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Gillespie, Goliad, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Medina, Wilson.) and uploaded before Sunday, May 6th will count towards the San Antonio City Nature Challenge. Joining the CNC2023 project is optional, I recommend getting updates via the Journal post and see related comments.

New – this year are intra “Nature challenges” or “Campus Nature Challenge”, “Chapter Nature Challenge”, “Corporate Nature Challenge “and “Community Nature Challenge”. In short, an umbrella Project has been created to show all the intra “Nature Challenges”. (Click Here- iNaturalist CNC-SA Umbrella project) .

• Lookup to see if your University, Collage Campus, Nature Chapter, Corporate company are participant in contributing not only to the City Nature Challenge but also if your organization is in the intra- nature challenge. If so you must “JOIN” the project related to your organization you belong to

• Example- Joe James is a Alamo Area Texas Master Naturalist and is a San Antonio River Warrior. Given Joe as competed the above steps (or has an iNaturalist account in iNaturalist.org). Joe James next steps:

  1. Go to the Umbrella Project on the web: iNaturalist CNC-SA Umbrella project.
  2. Find TMN-Alamo Area Chapter project. Click on the project and “Join” the project. (Via the web it’s on the top right of the screen). This will also update your smartphone app project list.
  3. Likewise, with SA River Warrior project. Go back to step a) and find and click on River Warrior project –“Join.”
     
     

Objective for intra "Nature Challenge" is:

• The greatest number of Wild observations (although cultivated /captured is accepted in CNC). Let it be “wild” about our observations.
• The greatest number of different species observed.
• The greatest number of observers in the project. (Campus projects, Corp projects, etc.…)

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to me via iNaturalist messages: https://www.inaturalist.org/messages/new @peterjoseph