Diario del proyecto City Nature Challenge 2023: eThekwini

Hi All,
Less than 40 days to go...
We've got 27 people signed up to the eThekwini 2023 project so far. 103 emails went out to our mailing list and 26 replied; we now have 20 confirmed local leaders participating.
Thanks to all those who've signed up.
I must say that a hit rate just under 20% isn't going to get us in front of Cape Town!
Please send this link to all your conservation-minded friends https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2023-ethekwini and get them to join if they haven't already. Not everyone will want to lead a bioblitz but they can take part as an observer.
If people don't know where their nearest iNat project is, get them to message me at steve@butterflygear.co.za and I'll email them the details.
We will soon be sending out promotional material and information on bioblizes planned for that weekend.

Do you reside in an estate in eThekwini?
Rally the community within the estate you reside, or work in, to participate.
An opportunity to showcase the biodiversity surrounding your home.
While the garden plants will be marked as cultivated, the pollinators will certainly be wild.

We have a project for estates across the City, check out https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/kzn-residential-estates
There is a global project for wildlife around our homes - https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/never-home-alone-the-wild-life-of-homes

Looking forward to adding your estate, leave a comment for us to assist.

Have you thought of recording observations during the CNC from our local parks?

Here's a list from North to South of our city:

Tongaat: Amanzamnyama Park; Belvedere Drive Park; Casaurina Park; Havencrest1 Park; Havencrest2 Park
Phoenix: Gandhi Peace Park; Woodview Park; Grove End Park; Queens Park
Verulam: Trennance Park
KwaMashu: Pholani Park
Newlands: Riverdene Park; Valleydale Park
Durban North: Saxon Park (La Lucia) ; Potomac Par; Rinaldo Park; Bridgevale Park; Kenville Park; Japanese Gardens; Umgeni River Bird Park; Riverside Park; Blue Lagoon Park Danville Park; Seaton Park

Central: Mitchel Park and Zoo; Jameson Park; Sutton Park; Oasis Park; Harris Crescent Park; Waterfall Park; Berea Park; Durban Botanic Gardens; Old Fort Gardens; Pavillion Park; Amphitheatre Park; Gugu Dlamini Park; South Beach Park; Victoria Embankment Park; Albert Park; Ushaka Marine World; Bulwer Park; SPCA Park; Booth Park; Redmore Park

Westville: Conway Park; Reunion Park; Westville Park; Portman Park; Strathay Park; Ocean Lea Park; Duncan Park; Sunny Brae Park; Fyfe Park; Iver Park
Pinetown: Otto Volek Park; Trim Park; Lahee Park; Padfield Park; Alfred Park
Queensburgh: Escombe Station Park; Vauxhall Park; Brookside Park
Kloof: Kloof Memorial Park; Elizabeth Park; St Hellier Park

Sodurba: Bellair Triangle Park; Moelwyn Hughes Park; Irevenia Park; Umbilo Park; Montclair Park; Van Riebeck Park; Nagel Square Park; Rooks Park; Te Huis Park; Vinter Park
Chatsworth:Woodhurst Park
Amanzimtoti: Amanzimtoti Bird Sanctuary; Pipeline Park; Umdhoni Park; Fynn Park; Civic Centre Park
South: Illovo River Picnic site; Umgababa Park

How many of these sites can you tick off during the CNC weekend?

Data collected in each of the reserves/ protected areas contribute to the management of the City's protected areas. iNat observations ensure that the reserve's species lists are constantly updated.
This CNC, consider exploring 1 (or more) of nature's beautiful sites that have been proclaimed as nature reserves.

Here's a list of protected areas/ reserves from North to South of our city:
North: Inanda Dam, Sibaya Coastal, Umhlanga Lagoon, Virginia Bush, Beachwood Mangroves, Burman Bush

Central: UKZN Umsinsi, Pigeon Valley, Bayhead Natural Heritage site, Roosefontein, North Park,

South: Kenneth Stainbank, Silverglen Bluff/Happy Valley, Treasure Beach, Ilanda Wilds, Empisini

Outer West: Shongweni, Giba Gorge, Ipithi, Springside, Kranzkloof, New Germany, Marinawood, Palmiet, Paradise Valley, UKZN Westville