Diario del proyecto Greater San Antonio Area Biodiversity

September 1-30 – ‘Parks for Pollinators’ BioBlitz:
San Antonio River Authority are supporting National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA’s) ‘Parks for Pollinators’ Bioblitz that aims to raise public awareness of the pollinator crisis and encourage local action through public parks. Using the free iNaturalist app, community members can take pictures of wildlife + plant life at local parks, creating a snapshot of the pollinator biodiversity that the San Antonio River Authority stewards at our parks.

Click here to join and contribute valuable data to the San Antonio River Authority’s ‘Parks for Pollinators’ Bio-blitz during the whole month of September at SARA's 11 parks. 

Let us show on a national level that we care.

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Thursday, Sept. 7: iNaturalist Training & Walking Park Tour
(Email volunteer@sariverauthority.org with interest)

Time: 8:00 am- 10:00 am

Place: Confluence Park, 310 W. Mitchell St. San Antonio, TX- 78204 (Google Map)

Learn how to contribute to the above bio-blitz by joining us for a quick iNaturalist training during a walking park tour, designed for folks who are new to the iNaturalist app or who just want a refresher on the app and eager to contribute to this Bio-blitz in our local parks, helping ensure pollinator wellbeing in our parks.

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. CNC2023-SA Metro Area Bioblitz Project Link: Click Here.

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 Employee of Toyota 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 Toyota 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

1. View and share this inspiring “Global - CNC-2022” !
   CNC 2022 - Video - Click here
   
   

2. CNC -FAQ:

   •  What are the dates for the Bioblitz?City Nature Challenge 2022 important dates:
     
     ● Make and share observations: April 29 - May 2 (in the 12 Counties)
     ● Get all your observations uploaded and work on identifying: May 3-8
     ● Results announced: May 9th
     
     
   •  Where can we make observations in the San Antonio Area?
     Anywhere -you can observe plants and wildlife within the 12 counties area surrounding San Antonio?  Those counties are: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Gillespie, Goliad, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Medina, Wilson.

3. CNC-SA Area Events - Join a guided walk.

4. Find a SARA Park or Trail. 

5. Exploring Nature in and around your home.

6. "After Party" - ID Parties-scheduled.

7. FYI- 15 Texas Cities participating in CNC-2022: Map

Be Safe - Have Fun. 
PeterJoseph

Howdy –

Changing times – as our community addressing Covid-19, we shelter in place order in the Greater San Antonio Metro Area and the practice of social distancing. “ Your invited to 3rd Annual City Nature Challenge (CNC) April 24- 27th” ( https://citynaturechallenge.org/ ). If you participated in the past, it is NO longer a competition. If NEW to CNC - join Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas Master Naturalists, the Nature Conservancy, the Audubon Society, and many others are concern about our safety and how do we rejuvenate safely spending time outside. Spring 2020 is here and it is time to exercise and observer nature beauty and wonders. We want to embrace the healing power of nature and encourage the collaborative aspect of the CNC. This will allow people to safely document biodiversity in whatever way they can, even from the safety of their own homes if necessary. We urge all participants to carefully follow public health guidelines provided by your local governments, as they are changing in real-time. Individual safety and public health are our utmost priority.

We encourage you to post information about the City Nature Challenge to platforms like Nextdoor app or website, Facebook, or Twitter but make sure to first visit and read this Covid-19 Safety link and always share this safety link in your posting.

Hi - Greater San Antonio Metro Area iNaturalist
(Counties : Bexar, Wilson, Guadalupe, Comal, Kendall, Bandera, Medina, Atascosa and Kerr)

Hope all is well - as we shelter in place or work from home. Hands on training that can be done at home. Webex - by Molly Keck Bexar AgriLife and Craig Hensley – Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept Biologist Texas Nature Tracker.

Already know iNaturalist , please send it on to a friend(s) / family members that may be interested in nature and want to learn more!

DATE – Tuesday, March 31st
HOSTED BY: Craig Hensley
TIME – 10:00 -11:30 am, break for lunch and do your own nature walk.
1pm – log back in to discuss our findings and ask any questions of Craig!
WHERE – ONLINE

The weather is beautiful and we all could use some time outdoors, so I have a reason to get outside…and you’ll be contributing to science and having fun at the same time! March 31st at 10am, Craig Hensley, Texas Nature Tracker Biologist, will be providing an online training on how to utilize the iNaturalist app and why it is so important to our community. Please see link to live and interactive webinar below. This is something that can break the boredom of sheltering in place and also be an excellent way to get kids outside and enjoying and observing nature.

iNaturalist is a citizen science project and online social network of naturalist, citizen scientists, and biologist built on the concept of mapping and sharing observations of biodiversity across the globe! I love to use iNaturalist as a way to identify unknown plants, insects, and other living things. But the information we provide to iNaturalist through just snapping pics with our phones provides valuable data to science research projects, conservation agencies, other organizations and the public!

It is extremely important that you download iNaturalist App from application store on to your phone or tablet beforehand CALL ! (Hint: Also its easier to setup your profile on iNaturalist.org. Review your defaults - like your time zone and your default location. )

If you have a child interested (13 years or younger) , use the youth friendly version – “Seek by iNaturalist” is the version you want to use!

No need to RSVP, just mark your calendar.

Copy this link to your browser
https://agrilife-tamu.webex.com/agrilife-tamu/j.php?MTID=mc3b72fe528184d874f6a54c42e6b3999

Be Healthy and Safe.

Best Regards,
Peter Joseph

Hello iNaturalist

Kerr County. has been added to the Greater San Antonio Metro Biodiversity Project. With concurrence with our friends at TPWD / Texas Nature Tracker. Kerr County as been added to the Greater San Antonio Metro Biodiversity Area being tracked for this project. For several reasons - Alamo Area College system and San Antonio Area YMCA locations were two factors for bringing them in. Also this will align to the April's - City Nature Challenge new bountries.

The current counties that are part of this project and CNC 2020: Bexar, Wilson, Guadalupe, Comal, Kendall, Medina, Atascosa and Kerr.

Thanks and maybe we'll see you out in the field. Enjoy!

Best Regards,
PeterJoseph

Hello iNaturalist friends,

Thanks of Joining this Project!

I'm writing because I believe all of you are active or have been active with iNaturalist at some point. I'm hoping you'd like to participate in the this weekend City Nature Challenge! The dates for this Greater San Antonio Metro Bioblitz event (which includes the adjacent counties) will be this Friday through Monday, April 26 - April 29th!

We have some great diversity in this area and I bet we can beat the heck out those other cities! We'll need all hands (with cameras and/or phones) on deck to do this! :-)

Our City Nature Challenge includes not only San Antonio, but also the nearby counties: Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina and Wilson! Which so happens to be the same geofence size of this project!

https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/wildlife_diversity/texas_nature_trackers/naturechallenge/?fbclid=IwAR0S1AU_rLzry4UeT0tczDrOjOM6l_KvSpqKT5OekOit0AxoQJ_9ogd-GTQ

Sign up/ Join by clicking on the San Antonio link:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2019-san-antonio

Please feel free to pass this on to your inaturalist friends! Texas Parks & Wildlife also shared this video link on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/texasnaturetrackers/videos/845130102496568/

Thanks and maybe we'll see you out in the field. Enjoy!

Best Regards,
PeterJoseph