The opportunities to make new observations for City Nature challenge has ended. But you can still upload observations you made during the Friday-Monday Observation Period. I myself have lots of photos on my "big camera", mostly birds, that I haven't had a chance to upload to iNaturalist yet.
The Identification Period started today, and runs through Sunday, May 5th. Final results will be announced on Monday, May 6th.
2019-04-29 06:30: Cancelled due to lack of response.
With a few planned events in Brooklyn yesterday, our numbers surged up in the Battle of the Boroughs. We're now 2nd in number of Observers, behind Manhattan; the Bronx is close behind us. Thank you to everyone who organized and hosted yesterday's events.
We're still trailing last in the number of Species (effectively tied with Staten Island) and Observations. Remember that multiple observations of different individuals of the same species, even common species in the same area, count. It's not "cheating"! It helps to establish the size and extent of a population, useful in scientific studies.
Observations can be made in less "glamorous" places, such as hell strips and abandoned lots. Even the trunks of our street trees offer many observations of lichens and other fungi. I've found as many as four species on the trunk of a single linden tree in my neighborhood!
As for wildlife, "Every Pigeon (and Squirrel) Counts"!
I confirmed one technical glitch I had suspected: The boundaries for Kings County (Brooklyn) in iNaturalist don't cover everything you would expect. For example, many of the observations from Brooklyn Bridge Park aren't showing up as belonging to this Project. They still count toward NYC, so they're helping our counts overall, but Brooklyn isn't getting credit for them. I suspect the issue has to do with old geographic boundaries not keeping up with landfill and shoreline extensions. I've reported this issue, but I don't expect a fix before the end of the observations period.
2019-04-26 09:00
I stayed up late to post the first Brooklyn observation seconds after midnight:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/23095133#activity_comment_2803057
(Still @brianboom somehow got in seconds before me to post the first NYC-overall.)
It's a slow, rainy start to the Challenge. At this moment, there are only two observations for Brooklyn. But we can expect breaks in the rain throughout the day when we can get out and cover our local patches, wherever we are. I'm going to take advantage of this to go to Prospect Park. I'll announce on Twitter - https://twitter.com/xrisfg - when and exactly where I'm going, if anyone would like to join me.
2019-04-26 06:30: Cancelled due to lack of response.
Date: Monday, April 29, 2019, the last day for CNC observations!
Time: 9:30a-12:30pm. Note: Low tide is around 11am.
Host: @xris (Flatbush Gardener)
Description: Wikipedia: Dead Horse Bay
A trail leads from the southeast end of the parking lot, through vegetation, and forks into three trails, each of which leads to the water. We'll pick one, walk along the water, and circle back through another to our starting point at the parking lot.
Dress appropriately for a level hike. Closed toe boots are recommended, since the site was previously used as a city dump. Although there is vegetation along the paths, we'll be largely exposed, so wear sunscreen or other protection from the sun.
Pack your own lunch. I'll provide a cooler where you can store it during our hike.
Bring your own water bottle. I'll provide water, which you can use to fill up before and after our hike.
The nearest public restrooms are at the Ryan Visitor Center in Floyd Bennett Field, roughly a half mile up the road. Hours are 9am-5pm.
Location: Meet at the parking lot on the West side of Flatbush Avenue, opposite Aviation Road.
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.5818272,-73.8920553,131m/data=!3m1!1e3
Transportation:
RSVP: Please send me a message here on iNaturalist, so I know how many to expect.
2019-04-24: Added link to details for Dead Horse Bay iNaturalist meetup.
Weather permitting, I'm hoping to visit one or more of these spots on Friday, April 26, and Monday, April 29. If you have other suggestions, please leave a comment or send me a message here on iNaturalist. Even better, let me know if you'd like to meet up somewhere in Brooklyn!
I also would like to try at least one night event, specifically to try to lure in and identify some moths. If anyone has any thoughts about where and how to do that, please let me know.
Here are the Brooklyn events planned for City Nature Challenge 2019 so far. If you're planning an event and don't see it listed, or want to plan one for your park, garden or neighborhood, and don't know what to do, let me know! Most events have been scheduled for Saturday, especially Saturday morning. If you have flexibility in scheduling, picking another day will reduce conflicts among events.
No events scheduled yet!
Feminist Bird Club Walk
Date: Saturday, April 27, 2019
Time: 8:30a-11a
Host: Feminist Bird Club
Location: Marine Park
Description:Spring is here! Check in with the local osprey pair, keep your eyes open for marsh-dashing clapper rails, scan the grasses for Eastern meadowlarks and more! We will also explore other flora and fauna of the area as we participate in the City Nature Challenge, logging anything we can find into iNaturalist. We will also learn more about this platform and yet another way to social network in the natural world.
RSVP: Free event, but RSVP will be required here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/city-nature-challenge-2019-with-jen-kepler-tickets-60353854002
Brooklyn Bridge Park CNC Mini BioBlitz
Date: Saturday, April 27, 2019
Time: 10am-12pm
Host: Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy
Location: 334 Furman St., Brooklyn, NY 11201
Description: Join us for a workshop highlighting the park’s rich ecology, how to use the iNaturalist app, and a mini-bioblitz in the park to help catalog plants and animals! Families are welcome; we will have scavenger hunt activities for children. Please dress appropriately for the weather, bring a fully charged smartphone or camera, and download the iNaturalist app beforehand.
RSVP: Free event, but RSVP required here: https://www.brooklynbridgepark.org/events/city-nature-challenge
FULL, at Capacity
City Nature Challenge at Genspace
Date: Saturday, April 27, 2019
Time: 10am to 4pm
Host: Genspace
Location: 132 32nd Street, Suite 108 Brooklyn, NY
Description: Which city is the wildest? Help us discover the breadth of biodiversity in our NYC backyards. The City Nature Challenge (CNC) mobilizes people around the world to observe and identify the biodiversity in their own backyards - and to compete on behalf of their city. Let’s show off all the amazing plants and animals that call NYC home. Genspace is participating in the CNC throughout the weekend of April 27-28. We’ll be open from 10am - 4pm each day and can get you up to speed about the challenge before sending you outdoors to get started.
RSVP: Event is free, but registration is required here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/city-nature-challenge-tickets-59245784737
City Nature Challenge: Spring Blossoms
Date: Saturday, April 27, 2019
Time: 1p-2:30p
Host: Urban Park Rangers
Location: Fort Greene Visitor Center
Description:Join the Urban Park Rangers in a search for springtime flowers. Participants will record data while identifying wildflowers and other spring blossoms.
RSVP:None needed. For more info: https://www.nycgovparks.org/events/2019/04/27/city-nature-challenge-spring-blossoms
City Nature Challenge at Genspace
Date: Sunday, April 28, 2019
Time: 10am to 4pm
Host: Genspace
Location: 132 32nd Street, Suite 108 Brooklyn, NY
Description: Which city is the wildest? Help us discover the breadth of biodiversity in our NYC backyards. The City Nature Challenge (CNC) mobilizes people around the world to observe and identify the biodiversity in their own backyards - and to compete on behalf of their city. Let’s show off all the amazing plants and animals that call NYC home. Genspace is participating in the CNC throughout the weekend of April 27-28. We’ll be open from 10am - 4pm each day and can get you up to speed about the challenge before sending you outdoors to get started.
RSVP: Event is free, but registration is required here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/city-nature-challenge-tickets-59245784737
No events scheduled yet!
