sambiology's Journal

So, I'm approaching 100k observations (yay factors of 10!), and I had a wonderful conversation with a friend about why we make observations. Well, if you're curious, here are some reasons that I make iNat observations (in no order):

Filling up the map -- I love seeing a map getting covered with dots/evidence. It could be a geographic dot or a temporal dot -- a place or a time. I tend to observe pretty much everything! I try to get plants with their reproductive structures (flowers/fruits), but there are some that I've bent those rules. When I go to a park or a location that I've not been before, I really enjoy putting some observations on the map and on the calendar for that location. iNaturalist has made traveling a LOT more fun too!

Making iNaturalist better -- I like to think that my observations help in making iNaturalist better. I try to make relatively good photos (albeit, not great!), but each photo and observation may help with the visual algorithm. iNaturalist is learning as we all do -- it's not perfect yet, but it's getting better!

Observing associate species -- no organism lives alone in the ecosystem, so I think it's important to document as many associated species as possible. If someone were to ask, "what was this beetle feeding upon?" then I may be able to address that question with alllll of the other observations made that day or in that area.

Addressing future questions -- when I make an observation, it may help with some question that someone in the future has. I'm trying to answer questions that have yet to be asked! Perhaps it can be a taxonomic or distribution question, perhaps a morphological difference... Maybe it's a land management question -- measuring the differences in the biota after a certain type of management.

Learning the names of the species -- iNaturalist is the epitome of a learning tool. I've learned an inordinate amount from using iNaturalist, and not just from one taxonomic group but so many! In the past, I used to be narrowly focused on plants, but with iNaturalist, I've opened my eyes up to all of the other layers of the ecosystem. With the repetition of observations, those names become more and more familiar.

Every day I engage with nature -- I was inspired by @jmaughn to make daily observations. Well, I've kept up with it for over 7 years (starting in 10 May 2015). This may seem silly, but I think it's important to recognize that every day we engage with nature. There have been a few days that I initially don't want to go outside, but when I actually do go, I so enjoy it!

I like it -- it really makes me happy to make observations. There's just something about it that makes me happy to be alive when I'm out engaging with nature. I'm so lucky to share the planet with all of these various species that I get to see. Through iNaturalist, I don't just engage with nature, but I actively engage with the community of naturalists around the whole world. I see the observations that others make around the world, and I'm lucky to share the planet with all of those species (and the observers) as well!

Paraphrased quote: "It may not have survival value, but it gives value to survival." ~C.S. Lewis

I love July mothing. Sure, it's crazy hot and dry usually, but the bugs (of all kinds!) sure do show up at the lights! We've got a few events to celebrate national moth week too (https://nationalmothweek.org/).

Here are the black-lighting/mothing events that I know of in/around the Dallas/Fort Worth area in July. If you know of others, let me know!

All of these are from 8 to late -- I'll usually come an hour or so before to set up.

July 1 - Cedar Hill State Park ($7 park access fee)

July 23 - Spring Creek Preserve in Garland (if you're able to carpool, great -- expect a crowd here!) https://springcreekforest.org/

July 25 - River Legacy Park in Arlington https://www.arlingtontx.gov/news/my_arlington_t_x/news_stories/moth_night_2022

July 29 - John Bunker Sands in Seagoville ($10 fee, or free if you bring some mothing gear!!!) https://www.wetlandcenter.com/events_list.html

July 30 - Acton Nature Center, east of Granbury https://actonnaturecenter.org/programs-and-projects/

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know! And, feel free to toss me a text: 214 215 5605

Hey all!

Just giving updates on an upcoming bioblitz/biosurvey in Carrollton this Saturday (June 11) from 9 AM to noon. Here's some more information about the location...

TC Rice Is a 260+ acre floodplain area nestled below the 35E and 121 overpasses on the SE corner. The City of Carrollton is going to decide how to manage and what to do with this land soon. So, ideally, we want to show them that there's a lot of biodiversity here!

Here's the exact pin location via google maps:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/TC+Rice+Nature+Area/@32.9958247,-96.9495472,602m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x6a1b785f996dec93!2sTC+Rice+Nature+Area!8m2!3d32.9954811!4d-96.9497986!3m4!1s0x0:0x6a1b785f996dec93!8m2!3d32.9954811!4d-96.9497986
Here's the GPS:
32.995659, -96.949330

More directions:
There is 1 small road from the Northbound access rd just north of Frankford and 35E.
Directions from Denton:
Go South on 35E
Exit Frankford
Loop around to head 35E northbound. Stay on access road, and look for BioBlitz marker signs.
Directions from Dallas: northbound 35E. Exit Whitlock, stay on access road and head north. Pass Frankford, and look for BioBlitz signs on your right.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, let me know! You can text me: 214 215 5605 or toss me a message here or an email: sam.kieschnick@tpwd.texas.gov

Hey all,

Just tossing up some of the iNat events/bioblitzes/gatherings happening in DFW for the next few months. All are welcome! :)

Monday, May 16: 3-7 PM - biosurveys at the new nature park in Duncanville - Ladd Natural Area -- close to 447 Oak Leaf Dr, Duncanville, TX 75137
32.633979, -96.918541

Saturday, May 21: early to late -- not close to DFW, but a bioblitz in Austin! https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/sambiology/64051-bioblitz-in-austin-decker-tallgrass-prairie-preserve-may-21

Monday, May 23: 4-7 PM - biosurvey at Benny J. Simpson Ecopark in Dallas - Coit @ McCallum - N - FS, Dallas, TX 75252
32.988630, -96.766786

Saturday, June 11: 9 AM - noon - bioblitz at TC Rice Jr Natural area in Carrollton -
2105 N Josey Ln, Carrollton, TX 75006
32.997715, -96.947701
https://www.facebook.com/events/740586193600344

Mothing events in July-- more details coming later! July 23 - Spring Creek Preserve in Garland; July 25 - River Legacy in Arlington; July 29 - John Bunker Sands in Seagoville; July 30 - Acton Nature Center.

What are you doing on Saturday, May 21?!? Well, I'll be down in Austin helping out with a bioblitz at Decker Tallgrass Prairie Preserve!!! Wanna join me?!?

@jdavisz is putting in a lot of work to document as much as possible on this peninsula of Lake Walter E. Long in east Austin (around 350 acres) -- there will be a public portion from 9 to noon, and then a 'hardcore iNatter document everything possible' after that. The preserve is normally not open to the public, but we'll have some special permission to access it. :) It's just north of the Walter Long Metropolitan Park and access will be through the Decker Creek Power Station.

Map here:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Decker+Tallgrass+Prairie+Preserve/@30.298537,-97.6098819,2501m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x8644b80379bbac03:0x82bb194bd5494c10!8m2!3d30.2979712!4d-97.6065626

There will be some black-lighting here in the evening too -- super excited!

Register to come here: https://www.givepulse.com/event/292494-Decker-Preserve-Bio-Blitz%21

If you're interested, let me know -- hoping to run into lots of Austin folks (as well as anyone else that wants to come over for some iNatting)! More nitty gritty details coming up soon -- but mark the calendar if you want to come!

I really love bugs. There is such tremendous diversity among insects and invertebrates, it's almost impossible to get bored studying and observing them!

One of the most valuable tools that I use to study bugs is the petri dish. I'm not good at taking photos, I don't have a great camera for macrophotography, but with a petri dish, I can contain a bug long enough to get shots of lots of different angles.

Another great thing about having petri dishes with you, especially if you're leading/on a public nature walk, is that you can share the experience of holding the bug without scaring those that may not want to touch the bug. I've been on a lot of walks (leading and just participating), where I'll find a bee or a wasp, grab it in a petri dish, and then even the most fearful person can hold it and examine it closely. And, after it's examined by everyone, you can return the organism without a tremendous amount of trauma/injury.

Great to have some petri dishes handy whenever you're outside! :)

I get my petri dishes here:
https://www.acornnaturalists.com/petri-dishes-90-mm-sleeve-of-10.html
They're relatively inexpensive, but they're also plastic, so they don't always last too long... They scratch and crack, and when I have one in my back pocket, I'll almost always sit on it! Nonetheless, they're super useful.

Have you tried using petri dishes???

So, there's an open space in Duncanville that's pretty dang sweet. It's around 40 acres with some cool open limestone spots and Ten Mile Creek that runs right through it. The land is open to the public and it's owned by the City of Duncanville. Here is some more info about the land:
https://www.focusdailynews.com/ladd-preservation-advocacy-a-hot-topic-for-duncanville/

Anywho, there's been some talk about development, so we're wanting to actively use the observations made on the land to show that there's not just biodiversity but also a naturalist community that seeks out open green spaces like this. It is well worthy of preserving.

If you find yourself in southern Dallas County, be sure to stop by the Ladd Land and make some observations -- they're especially useful! :)

The address is 609 W Danieldale Rd, Duncanville, TX 75137
and the GPS is 32.634893, -96.921227

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=178712&subview=map

https://donorbox.org/inaturalist-community-fundraising/fundraiser/sam-kieschnick

My 40th birthday is coming up, and this year, I'm hoping for some funds to be donated to iNaturalist. I'm about as bonkers as one can get about this resource. It's a database, it's a community, it's a lifestyle! :) Seriously, I have engaged more deeply using the tool of iNaturalist than anything else. It's broadened my interests in nature -- I explore the ecosystem thoroughly. Each time I go outside, I take iNaturalist with me. :)

No obligation, but if you're able to, iNat is well worthy of funds. I've set a goal of $1k, and here's the site:
https://donorbox.org/inaturalist-community-fundraising/fundraiser/sam-kieschnick

So grateful for this tool -- I've met with some of my absolute favorite people, in real life or virtually (with hopes to meeting so many of you in the near future). :)

Looking forward to using iNaturalist for the rest of my life!

Hey all,

Just tossing a request out there... So, TPWD is working on a bioblitz/citizen science/uses of iNaturalist video, and we have a bit of footage, but I'm curious if anyone has any that they have that we can use too! Ideally, we're looking for Texas bioblitzing in action.

If you have some that you're willing to share, we'll give credit to you, of course. You can reach out to me here or at my email: sam.kieschnick@tpwd.texas.gov

The video will be put together by @olivetree. Here is her last video (and she has another one that will hopefully come out soon on small urban green spaces):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGRqeN3PCNw

I love it when the iNat folks do the year in review. It's so awesome to see the stats for all of iNat in the year, and then to get the personalized results too.

Here are the site's stats for 2021 (so far!):
https://www.inaturalist.org/stats/2021

Here are my stats for this year:
https://www.inaturalist.org/stats/2021/sambiology

It was another year of just doing Texas travels (hopefully next year I'll be able to go a bit more north than TX), but I'm really happy that I was able to observe lots of critters and organisms this year. So far, about 3700 unique taxa in around 16k observations. Fun! And the little daily streak continued for this year too -- I've been super lucky to get to go outside every day for the past several years to make iNat observations. :)

You should check out your stats for this year! How did you do?!? And the numbers are irrelevant when compared to the engagement -- hopefully you engaged with nature a bunch this year!!! :)