sambiology's Journal
I looooove the iNat year in review. You've got to check it out:
https://www.inaturalist.org/stats/2023
Such incredible numbers.
Then, you can generate your own stats for this year too!!! At the end of year, I'll do a journal report on mine:
https://www.inaturalist.org/stats/2023/sambiology
Posting this on behalf of my friend @kreichy ! :) I'm planning on being there next Saturday too. :)
BIOBLITIZ!!! BIOBLITZ!! BIOBLITZ!!
Hey All!! I work at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden and we are planning on having goats come to the garden in the Spring of 2024! The goats are going to help us control some of the invasive species present and we are super excited!! Before the goats come however, we want to collect some data on the forested area they will be grazing. So we are hosting a BIOBLITZ!!! Come one, come all to FWBG on Saturday December 9th, 9a-12pm. We will gather at the main entrance and proceed to the designated area as a group! Hope to see you all there! Feel free to shoot us any questions you may have.
One word of caution: there are areas of dense poison ivy so please wear long sleeves, long pants and closed toed shoes!
Earn volunteer hours in VMS under Citizen science/data collection (Tarrant County)
For any comments questions or concerns you can contact : : Karen Shuback (kshuback@fwbg.org), Sebastian Alarcon (jalarcon@fwbg.org) or Iris Cervantes (Icervantes@fwbg.org)
Hey all!
A bit of a short notice announcement, but we're planning on a bioblitz/biosurvey next week Thursday (Nov 16) at Ladd Nature Preserve in Duncanville. Two of the new urban wildlife biologists from Austin and San Antonio are coming up, and we're wanting to show them how we conduct and participate in a biosurvey. They're relatively new to iNat as well, so some of it will be just showing how to use the tool.
If you're able to come, cool! It is during somewhat odd hours -- 2 to 5 PM on Thursday... I fully recognize that it won't work for everyone, but if you've got some time free and watch to come and catch some bugs or look at plants or chase after birds with us, please come!
Also, it looks like it may be rainy -- we'll still plan on doing it in the rain (bring boots and umbrella)! :)
If you have any questions or concerns, let me know. It's open to anyone and everyone!
So, if you've got a free 20 min or so, you really need to watch @kueda 's commencement keynote about iNaturalist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AECD7qfFAV0
I'm sure happy to be in this community with so many of my friends -- some I've met in person, others I've met just online -- but we all share that enjoyment by engaging with nature. :)
I joined iNaturalist on 21 September 2013 -- was introduced to it by Derek Broman @dbroman , then the urban wildlife biologist in Dallas/Fort Worth with Texas Parks and Wildlife. Since then, it's radically changed the way that I go outside and how I engage with nature.
So proud and happy and lucky to be a part of this growing and vibrant community of nature enthusiasts!
I know it's still crazy hot, and it'll maybe be hot for another month or so, but there are some gatherings/events planned already! If you know of others in the DFW area, toss them in the comments.
August 4 - Friday - 8:30 to late - black-lighting at Cedar Hill State Park ($7 park entrance fee):
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=59986
August 12 - Saturday - 8:30 to late - black-lighting at Broadcast Hills (next to Tandy Hills) in Fort Worth:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=163323
August 16 - Wednesday - 3 - 6 PM and then 8 to late - bioblitz and blacklighting at Grand Park in Frisco :
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=187386
September 1 - Friday - 3-6 and then 8 to late - bioblitz and blacklighting at Ladd Nature Preserve in Duncanville :
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=178712
September 9 - Saturday - 7 - 11 AM - bioblitz at Dixon Water Foundation's Josey Pavilion north of Decatur:
https://www.inaturalist.org/posts/82933-bioblitz-at-dixon-water-foundation-s-josey-pavilion
September 9 - Saturday - 8 to late - blacklighting at LLELA (location TBD):
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=63542
October 20 - Friday - 8 to late - blacklighting at Natural Springs Park in Anna :
https://www.annatexas.gov/1226/Natural-Springs-Park
There may be some other events that pop up, and as I hear about them (or see them in the comments), I'll update this journal entry.
Let me know if you have any questions or concerns: sam.kieschnick@tpwd.texas.gov or 214 215 5605 or @sambiology!
42 acres in Duncanville are being preserved -- this is a wonderful thing!
https://greensourcedfw.org/articles/duncanville-creates-citys-first-nature-preserve
So, what now? Well, we naturalists need to continue to go out to the land, tell our friends, tell strangers, go out to this place and continue to engage with nature! So far, around 1000 species have been documented (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=178712), but there are countless more out there to engage with.
If you find yourself out there, be sure to bring a little bag for any trash that you see! @mgram55 and many others have dedicated a LOT of time and energy to not just this advocacy for the land, but also the daily trash removal. It's a good thing to help out with this as we can!
I predict more developments coming out of all of this (trails, foundation of a 'friends' group, bioblitzes, other nature events), so I'll be posting updates as I hear them! In the meantime, celebrate this good news!!! :)
So, in preparation of National Moth Week, I want to update some folks about my black-lighting set up! Now, I still use some of the equipment from BioQuip (unfortunately, they went out of business), but I've also been using some new gear.
Mercury vapor bulb - super power! So, this does not run on any of my batteries, this only works via an outlet. This mercury vapor I got from BioQuip, so I don't know where you could get one... I put it on a tripod rather than hang it up. It tends to be a bit too powerful, to be honest -- it's kinda painful on my eyes, even when I'm not even looking at it! It brings in LOTS though, so I still use it from time to time.
BioQuip UV lights - these are the circular lights -- I was fortunate enough to purchase 5 of these, and so far, they still work! I wish wish wish I knew where one could still get these, but alas, I can't seem to find them anywhere...
I have a few different batteries to run these-- I have a Yeti 1000X and then two Yeti 200X: https://www.goalzero.com/collections/portable-power-stations
The batteries are a bit pricey, but they are pretty long lasting.
New lights -- so I've found that the relatively cheap UV lights are pretty good! There are a lot of options for these, but the flat black-lights powered by USB have been quite productive:
https://www.amazon.com/TITO-Blacklight-Bedroom-Tapestry-Supplies/dp/B09M43Z3JW/ref=pd_ci_mcx_mh_mcx_views_1?pd_rd_w=Ouetr&content-id=amzn1.sym.0250fb24-4363-44d0-b635-ac15f859c3b5%3Aamzn1.symc.40e6a10e-cbc4-4fa5-81e3-4435ff64d03b&pf_rd_p=0250fb24-4363-44d0-b635-ac15f859c3b5&pf_rd_r=ZT3CKZMCVAZ7ZKQQCZCX&pd_rd_wg=fJkxm&pd_rd_r=f8beec84-3b60-4316-9153-3c4b5f6ae08e&pd_rd_i=B09M43Z3JW
I think that the main characteristic needed is the spectrum of 385-400nm...
I use portable chargers to run these:
https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Charger-38800mAh-Charging-Compatible/dp/B09H4GLZXT/ref=sr_1_1?c=ts&keywords=Cell+Phone+Portable+Power+Banks&qid=1689386661&s=wireless&sr=1-1&ts_id=7073960011
I'll also use some USB extension cords so that I can hang these lights from one of the taller branches:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/best-buy-essentials-10-usb-a-3-0-male-to-female-extension-cable-black/6435159.p?skuId=6435159&ref=212&loc=1
I did also just purchase a new black-light from https://entoquip.com/... This was fairly pricey, and I've not yet gotten it, so we'll see how it functions!
As for sheets, I use the fairly cheap white bed sheets. The ones that are fairly consistent in thread count/pattern are the most useful, I think. These are usually around 10 bucks.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/NC-Home-Fashions-Classic-300-Thread-Count-Bright-White-Microfiber-Sheet-Sets-Twin/853015950
To hang the sheets, I use a bunch of clothes pins and try to place them on branches/trees/shrubs so they stay put... Now, if there's some wind, that stinks for the photography and for the moths to stay still on the sheets... The more still the conditions, the better!
One of the things that my good friend @k8thegr8 got me was magnets! I use these magnets to secure a few sheets on the sides of my vehicle. I then hang up the BioQuip UV lights close to these sheets.
As always, I tend to see the most biodiversity in areas with good wildlife habitat (diversity of plants), and if there is relatively little light pollution.
So, there are a few more events happening this summer in the DFW metroplex. Here are the ones that I know of. Lots of blacklighting! If you know of others, want to host something, or just want some company on a bioblitz, please comment!
June 17 - Saturday - 8 to late
Blacklighting at Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve in Plano
5901 Los Rios Blvd, Plano, TX 75074
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=138107&subview=map
June 20 - Tuesday - 8 to late
Blacklighting at Green Acres Memorial Park in Flower Mound - limited parking, message me if you want to attend!
4400 Hide-A-Way Ln, Flower Mound, TX 75022
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=123039&subview=map
June 25 - Sunday - 3 to 6 and then 8 to late
BioBlitz and then blacklighting at Ladd Land in Duncanville
1346-1296 Cedar Hill Rd, Duncanville, TX 75137
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=178712&subview=map
July 7 - Friday - 8 to late
Blacklighting at Brookhaven College in Farmers Branch (Windmill Gardens area)
3939 Valley View Ln, Farmers Branch, TX 75244
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=121125&subview=map
July 22 - Saturday - 8 to late
Blacklighting at Spring Creek Forest Preserve in Garland
1770 Holford Rd, Garland, TX 75044
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=144920&subview=map
July 25 - Tuesday - 8 to late
Blacklighting at River Legacy Park in Arlington (Raccoon Run Picnic Area)
Rose-Brown-May Pkwy, Arlington, TX 76006
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=60567&subview=map
July 28 - Friday - 8 to late
Blacklighting at John Bunker Sands Wetlands Center in Seagoville
655 Martin Ln, Combine, TX 75159
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=81744&subview=map
July 29 - Saturday - 8 to late
Blacklighting at Acton Nature Center
6900 Smokey Hill Ct, Granbury, TX 76049
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=114934&subview=map
Another note -- the Texas Parks and Wildlife DFW urban wildlife has an intern this summer (June - August), and we'll be planning some all day bioblitz/surveys in Duncanville at the Ladd Land and in Frisco at Grand Park. These will likely be during the weekday and probably like a 9 AM to 3 PM thing. Stay tuned for details on this.
Some fun gatherings and events coming up in DFW!
Sunday, April 23 - 3-6 and then 8 to late (for blacklighting!)
BioBlitz/biosurvey at Ladd Natural Area in Duncanville
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=178712&subview=map
Duncanville City Council has been deciding on what to do with this 42 acres along Ten Mile Creek, so the more evidence we can show that it's a refuge for biodiversity and the naturalists that engage with it, the better! I hope you can come!
Tuesday, April 25 - 9 am to noonish
Biosurvey at Running Bear Park in Irving
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=165018&subview=map
We've been here before, but they're wanting to do some bioswales, and the city wants to see if these areas can act as little habitats for bugs. So, let's show them!
CANCELLED Friday, April 28 - 8 to late
Black-lighting at Mockingbird Nature Park in Midlothian
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=78876&subview=map
CANCELLED
Saturday, April 29 - 3 - 6 and then 8 to late (for blacklighting!)
Bioblitz/blacklighting at Frisco Grand Park
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=187386&subview=map
300 acre park in Frisco -- they're just now starting the discussions on how to manage this area... We want them to keep the biodiversity in mind, so let's do that through some bioblitzing!
Monday, May 15 - 3 - 8 pm
Pollinator bioblitz at Canyon Creek Wetlands in Richardson
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=187694&subview=map
Super cool site with some really active master naturalist activity, but not a lot of insect observations -- we're planning a bioblitz to focus on the pollinators on this date. It's come and go, so stay as long as you'd like!
parking spot is at Hilton Garden Inn Dallas/Richardson, 1001 W President George Bush Hwy, Richardson, TX 75080
Tuesday, May 16 - 8 PM to late
Blacklighting/mothing at Ladd Land!
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=178712&subview=map
If there are other bioblitzes or iNatty stuff going on in DFW, please let me know, and I'll update the above list.
If you have any questions or concerns, let me know: sam.kieschnick@tpwd.texas.gov or 214 215 5605
