The Preserve at Bull Run Mountains's Journal

Journal archives for February 2022

February 22, 2022

The Preserve at Bull Run's 2021 iNat Year in Review

Annual Update #2: 2021 in Review
Virginia Outdoors Foundation - Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve


Chelydra serpentina (Common Snapping Turtle) Observed: Apr 4, 2021
© Jacob Saucier, some rights reserved (CC-BY)


Introduction

Hello again everyone!

With another year behind us it is time to review the many observations made at the Bull Run Mountains Natural Areas Preserve in 2021. Despite the secondary surge of COVID-19 cases and its variants, visitors and researchers alike managed to observe an additional 1,000 observations (an exceptionally precise 1,000!) across our 2,486 acre natural area preserve. While this is lower than the total number of observations from last year, our iNaturalist project contributors remained steady. We appreciate all the help our community contributes every year in the quest to better document our natural flora and fauna. This year we were able to document some great endemic species. Some naturalist were also able to flex their photography skills and capture some amazing snapshots of feathered, scaled, or cellulosed neighbors. As we continue to learn more each year, this review aims to acknowledge the naturalist who have given their all in sharing their appreciation for the habitat the Virginia Outdoor Foundation's works to protect every day. With our introduction out of the way, lets dig into the reason we all come back to iNaturalist - to look at some critters, plants, and the things that aren't either!


Entoloma abortivum (Aborted Entoloma) Observed: Oct 9, 2021
© forestbathing, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)


Summary of Results from 2021 - What a Year!

Overview

Interested in viewing the observations pictured above? Icterus galbula, Goodyera pubescens, Dicrtomina ornata, Tolype velleda, Coluber constrictor.


Total Observations by Phylum

The representative pictures used above are a from observations shared here on iNaturalist by our visitors and researchers. Our Arthropoda representative is a Six-spotted Tiger Beetle (Cicindela sexguttata) observed by @mjwcarr, spotted chowing down on a unidentified ant species! Our Chordata observations included a plethora of amazing photographs, including many by naturalist @saucierj! It seemed fitting for his observation of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) to represent the Phylum. The final representative for the Animalia is a Gray-foot Lancetooth Snail (Haplotrema concavum) observed by naturalist @izafarr - only the second observation of the species for The Preserve's iNaturalist project! Coming in as our fist representative for the Fungi is a Eyelash cup (Scutellinia sp.) observed by naturalist @jeffdc - a great find. Representing the Basidiopmycota (a diverse division of fungi) is a Collared Calostoma (Calostoma lutescens) observed by Preserve Manager @jvillari. With only one representative for the division Zygomycota (now former according to Google - I am pretty ignorant regarding fungi taxonomy) is of Syzygites megalocarpus observed by @izafarr (this naturalist was on fire!). Our penultimate Kingdom, Plantae, saw a lot of observational footwork by our naturalist community. Representing the Phylum Bryophyta is Broom Moss (Dicranum scoparium) observed by @mjwcarr - a shameless pick. For the Marchantiophyta, some beautiful Snakewort (Conocephalum salebrosum) observed by @mjwcarr (it's the last self post I swear!). The final representative for the Plantae Phyla is a Striped Wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata) observed by naturalist @forestbathing. The final representative is for the Protozoa! Only six observations were recorded for this Kingdom over the course of 2021. Representing them is Metatrichia vesparium observed by @jeffdc.


Supplementary Analysis


Similar to last year, the most active time for our iNaturalist project is through the warmer portions of the year. However, unlike last year, December offered the highest number of observations for a single month in 2021. This proves that even at the start of winter there are many wonderful things to observe in nature.


Accolades

Interested in viewing the observations pictured above? Goodyera pubescens, Tipularia discolor, Notophthalmus viridescens.


The Preserve and Partnerships

Oak Spring Garden Foundation

Danaus plexippus (Monarch) Observed: Jul 10, 2021 at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation Property
© Joe Villari, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)

Last summer the BRMNAP Preserve manager Joe Villari organized and co-hosted the first ever BioBlitz at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation. The event included specialist, students, researchers, and naturalists from all over the country to help better document the biodiversity of the property. A more in-depth write-up of the event will be included in the 2021 Annual Report published by the Virginia Outdoors Foundation in the coming weeks - follow our social media links at the bottom of this article for updates! The event is captured over 450 species over the course of the event. Additional species are expected to be added to this total following the identification of collected insects specimens taken during light trapping equipment. You can view the observations recorded on iNaturalist by visiting the OSGF 2021 BioBlitz collection project. A general iNaturalist project for the Oak Spring Garden Foundation can be found here.


Coccyzus americanus (Yellow-billed Cuckoo) with a Norape ovina (White Flannel Moth Caterpillar) Observed: Aug 31, 2021
© Jacob Saucier, some rights reserved (CC-BY)


Thank you!

Thank you everyone who contributed observations and assisted in identifying our floral and faunal community members! I hope to continuing seeing your input into our collection project throughout 2022!

@libby39
@mjwcarr
@groutta
@saucierj
@lauragoley
@rubyhari
@becky443
@janisstone
@danglin
@dayahall
@liliana_ramirez178
@impossible_toad
@jbuck74
@travelingross
@cthompson1963
@jvillari
@megmuthupandiyan
@pgwamsley
@thecrunchyleaf
@macktheknife
@ines_nedelcovic
@michael2256
@mike1135
@banshee
@mbarreda
@xbarreda
@taryn20
@snakepuncess
@cmuzyk
@amielhopkins
@forestbathing
@mveiman
@jeffdc
@izafarr
@davidenrique
@mmmmbugs
@catullus
@d_kluza
@tsn
@pipsissewa
@jeffdc
@mjpapay
@graytreefrog
@tlit46
@choess
@imasongster
@izafarr
@rikimaru
@amanda_gorman
@birderkellyk
@nomolosx
@jacob62
@pwilson06
@arielbonkoski
@mjwcarr
@dburton4444
@asquithcm
@burningblue
@heather_b1
@easpears
@saucierj

@conboy
@mpintar
@mcgowenm
@megachile
@alanliang
@grigorenko
@bugzilla
@dayahall
@pranavchandrabose
@johngsalamander
@tapaculo99
@bertharris
@wildreturn
@hughmcguinness
@arethusa
@matthewbeziat
@spins
@a-tristis
@bryan-maltais
@morganstickrod
@jrcagle
@dougstotz
@treegrow
@finatic
@sdjbrown
@ana_kaahanui
@ericwilliams
@k8thegr8
@kevinfaccenda
@brennafarrell
@jsulzmann
@sharrow-sparrow
@szucsich
@afid
@tca12345
@spyingnaturalist
@karakaxa
@susanmcrae
@jtotero
@haley_
@chickenparmesan24
@staslit
@thebals
@polemoniaceae
@janetwright
@tom-kirschey
@arrowheadspiketail58
@joseph92
@barbaraparris
@susanna_h
@alex_abair
@roomthily
@tysmith
@johnplischke
@alex_cicindela_guy
@alanhorstmann
@wolfgangb
@alexb0000
@danielvogt
@margaretchatham
@edlickey

@birdboy
@hikerguy150
@syrherp
@bmathison
@maryah
@jrambler
@malcolmgreaves
@ephofmann
@hannahwojo
@seins
@stomlins701
@calconey
@juan_sphex
@ribydog
@annkatrinrose
@rdz
@esummerbell
@chuuuuung
@pedro3111
@pdegennaro
@dannynelson94
@michaeldow
@brothernorbert
@pointrond
@fernsibley
@rusty_shackleford_13
@ab_orchid
@jbecic2
@gallusgallusdomesticus
@grinnin
@rynxs
@scmayo
@pavel_avdeev
@viperidae4ever
@joannerusso
@carrieseltzer
@adeans
@treichard
@joshualincoln
@danielatha
@dan_johnson
@slapcin
@nataliemhowe
@michiganhummingbirdguy
@catenatus
@ritirene
@philipwoodscc
@collinst
@fabienpiednoir
@mantodea
@ac-soilgirl
@fauna_maya
@colinpurrington
@kyhlaustin
@kgrebennikov
@erlonbailey
@jmmaes
@michael_mulligan
@ginsengandsoon
@ericroscoe
@terrimewbornagain

@upupa-epops
@atronox
@michael_jacobi
@jane41
@lysandra
@myelaphus
@traylorc
@sterrett
@baldeagle
@salticidude
@jacobgorneau
@stevenaugustine
@dhricenak
@dgorsline
@naturepup
@feistyone
@jilliankern
@williamwisephoto
@lotteryd
@josephthebirder
@hillcraddock
@tristanmcknight
@jraiford
@fboetzl
@someplant
@trinaroberts
@natev
@jgw_atx
@pynklynx
@botanicaltreasures
@peter251
@harleyfoundaspider
@dsmorris
@sarahlloyd
@rosalie-rick
@cserpentina
@sleepybun
@zahnerphoto
@behmrachel
@bugman422
@marina_gorbunova
@peywey
@radekwalkowiak
@rachelperezudell
@weecorbie
@lsueza
@fernslu
@arman_
@kdstutzman
@klsnature
@caterpillarofsociety
@thomaseverest
@wsweet321
@chrisangell
@spencerpote
@mettcollsuss
@muscadinemoon
@maxbird1
@elytrid
@saifudeen_muhammad
@sabutaro

@igor_kuzmin
@jumping_arachnids
@joedziewa
@cedar-glade
@yudval
@hilszczj
@jurek3
@abelkinser
@wearethechampignons
@woodhaunt
@mydadguyfieri
@birderboy2015
@nrudzik
@roshan2010
@radoslawpuchalka
@oliverc29
@anastasia_braznnikova
@jfmantis
@plawrynpx
@jiangciao
@banewood
@spiritconnection
@zitserm
@adriennea
@rudolphous
@tnich
@carabid_47
@taluswalker
@eli_rinker
@spencer166
@wrc_crew
@steven_dm
@daniel_schelesky
@plexippus
@roberto618
@thomasdr
@nonbinary-naturalist
@hakkitakki
@lindsey_monteith
@beeenvironment
@trichopria
@aglenn20
@schlegal1
@hughpart
@nancylightfoot
@elfthief
@magicgator11
@bk-capchickadee12
@jacob_bauman
@oiledolives
@jimmbo_tron
@portulaca
@jan_thornhill
@alblueheron
@cmlifelisting
@kitemongoose
@thomas_panebianco
@zarutskiy_semyon
@daria_dreval
@tanya_averyanova
@balashov_egor
@vera_sokolova
@anastasia_barsukova



Asimina triloba (Common Pawpaw) Observed: Aug 15, 2021
© pgwamsley, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)



ABOUT #BullRunMountainsNaturalPreserve
The Bull Run Mountains are the easternmost mountains in Virginia. Virginia Outdoors Foundation - Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve is approximately 2,350 acres that serve as a living laboratory that sits in the backyard of our nation’s capital. The preserve contains 10 different plant community types and a plethora of regionally uncommon and threatened plant and animal species. In 2002, this land was dedicated by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation as a natural area preserve to protect the unique ecosystems found here. As the owner and manager of the preserve, the Virginia Outdoors Foundation is committed to protecting the special ecosystem found here and sharing it with the public through managed access.
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Meetup Events: Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve Guided Hikes Group
Posted on February 22, 2022 08:01 AM by mjwcarr mjwcarr | 13 comments | Leave a comment