From April 30 to May 9, 2021, participants from all over the world came together to make this year the most successful challenge yet! Over the course of the four-day observation period within Sarasota-Manatee counties, 151 citizen scientists uploaded 4,331 observations of 1,174 species to the iNaturalist platform. Our most observed plant was the beautyberry with 29 observations. Our most observed animal was the brown anole with 26 observations. Following the observation period, 271 iNaturalist users spent the next four days identifying the many species that were posted. Several rare and endemic Florida species were observed, such as Florida loosestrife, Florida bog orchids, roseate spoonbills, barred owls, gopher tortoises, butterfly orchids, and of course many air plants. Three of the top ten observations were Tillandsia species!
A big shout out to our top observer, crowleymuseumandnaturecenter, with 598 observations and 296 species, followed by lazynaturalist with 555 observations and 224 species, and ceherzog with 227 observations and 193 species. Way to go!
Our Sarasota-Manatee project finished in third place out of seven participating areas in Florida, behind Alachua County and the South Florida Project.
Citizen scientists making observation on iNaturalist at the Potter Park Bioblitz event!
Making observation for the 2021 City Nature Challenge at the Rye Preserve bioblitz.
Worldwide, in 419 cities, 52,777 participants made 1,270,767 observations of 45,300+ species. What an incredible celebration of biodiversity!
A huge THANK YOU to all our partners for making this international event a success locally! Together with Sarasota County Parks, Recreation, & Natural Resources, Manatee County Parks & Natural Resources, Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, and Crowley Museum and Nature Center Inc., we hosted eight different events associated with the City Nature Challenge.
We hope to engage even more citizen scientists for City Nature Challenge 2022!
Smilax glauca found at the Rye Preserve Bioblitz. A herbarium voucher was made for this plant, as it is rare to find this plant in our area.
Bruce, Vice President for Botany, presses specimen found at the Rye Preserve Bioblitz. Observations from the Challenge have been essential in helping Selby Gardens’ botanists understand the changing flora in our region.
