Diario del proyecto City Nature Challenge 2023: Surrey BC

We're just 10 days away from the start of the City Nature Challenge. Help spread the word about the event., share the City's event page and iNaturalist project info.

On top of general observation collection we have several dedicated events this year, including a how to session with iNaturalist expert John Reynolds.
Check out the City of Surrey's CNC event page to learn more about what, where and when.
https://www.surrey.ca/news-events/events/city-nature-challenge

Have you made plans to where you are going to BioBlitz this year! Still thinking about a special spot to go to? Consider doing one of the parks in the "Bird and Butterfly Biodiversity of Guildford" project and double the value of your observations by contributing to this SFU project, and filling the City's local flora and fauna knowledge gaps in some of the lesser visited parks in Surrey. Check out this umbrella project here:
https://inaturalist.ca/journal/surrey-bc_biodiversity/77404-new-local-project-bird-and-butterfly-biodiversity-of-guildford-surrey-bc.

As the City Nature Challenge gets going, a gentle reminder that the focus is on wild organisms (native, naturalized or introduced). So no people, pets or livestock. Though are feral animals (e.g., domestic rabbits dumped in a greenspace) or okay. Native plants are also preferred (e.g., avoid houseplants or ornamental garden plants), but noxious weeds or invasive plants in our natural areas are okay.

Get BioBlitzing and have fun out there!

Just a shout out to everyone busily scouring Surrey for observations this weekend! The weather has been perfect (hot yesterday, cool today) which brings out more variety of wildlife.

I see we've got many folks with 30+ observations, and still going. Whether it's 1 or 101, every contribution counts.

For our City account, we will have blitzed 14 parks by end of the CNC tomorrow, equating to several hundred observations and audio recordings to add. Seems that most of the insects (especially the butterflies, bees, and flies) out now are in hyper mode and too fast to get a good ID for. So, except for the ones that stayed still long enough for a pic, many will be casual. Note to self - time to get a good sweep net.

We'll be close to, or surpass our numbers from last year, and right now we're ahead of Delta, Coquitlam and Richmond. But we won't know actual numbers until the dust settles May 8th.

Enjoy the last day of the CNC tomorrow and thank you for your incredible effort!