By Jane Weeden, Bexar County Coordinator for CNC24
I fell in love with iNaturalist during the Class 47 biodiversity project. It was an easy way to combine my love of photography with my newfound Master Naturalist adventures. Then I ran into Peter Hernandez at the City Nature Challenge 2023, and he was in full competition mode. Wait, what? City Nature Challenge is a competition? Oh, the naiveté! I thought I could haphazardly take a few photos and win it. That’s not the case. That realization lit a fire with me and thus began my passion for CNC and all things iNaturalist.
Right then and there, I began plotting for CNC2024. I know, it’s strange. But I realized how much fun CNC is and couldn’t wait to ask all my Master Naturalist friends to join me in the CNC project I’d become so enthusiastic about. And guess what? CNC resonated with many of you, as well!
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I wanted to challenge us with a big goal – to win Texas. Think big? No, colossal! It started as a mere whisper of an idea, a goal so immense it bordered on audacious. But it was the kind of goal that galvanized us, uniting us in purpose. To achieve it, we’d have to triple the number of observations we made in 2023. An increase of this size is unheard of. Yet, the fervor caught on, and our CNC observations soared. Master Naturalists poured their hearts into it—leading walks, making observations and identifications, joining teams, and spreading the iNat love among our friends and other organizations.
What we accomplished is nothing short of AMAZING!! San Antonio Metro Area made over 65,000 observations. Not to mention we had 11 people make over 1,000 observations each. This is no small feat! San Antonio, you rock!! Congratulations, Master Naturalists!! Your hard work has paid off. You are now the NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!
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My focus has been on making observations – it’s how success is measured in the City Nature Challenge. But making observations is merely the gateway to a treasure trove of ecological knowledge. Now that we’ve mastered making observations, let’s delve deeper into utilizing that data. Ever wondered how many species visit your backyard or property? Want to document the first blooms of the year? Have a new project that needs analytical justification? iNat is your new BFF.
Truly, our local flora and fauna are the real winners of the City Nature Challenge. Each observation represents a species in time and space. These observations serve as invaluable resources, informing us of species distribution and dynamics. They lend weight to our AAMN projects, provide policymakers with grounds to support our parks, and furnish scientists with insights into trends and new discoveries. Leveraging iNaturalist to enhance the efficacy of our ongoing projects just makes sense.
I urge you to visit iNaturalist.org on your computer, dive into making identifications, to hone your species-identification skills. Try creating a project on iNat for your property or current master naturalist venture. Spruce up your profile, follow an expert or your favorite nature enthusiast, and be sure to join relevant projects, like CNC2025.
So, what’s on the horizon? I’m itching for more iNat adventures, and I’d love for you to join. With iNat coursing through our veins, it’s time to spread the iNat love. BioBlitzes, black light events, and advanced iNat training—there’s a plethora of activities waiting. Join us! Stay up to date through the newsletter and socials, participate in BioBlitzes, and keep using iNat as part of your daily routine. Let’s keep the iNat momentum rolling!