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Journal archives for August 2021

August 8, 2021

July 2021 Challenge - summary

Our Monthly Challenge continues with another splendid effort, in the last month we all contributed a massive effort. The numbers will only go up as people may upload observations in the next few weeks. As of writing, we have contributed
Observations 5,333 ( 5059 in Australia)
Species 1722
Identifiers 427
Observers 46 ( 19 with more than 50 observations at the time of writing)

@gregtasney @ethan241 @natashataylor @zachmalcomson @hatwise @stephen169 @nyoni-pete @rodolfosalinas @ludwig_muller @aavankampen @karenweaving62 @mj_taylor @thbata1
@nswanson @donnamareetomkinson @naturemum101 @owen65 @streglystendec @rich_fuller

For the latest stats check out the July Challenge-Updated Stats

The 43 Australian observers contributing this month was a decrease on the previous month. Together our observations accounted for around 8.8 % of all observations within Australia (56, 937) over the month of June (at time of writing). While the 43 observers constituted only around 1.3% of all iNaturalists observers active during the month Australia.
The most observed species observed in the month was the Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen (below © Zach Malcomson, all rights reserved)

For the latest results of the current Month check the
August Challenge-Updated Stats

Check out how this compares to
July Challenge-Updated Stats
June Challenge-Updated Stats
May Challenge-Updated Stats
April Challenge-Updated Stats
March Challenge-Updated Stats March summary
February Challenge-Updated Stats February summary
January Challenge-Updated Stats January summary
December Challenge-Updated Stats December summary

Great Southern BioBlitz 2021

The 'Great Southern BioBlitz', or 'GSB' for short, is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring.

The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist. As we are international, in Spanish we are known as 'Gran Biobúsqueda del Sur', while in Portuguese we are known as 'Grande BioBlitz do Hemisfério Sul'. By the end of October, the natural world is on full throttle. Flowers are blooming, insects are emerging, birds are singing, and reptiles are coming out of their winter hibernation. It makes sense for the Southern Hemisphere to observe life at this time of year! The #GSB21 will be held from Friday the 22nd of October until the end of Monday on the 25th of October, incorporating different communities, areas and regions across the Southern Hemisphere
Check out the Great Southern BioBlitz 2021 umbrella project .

This month we have som amazing observations from Richard Fuller (@rich_fuller), originally from the UK, he moved to Australia in 2008. Travelled quite a bit, but becoming more and more interested in local natural history, particularly in Brisbane where he is based. It looks like he has had the oppertunity to head up to the north of Queensland over the month and taken some amazing observations check out his observations for July here

Euploea eichhorni(left), Gram Blue Euchrysops cnejus (right) observed by Richard Fuller, (@rich_fuller),

With the cooler weather in the south, it's a Fungi bonanza and Michael Burrell (@streglystendec) is definitely one to take inspiration from in South Australia, have a look at Mikes July observations here


Ramaria lorithamnus (top left), Pixie's Parasol Mycena interrupta (top right)
Peeling Oysterling Crepidotus mollis (bottom left) and Sulphur Tuft Hypholoma fasciculare (bottom right)
Mike also recorded two occurrences of Neobarya agaricicola which are the first observations of this species in South Australia (below). It is commonly observed in Victoria and New Zealand with a few observations in Tasmania. It is a small fungus that is found colonizing other fungi. One to look out for in the future to see if it is more widespread in S.A. this was mentioned in the comments below., thanks @streglystendec

Last month Michael also found the shell of Emmalena gawleri (Brazier, 1872) in Belair National Park (below). They are a native carnivorous land snail that are not often observed due to their cryptic habitat. Only 4 observations are recorded in iNaturalist – 1 live specimen and 3 dead shells. Distribution: Mt Lofty Ranges and coastal environs to the South Flinders Ranges, South East South Australia (Australian Land Snails Volume 2).

Please remember selecting the appropriate copyright is important, we recommend that you select a default that allows observations to be loaded to GBIF

Thank you to all those that contributed this month, I hope you will continue to be involved.
@gregtasney @ethan241 @natashataylor @zachmalcomson @hatwise @stephen169 @nyoni-pete @rodolfosalinas @ludwig_muller @aavankampen @karenweaving62 @mj_taylor @thbata1 @nswanson @donnamareetomkinson @naturemum101 @owen65 @streglystendec @rich_fuller @rwl @fairypossum @nikonoid @anthonypaul @leithallb @luis615 @pam275 @ethan_yeoman @sandy_horne @grisper1 @timothyshields @jacksonnugent @chrisseager @mary-a-crawf @seamus-doherty @the_spangled_drongo @bigpete @heathwallum @jeannie_bartram @elfir @ichigo_ @natrydd @craig_williams @dragonette @marionmackenzie @sammybee @savurs

Posted on August 8, 2021 07:10 AM by saltmarshsteve saltmarshsteve | 6 comments | Leave a comment