City Nature Challenge 2023: Garden Route's Journal

Tips for Taking Photos During the City Nature Challenge
The photos you take during the City Nature Challenge are there to provide evidence of the organism you saw, and to help confirm the identification of that organism. Therefore, taking good photos is key to participating in the CNC!
Here are some tips to taking photos:

Focus on one species in each observation: While a field full of wildflowers is beautiful, it’s not the best photo for an observation - which of the many species is your species? Make sure that at least one of your photos for the observation (preferably the first) is a close-up, centered in the frame, and fills the frame.
Take several photos in one observation: photograph different parts or angles of your organism. For example, one photograph of an entire tree taken from far away won’t be very useful for identification. But that same shot combined with other photos that show close-ups of the leaves, the bark, flowers or fruits, will allow the tree to be identified.
Discard blurry photographs: Use the option on the app to retake photos if the photo is not good. Try retaking with a flash, or wait for the organism to stand still.
Get close: For small organisms in particular, like ants or aphids, getting a nice close-up shot is vital for identification. A huge picture with a small black dot is useless. It can be difficult to get a good close-up shot with your smartphone, but zoom in and get close. If you enjoy photographing small things there are inexpensive clip-on macro lenses that take great, focused pictures of small organisms or close-ups of features of other organisms, like a plant that has tiny flowers or the eyes of a spider.
An ideal observation has a picture showing the full organism, closeups of important features (for spiders this might be the arrangement of the eyes, the hairs and claws on the toes, and the spinnerets, for plants it is the inside of the flower, the back of the flower, a stem showing the leaves, and the plant habit - you will quickly learn what is important in different groups), and the habitat it lives in. If you can get all of these in one sharp, detailed photo, then that is ideal. But the more pictures the better - iNat allows up to 20 pictures per observation (although the android app only allows 4).
Remember: only one species per observation. Dont post different types of things on the same observation: iNaturalist can only give one name per organism. Keep it different species on a different observation. If uncertain, do separate observations.

Copied from https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-southern-africa-2023/journal/76208-tips-for-taking-photos-during-the-city-nature-challenge

TUESDAY, 18 APRIL 2023 FROM 13:00-14:00
iNaturalist Tutorial: Using the App and web to add observations.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1283068272281485/?ref=newsfeed
This lunch time tutorial is in preparation for the upcoming City Nature Challenge.
Join us to learn how to participate in the challenge by uploading observations via the iNaturalist APP or website.

TUESDAY, 25 APRIL 2023 FROM 13:00-14:00
iNaturalist Tutorial: Using the Explore Tool and assisting with identifications.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1269136777343776/?ref=newsfeed
This lunchtime tutorial is in preparation for the upcoming City Nature Challenge.
Join us to learn how to use the Explore tool on iNaturalist and tips on assisting with identifications of observations made during the Challenge, even if you are not a specialist.

Please let the organizers know if you are interested/going by selecting the link and response.
Thank you

Uploading observations to iNaturalist using the web platform
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIRGpO2R7uQ

Uploading an observation using the cellphone app
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xENz1xRu0wI

https://www.facebook.com/GardenRouteINaturalist

Biodiversity monitoring: iNaturalist is a great tool for monitoring the biodiversity of a particular area. South Africa is home to a wide variety of plants and animals, some of which are endemic to the region. By using iNaturalist, researchers and conservationists can get a better understanding of the distribution and abundance of different species in the country.

Citizen science: iNaturalist allows anyone to contribute to scientific research by recording their observations of different species. This is particularly important in South Africa, where there are many rural communities that have a deep knowledge of local biodiversity. By using iNaturalist, these communities can share their knowledge with scientists and contribute to our understanding of the natural world.

Education: iNaturalist is also a valuable tool for educators in South Africa. By encouraging students to record their observations of different species, teachers can help students learn about biodiversity and ecology. iNaturalist also provides a platform for students to share their observations with others, which can be a great way to encourage collaboration and discussion.

Conservation: Finally, but not least, iNaturalist can be used to support conservation efforts in South Africa. By identifying areas where threatened or endangered species are found, conservationists can work to protect these areas and the species that live there. iNaturalist also allows conservationists to track the spread of invasive species, which can be a major threat to native biodiversity.
https://www.inaturalist.org/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltnCggW-Z7c

Community Engagement: The CNC is a great way to engage with your local community and connect with others who share a passion for nature. By participating in the CNC, you can meet like-minded individuals, learn from experts, and contribute to a shared understanding of the natural world in your city.

Citizen Science: The CNC is a citizen science project, which means that your observations can help to generate data that can be used by scientists and conservationists to better understand the biodiversity in your city. Your observations can help to identify areas of high biodiversity, track changes in species distribution, and identify threats to local ecosystems.

Education: Participating in the CNC can also be a valuable educational experience. By observing and documenting the natural world in your city, you can learn about the different species that live in your area, their habitat requirements, and the ecological relationships between different species. This knowledge can help you to become a more informed and responsible citizen.

Fun and Enjoyment: Finally, but not least, participating in the CNC can be a fun and enjoyable experience. It provides an opportunity to explore your local environment, discover new species, and appreciate the beauty of the natural world. It can also be a great way to get outdoors, enjoy some fresh air and exercise, and connect with nature in a meaningful way.

https://www.facebook.com/GardenRouteINaturalist

𝑾𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 6 𝒍𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒚 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒑𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔.
The City Nature Challenge runs from the 28th of April 2023 to the 01st of May 2023.

All you need to do is participate in the Garden Route City Nature Challenge over the above dates to qualify.
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2023-garden-route

𝑪𝒂𝒑𝒆 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 is offering 1 ticket for 2 nights for 2 people at either Rocherpan or Goukamma Nature Reserves. Valid for 6 months from the date of issue.
To qualify for this draw, you must have uploaded a minimum of 160 identifiable Observations depicting no less than 60 different species over the above dates. Remember 1 observation is for 1 species. Do not upload multiple species into 1 observation.
https://www.capenature.co.za/

𝑮𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝑹𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒆 𝑩𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑮𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒏 is offering 5 Annual Memberships to the Garden for 1 person each.
To qualify for this draw, you must have uploaded a minimum of 40 identifiable Observations depicting no less than different 20 species over the above dates. Remember 1 observation is for 1 species. Do not upload multiple species into 1 observation.
1 Person = 1 Annual membership. 5 Total.
https://botanicalgarden.org.za/

Thank you to all for their generous sponsorship of this great challenge.

Terms & Conditions
• Competition entries shall be judged, or winners selected based on those criteria specified. The judge’s decision is final.
• No cash alternative to the prizes will be offered. The prizes are not transferable. Prizes are subject to availability, and we reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice.
• We may undertake publicity activities relating to competitions and prize awards. The winner, therefore, agrees to the use of their name, photograph and disclosure of town or region of residence in any post-prize-winning publicity names, surnames, towns or regions of residence and prize details.
• Competition shall open for entries at the time and on the date specified by the City Nature Challenge.
• Prizes will only be valid for observations and species taken within the Garden Route District Municipality.
• Any observation received before the opening or after the closing of the competition will be invalid and will not be entered into the competition.
• All observations must be uploaded to the iNaturalist platform (https://www.inaturalist.org/). Either via the web or through the cell phone app.
• Winners will be drawn as soon as the results of the City Nature Challenge are official worldwide (within 5 days after the 8th of May 23).
• Reasonable efforts will be made to contact the prize winner for 5 days but if the winner fails to respond to our notification attempts within this time or fails to meet any of the eligibility requirements or is otherwise unable to comply with the competition terms and conditions, we reserve the right to disqualify that entrant and offer the prize to the next eligible entrant and thereafter until a winner is found.
• Winners will be notified on our Facebook platform (https://www.facebook.com/GardenRouteINaturalist). On the Garden Route City Nature Challenge project page. And, through a personal notification to the winners’ iNaturalist messenger service.
• A handover ceremony will be held at the Marshmallow Café in the Garden Route Botanical Gardens on 20 May 2023 @ 14h30. https://www.facebook.com/cafeofmarshmallows/ The Marshmallow Garden Cafe | George (facebook.com)
• No responsibility can be accepted for entries/observations not received for whatever reason.
• We reserve the right to cancel or amend the competition and these terms and conditions without notice.
• If a competition entrant does not meet the eligibility requirements or is subject to any entry restrictions, that entrant shall not be entitled to be adjudged a winner and will not be entitled to a prize in any circumstances.
• Our decision in respect of all matters to do with the competition will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
• All participants uploading observations will be eligible for the prizes and will be deemed as acceptance of all these terms and conditions.
• You warrant to us that all observations uploaded are your own, that you own all the copyright in those observations, and that our use of the observations in accordance with these rules will not infringe any person's intellectual property rights or other legal rights.

• M̲u̲l̲t̲i̲p̲l̲e̲ ̲s̲p̲e̲c̲i̲e̲s̲ ̲i̲n̲ ̲o̲n̲e̲ ̲o̲b̲s̲e̲r̲v̲a̲t̲i̲o̲n̲:̲ ̲You may have taken several observations and now want to upload. One observation is for one species. So, if you have a plant, an insect, and another plant, please make sure that they are in different observations. You will not get a positive identification as other users will ignore it because it contains multiple species. Also, where you could have had several observations to your count, you now only have one.

• M̲u̲l̲t̲i̲p̲l̲e̲ ̲p̲h̲o̲t̲o̲s̲ ̲o̲f̲ ̲o̲n̲e̲ ̲s̲p̲e̲c̲i̲e̲s̲ ̲a̲t̲ ̲o̲n̲e̲ ̲s̲i̲g̲h̲t̲i̲n̲g̲:̲ You may have taken several different photos of a plant to show the leaf, growth form, flower, or seed. Make sure that all these are in one observation. Do not save them individually. This would result in one observation, now becoming many, and clutters the system forcing you to delete and combine.

• S̲a̲m̲e̲ ̲s̲p̲e̲c̲i̲e̲s̲,̲ ̲d̲i̲f̲f̲e̲r̲e̲n̲t̲ ̲l̲o̲c̲a̲t̲i̲o̲n̲s̲:̲ If you take a photo of a plant at one site, drive a kilometre on, and take another photo of the same plant, that will count as two observations. Thus, two separate instances.

• A̲p̲p̲ ̲s̲y̲n̲c̲h̲r̲o̲n̲i̲z̲a̲t̲i̲o̲n̲:̲ ̲Make sure that when you use the App on your cell that you allow it to fully synchronize before logging out. It could result in the system registering the observation but not having completed the upload of the photos. Thus, it is not verifiable and will not be counted.

• A̲u̲d̲i̲o̲ ̲c̲l̲i̲p̲s̲ Do remember that audio clips are also acceptable, so if you got frogs clicking or croaking in a pond, or a bird chirping in a tree you may upload that audio clip as well – MP3 format.

• L̲i̲m̲i̲t̲ ̲u̲p̲l̲o̲a̲d̲ ̲b̲a̲t̲c̲h̲ ̲n̲u̲m̲b̲e̲r̲s: Upload small batches of observations at a time. The iNaturalist system will be under pressure and loading a large batch may cause your system to hang, resulting in you having to start again. Suggest keeping the batch numbers low, saving it, and then the next batch.

• N̲a̲m̲i̲n̲g̲ ̲y̲o̲u̲r̲ ̲o̲b̲s̲e̲r̲v̲a̲t̲i̲o̲n̲:̲ If you upload something and have no idea what it is. Do not leave the name blank. Identify it into the main groupings, e.g., Plants, Birds, Insects, Mammals or Fungi. This will help those trolling the observations to pick them up and add an identification. Leaving it blank could result in it getting lost and only being discovered once it is quieter and too late.

• S̲e̲l̲e̲c̲t̲i̲n̲g̲ ̲a͟u͟t͟o͟m͟a͟t͟i͟c͟ ͟n͟a͟m͟e͟s͟ ͟p͟r͟o͟v͟i͟d͟e͟d͟ ͟b͟y͟ ͟t͟h͟e͟ ͟i͟N͟a͟t͟u͟r͟a͟l͟i͟s͟t͟ ͟A͟r͟t͟i͟f͟i͟c͟i͟a͟l͟ ͟I͟n͟t͟e͟l͟l͟i͟g͟e͟n͟c͟e͟: Check if names are from nearby. If not please double-check, as non-nearby identifications include species that don’t necessarily occur in Africa.
If you are unsure, rather put it into a higher grouping and let others that know name it. So, you upload a spider, and the system suggests some weird name. You do know it is a spider, so rather enter it as such. The name the system suggests may be from a different continent.

• S̲e̲l̲e̲c̲t̲i̲n̲g̲ ̲a̲ ̲f̲o̲u̲n̲d̲ ̲n̲a̲m̲e̲ ̲f̲o̲r̲ ̲i̲d̲e̲n̲t̲i̲f̲i̲c̲a̲t̲i̲o̲n̲: When you enter the name of your observation. Wait for the system to give you a drop-down list which should include what you entered. Select from the list to register the name.

• P̲h̲o̲t̲o̲ ̲c̲l̲a̲r̲i̲t̲y̲:̲ Make sure that your photo is identifiable. If you cannot see the bird or insect, neither can the other users who are looking to confirm the observation.

How many observations can you upload? This will depend on how many hours you have in the day. No number is too few, but the more the better.

If you need any, advice or help please email us at:
wessageorge@isat.co.za, or grd.cnc@gmail.com
Alternatively, leave a message on your observation under the description or comments, and someone will reply, or pop a message on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/GardenRouteINaturalist

You are invited to join us and participate in the City Nature Challenge 2023 in the Garden Route district team.
We would like to focus on the Garden Route Dam and continue photographing and mapping this vulnerable area's species diversity - and we need your help to record it!!
We are hosting a basic introduction to iNaturalist, The City Nature Challenge, and how to use the iNat app., at the Garden Route Dam on the following dates:

Friday 28th April - 5pm
Saturday 29th April - 5pm
Monday 1st May - 8am and 5pm

Bring cell phones with a pre-loaded iNat app, water and walking shoes.

https://web.facebook.com/GardenRouteINaturalist/posts/pfbid02EGrK4tbXwojKUQN8GRcT66oo53yKYNXdsgmjNaYjd3MC6b2L5rTH9vQ1sTTAz8KHl

The Garden Route Botanical Gardens are hosting three guided Tree Identification tours with the use of the iNaturalist App for recording and identification.

Bookings are essential by emailing them (info@botanicalgarden.co.za) and collecting your ticket before the end of the workday on 26 April.

https://web.facebook.com/GardenRouteINaturalist/posts/pfbid0GJag54Nwqe7TxcSMzACdqmtL3yxrL2RABH1Bvxog1rjADEU8exE4Aw9im6g5EBvul