City Nature Challenge 2023: Susquehanna County, PA's Journal

Our first City Nature Challenge is in the books! I am grateful and impressed with how you stepped up to participate in the City Nature Challenge: getting outside and documenting our local biodiversity despite the truly horrible weather and helping with identifications; no matter if you made 1 observation or 100 observations , 1 identification or 100 identifications your support and enthusiasm for the CNC is so appreciated.

CNC Overall Results
We wanted to make sure to share the full collective results with all of you (visit the umbrella project journal to see the global infographic):
Total # of observations: 1,870,763
Total # of observers: 66,394
Total # of species documented: 57,227+, including 2,570 rare/endangered/threatened species
Most observed species: Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Number of participating countries: 46
Number of participating cities: 482

Here in Susquehanna County, our final results were:
Total # of observations: 568
Total # of observers: 10
Total # of species documented: 259
Most observed species: Two-leaved Toothwort

Here's a infographic highlighting our results this year and some finds from throughout the County:

Mark you calendars now for next years City Nature Challenge, April 26 through 29, 2024

There's still time to upload any observation you made from April 28th - May 1st. Uploads must be made by 9 am on May 8th for them to count towards our totals.

We also need people to help with identifying observations made to the project. Go to the observations page and click the Identify button. Add identifications to any observation where you are sure of the species.

Thanks!

Thanks to all who braved the rain, sleet, and cold to make observations! You still have time to upload observations that you've made. Pictures taken during the bioblitz can be uploaded until May 7.

Thanks to all who braved the conditions and got outside today! We're at 118 species and just under 200 observations! Hopefully tomorrow's forecast will change and we'll get to spend some time outside!

The forecast is for rain, rain, and more rain. We're still on for the challenge, rain or shine. This is the perfect weather to find mushrooms and maybe some small amphibians.

We all love our pets and gush over our gorgeous perennial gardens but don’t include these in your observations. Wild and natural is the name of the game during the City Nature Challenge

#CityNatureChallenge

The City Nature Challenge starts tonight at Midnight! Look for those spring ephemerals, migrating birds, and animals and their babies making an appearance.

Elk Mountain...not just a place to ski! Check out the trails around the mountain now that the snow is gone to see what you can find!

We checked with management and were told it's okay to hike around the mountain. Go Explore!

Let’s share the beauty of Susquehanna County with everyone! Make sure to have your supplies ready -- good footwear for walking distances, maybe an extra battery or a magnifier lens. Share any tips you have for getting out and photographing nature!

• Take pictures from multiple angles – top, underside, and stem
• Include a clear picture of the underside of the mushroom top to show if it is gilled or pored as well as how it is connected to the stem
• Include a picture of the mushroom showing where it is growing – in a field, on a tree, etc.
• If it is growing on a tree and you know the kind of tree, note that in the observation
• Note any bruising or staining that occurs when you touch the mushroom

Mushroom Photography Guide