Diario del proyecto 2023 Summer NRMBC: Teton County, WY

Arrowleaf Balsamroot Observation by Michael Gallo/ @wildgallo, posted with permission, All Rights Reserved

Thanks to everyone who has joined and participated in the Northern Rocky Mountain Biodiversity Challenge so far. I hope you enjoyed your time in nature and felt a sense of community with your fellow iNatters. The observation period is now over, but you can still upload observations recorded from June 8 - 11. Uploads completed by Sunday, June 18 will be included when @quovadis does his final tabulation.

June 12 - June 18, is also the identification period - a time when we try to figure out what we saw. If you are comfortable with identifying some of our local species, you can add IDs to this project via the following links:

• Teton County, Wyoming: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/identify?project_id=160060
• Yukon to Yellowstone (the entire challenge): https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/identify?project_id=157503

If you aren’t comfortable with specific identifications, but want to help ID, you can start with “Unknowns”. I have put together some information on IDing Unknowns here. This is a great way to start to learn the ID process on iNat. To identify Unknowns for the RNMBC, use this link: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/identify?iconic_taxa=unknown&project_id=157503. There are currently less than 300, which means the identifiers have been hard at work.

To see project stats and what has been uploaded so far, check out these links:

• Project Page shows Observation and Species counts: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/2023-summer-nrmbc-teton-county-wy
• Stats page shows the breakdown by iconic taxa and highlights some of the observations with comments and favorites: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/2023-summer-nrmbc-teton-county-wy?tab=stats

Just some of the many wonderful observations:

Striped Coralroot Observation by @favoritenephew, photo license Public Domain

Columbia Spotted Frog Observation by @esm398 , photo license CC BY-NC

Western Tiger Beetle Observation by @dunkhsu, photo license CC BY-NC

Killdeer Observation by @frankgolden, photo license CC BY-NC

Eastern Fairy Slipper Observation by @sequoiaak, photo license CC BY-NC

Sheepmoth Observation by @conniffd, photo license CC BY-NC

So far in the EcoRegional BioBlitz that covers the North Rocky Mountains, there are over 6000 observations from over 900 observers, cataloguing almost 400 species.

I have been enjoying looking through all the wonderful and observations that have been coming in so far as part of our Local BioBlitz. So far we have 195 observations representing 129 species from 37 different observers. I selected some photos to showcase the diversity below.

Calliope Hummingbird Observation by @birder0288, photo license CC BY-NC

Bird’s Nest Fungi Observation by @madisonsbusy , photo license CC BY-NC

Glover’s Silkmoth Observation by @apatia, photo license CC BY-NC

Western Tent Caterpillar Moth Observation by @esm398, photo license CC BY-NC

Scarlet Gilia Observation by @sequoiaak, photo license CC BY-NC

Lake Trout Observation by @rgaal, photo license CC BY-NC

Great Gray Owl Observation by @smoberg, posted with permission, photo license All Rights Reserved

What is the Northern Rocky Mountain Biodiversity Challenge (NRMBC)?

The NRMBC is a free, tri-annual, crowd-sourced, 4 day collaboration known as a bioblitz. Goals are:

• Get people outside and show them how easy it is to use a smart device and app to identify organisms by simply taking a photo.
• Help connect people to nature, and encourage an appreciation for the biodiversity in their ecosystem/ecoregion.
• Find and record as many WILD animals, plants, fungi and other species as possible in 4 days (Thursday – Sunday).
• Help connect people to each other: build community in person & online.
• Help develop citizen scientists who can collect biodiversity data, which then can be used for scientific research, management, and conservation.
• Have fun through some friendly competition!

Teton County WON the Spring challenge by having the highest participation per capita.

How to participate

• Thursday June 8 - Sunday June 11, 2023 : Make observations of organisms
• Monday June 12 - Sunday June 18, 2023: Finish uploads and make IDs
• Monday June 19, 2023: Look for results. Join this project or check back here for announcements.

Want to know more??

Read more about the project here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/2023-summer-nrmbc-teton-county-wy?tab=about
Want to participate, but you’ll be somewhere else in the region? Check out the umbrella project and find the counties where you will be during the challenge.

Shout out to the folks recently active in the county!

Help us beat Red Lodge! Unless your travels are taking you to Red Lodge, in which case, join them! If you were just passing through, I hope you enjoyed your visit.
@mmeslobos, @claricedoughty, @birder0288, @charlottecadow, @larry14, @paulgraham, @mefisher, @sequoiaak, @agkilian, @ryancappakelly, @alorenz, @apatia, @jacobanthonyyy, @spidermanda, @symbiiotica, @madisonsbusy, @runningvegan, @galloots13, @tickqueen2, @chris134, @jozefkrichards, @s_gonzalez, @duanedyer, @shea0307, @gg703, @mcdonae, @greg789, @rgaal, @cakins, @esm398, @nicholasrocha, @salamandrah, @jeric1975, @naturelady97, @arrowzol, @burdongle, @rangerharles, @sapientior, @tonyg, @vlbarb, @carter_prins, @ajmak, @asivitskis, @berna, @toadfish, @alirose, @comowebb, @dicentra59, @laurie517, @smfrancis17, @jbh1992, @mcfeinics, @mjordan75, @mwightman, @novathekeet23, @pneuch, @roshimaster, @stormymountain, @whild54, @arekay, @bioteachk, @birgitt, @botanytrotter, @maya489, @quovadis

Upcoming BioBlitzes that include Teton County

2023 Wyoming Bioblitz

• Dates: Friday, July 21 - Monday, July 24
• Teton, Sublette and Fremont Counties: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/2023-wyoming-bioblitz-teton-sublette-and-fremont
• Statewide umbrella project: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/2023-wyoming-statewide-bioblitz.

2023 Fall Northern Rocky Mountain Biodiversity Challenge

• Dates: Thursday, September 14 - Sunday, September 17
• Teton County, WY: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/2023-fall-nrmbc-teton-county-wy
• Teton County, ID: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/2023-fall-nrmbc-teton-county-id
• Umbrella Project with all participating counties: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/2023-fall-northern-rocky-mountain-biodiversity-challenge-nrmbc