2021 Results - Great observations Utah!

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who participated in and identified observations from the 6th annual City Nature Challenge! Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, on a global scale there were over 10,000 more people participating compared to last year, and for the first time ever, we collectively made over one million observations in the four days of the challenge!

Here are the collective global results:
Observations: 1,270,767
Species: 45,300+, including more than 2,100 rare/endangered/threatened species
Observers: 52,777
Most-observed species globally: Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

In Utah, our results were (as of 5/9/21):
5905 Observations (we ranked 64th out of 400+ cities participating worldwide)
906 Species, including 14 rare/endangered/threatened species
417 Observers
Most observed species: Mallard, with Arrowleaf Balsamroot a close second

Some Highlights from The Wasatch project:
-This vulnerable Maguire's Primrose (Primula cusickiana var. maguirei), endemic to Cache County (meaning it doesn't occur anywhere else!). Of Utah's roughly 600 rare plant species, it is one of only 25 that is protected by the Endangered Species Act.
-Long-Tailed Weasel at the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in Box Elder County
-An almost huggable Hairy Bear Scarab Beetle in Cache County
-Shaggy Mane mushroom in Davis County
-A Habronattus festus jumping spider taking on some large prey in SLC
-Lovely Glacier Lily blooming just after snow melts in Summit County
-Western Tanager spotted in Utah County, migrating back to Utah
-An elusive Western Skink spotted in Wasatch County
-Osprey nesting in Weber county

And, if you are curious, here are some of the interesting observations from around the world:
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
Lixus placidus weevil
Turkish Snail (Helix lucorum)
Witches’ Cauldron (Sarcosoma globosum)
Blainville’s Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma blainvillii)
Purplish-backed Jay (Cyanocorax beecheii)
Sargassumfish (Histrio histrio)
Southern Lion (Panthera leo ssp. melanochaita)
Common Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista philippensis)
Euglossa macrorhyncha bee
Adelpha zea butterfly
Short-clubbed Wasp Orchid (Chiloglottis reflexa)

The City Nature Challenge also contributed to the most observations uploaded in a week on iNaturalist again - and also gave iNaturalist the first two weeks ever with over one million observations uploaded!

Thanks everyone! Continue to help IDing those CNC observations - it takes awhile to get through them! We're looking forward to CNC 2022!

-Natural History Museum of Utah Citizen Science team

Publicado el mayo 20, 2021 10:10 TARDE por nhmucitsci