Information from the Spring Creek Forest Preservation Society is below. In addition, the results of the City Nature Challenge are available, and many of the observations were made in the Spring Park Forest Preserve!
Results of City Nature Challenge 2023 (international citizen-science project)
From April 28 – May 1, using the iNaturalist app, 482 cities around the world participated in this year’s City Nature Challenge. The challenge is a global citizen-science project that encourages ordinary people who love nature to photograph as many different plants as possible that are in a defined area and submit them to the iNaturalist site.
On the site, experts help identify species and provide information on the location of thousands of species.
The DFW region, which is counted as one city, made the top 10 list again this year in all categories – No. 3 in number of observations, No. 8 in number of species and No.8 in number of observers.
Sam Kieschnick, DFW Urban Wildlife Biologist with Texas Parks and Wildlife, wrote in his iNaturalist journal “…these are numbers that we can actively use. Not only does this data increase our understanding of what nature exists here in the metroplex, but we also have numerical evidence to show just how active the constituency of naturalists is.”
Many of those observations were made in Spring Creek Forest Preserve.
The current collection of observations in Spring Creek Forest Preserve can be added to or viewed in its own iNaturalist project, making the biodiversity within the preserve available to anyone for study.
As of mid-May, preserve project numbers were:
- 17,846 observations
- 1,839 species
- 489 observers
Carol Garrison, volunteer and executive committee member, had the most observations with 2,652 and the most species with 612.
The iNaturalist database is shared with scientific data repositories like the Global Biodiversity Information Facility to help scientists find and use your data.
An interesting observation from the preserve that was submitted to iNaturalist: White-footed Slime (Diachea leucopodia). This is a suggested identification, not yet fully verified. If you are a slime-mold expert, see if you agree. Photo by Joshua, from iNaturalist.
To see all observations from the preserve, copy/paste the following link in your browser:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/spring-creek-forest-preserve-garland-tx.
Monthly Work Sessions: Regular sessions suspended in June, July and August because of the heat. Dana Wilson will lead Work Sessions on various dates. To be on Dana’s work team, email danawilson59@yahoo.com.
Safety Information for Work Sessions:
- Each work session begins with a safety briefing.
- BRING WATER and bug repellant.
- Close-toed shoes are mandatory. Heavy work gloves, long pants, and protective eyewear are recommended for your protection from poison ivy and thorns.
- If you have them, bring loppers and/or small tree saws. (No power tools.)
- All participants and the parents of minors must sign Liability Waiver.
- Youth under 18 must be accompanied by an adult; no drop off/pick up of minors.
Service Projects: Need a project for your organization, Gold Award, or Eagle Scout rank? Contact David Parrish, dparrish1953@yahoo.com.
4th Sunday Nature Walks: There are no walks in June, July or August. It is too hot to be out in the middle of the prairie. However, for a fun walk on your own, try the Self-Guided Interpretive Trail at 1787 Holford Road. Follow markers and read about the significance of the area on your iPhone or on the downloadable flyer. https://springcreekforest.org/interpretive-1787-holford-rd/.
Become a member: The society’s only means of support is through memberships. Join or give a gift membership. Download membership form: https://springcreekforest.org/join/.
Donations: Your support helps the all-volunteer Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest offer public lectures and public nature walks, conduct habitat management workdays. Mail tax-deductible remittance to: Preservation Society for Spring Creek Forest, Attn: Treasurer, P.O. Box 450176, Garland, TX 75045-0176.
Dog Policy: On-leash dogs are welcome in the preserve. However, it is illegal to have off-leash pets in Garland parks. Call 972-205-3570, option 1, to report off-leash animals. Also, deposit pet waste bags in trash bins in each parking lot. Do not leave bagged pet waste beside trails.
Monthly Announcements: To subscribe, contact Barbara_Baynham2005@yahoo.com.