Diario del proyecto Wild Worldwide 2021

Wow - thank you! I'm so happy with how the event went, so many observations and species. I am grateful for everyone who ran with the challenges and bingo. I personally found them to help a lot in "channeling" my curiosity when looking for wildlife and making the learning process more rich. I forced myself to sit by a bird feeder and wait... finally seeing some feisty blue jays, a mating pair of wrens and recording some crows cawing as they flew overhead. A red-tailed hawk was in the distance, but alas I was not able to check off the challenge and bingo box for finding a bird of prey.

We will do this again. Next year we will have a Wild Worldwide 2022 and I hope to ramp it up some more. For example, get some shirts made up with the profits going directly to a conservation non-profit. We could even do some giveaways! And I hope to get even more participants from all around the world.

But... we won't have to wait so long. I am planning an arthropod-focused Blitz for early September. More info on that will come soon. We will be on the lookout for insects, arachnids, crustaceans and more!

Anyway, cheers to everyone who participated. I hope you all had just as much fun as I had.

Pete

The Blitz has technically been live since 12AM EST (my time) and you can now begin seeking wildlife and posting. I had a mild panic this morning as I tried to make a post and could not find the project to select. What I realized is you DO NOT need to select the project if you are a member. ANYTHING YOU POST in general between today and tomorrow will AUTOMATICALLY be added because you are a project member and will be added to the project timeline.

SO, go look for wildlife! You can either a) post as you go, over the course of the day or b) post them all later on when you get home and perhaps in a comfy chair. I will be going to some of my favorite wildlife spots today and tomorrow. It seems a bit cloudy so I will do what I can! Remember to stay hydrated, I know in the Pacific North-West of the US there is a major heatwave.

Let's Blitz!

Pete

The Blitz officially begins on June 26th and 27th. Members of this project will be able to submit observations and tag the project in them! If you would like an added level of fun please participate in the following challenges. The Google link is here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16tK0XK0WIYjUK_o8e3wAR_kYpC5NSBUaiyZ6YlXi1Nc/edit?usp=sharing

BLITZ BINGO - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GHbHgw3V8BjuBoB_de2sKe90oLW6mLApbsnyNLaXEew/edit?usp=sharing 

Wild Worldwide Challenges

Complete as many of these challenges as you can! Make your observations and if you repost on Instagram feel free to message @ArthropodArchives for an IG Stories shout out. Remember to use the hashtag #WildWorldwide2021 on your posts.

General

Invasive Investigator - Make 5 observations of species invasive to your area

Hunt the Hunters - Observe 3 predatory animals (IE: mantid, raptor, fox)

Land, Air, Sea - Observe a terrestrial animal, a flying animal and an aquatic animal

Aquatic Ambassador - Make 3 observations of aquatic fauna/animals. Must be found in water!

What Rhymes with Orange? - Make 3 observations of orange subjects

Birding!

Raptor Representative - Observe one raptor

Beak Buddy - Make observations of 3 different bird species

Corvid Capture - Observe one Corvid (Family Corvidae including crows, jays, magpies, etc)

Hot Bird! - Observe a bird that has a warm color (red, orange, yellow)

Paired Up - Observe a Mating Pair of Birds

In the Undergrowth

Arthropod Ambassador - Observe 10 different arthropod species

Buggin Out - Observe 3 different True Bugs (Order Hemiptera)

Diptera Detective - Make 5 observations is different fly species (Order Diptera)

WEEVIL WARRIOR - Observe a weevil! (Superfamily Curculionoidea)

Arachnid Analyst - Observe 3 different arachnid species

Plants and Fungi

Pollen Purveyor - Observe 10 natives plants to your area

Fruit Bearing - Observe 3 plants that bear fruit

Caught in the Act - Observe an animal as it is pollinating a plant

I like Lichen - Observe one species of lichen

Fungi Fan - Observe 3 different species of Fungi

Herpetology

Reptile Wrangler - Observe one reptile (Class Reptilia)

Amphibious Ambition - Observe one amphibian (Class amphibia)

I am excited to see all your posts tomorrow!

Pete

It's #PollinatorWeek and also the week of our Blitz! This week celebrates native pollinators across the world and their great contribution to ecology. This week I will be posting on IG about and highlighting information about pollinators, particularly natives to my area.

Pollinator Week runs June 21-27 and is helmed up by Pollinator Partnership. This week and for the next month we are raising money to keep wild places wild and supporting the international efforts of the Nature Conservancy. This fundraiser will be promoted during out the Wild Worldwide 2021 Blitz as well.

Please see the link here for donating (can only be directly done via the Instagram app): https://www.instagram.com/p/CQY2PDusdte/

These efforts include protecting pollinators like bees, butterflies, bats, flies and all ecology! The Nature Conservancy protects lands in collaboration and support to First Nations and Indigenous peoples of North America. They have a presence in New York but also Canada and around the globe. ALL the money goes directly to the Nature Conservancy. Let us see how much we can raise! I also suggest considering a donation to the Pollinator Partnership itself as well as other pollinator supporting organizations like the Xerces Society. See their websites for info.

The fundraiser continues through this weekend when we will be having our #WildWorldwide2021 iNaturalist Community BioBliz. My plan going forward is to run a fundraiser every month. The organizations will range from those helping Black Americans entering STEM to those supporting conservation efforts of specific animals or locations in the world. We start big with the Nature Conservancy as our BioBlitz is global and featured all wildlife.

Are you ready for this weekend?

Pete

We're two weeks away from our event. Please tell your friends and share on social media if you can! I am very excited for this... still must decide though where I will be visiting on the days of the event. I encourage all participants to map out your days if you can ahead of time. Will you visit a park? Will you be observing from your backyard? Will you be inside at work... I mean, check those windowsills for arthropod specimens!

Other things to consider, if you are planning to venture out in the field:

• Try to go with a partner if you can, especially if where you go is secluded
• Bring water! Stay hydrated and also if you will be in the sun, maybe bring some sunscreen.
• I like to bring a backpack with me, as well as binoculars for birds. Things in my pack include: water, field guides, small plastic containers for temporary trapping of wildlife, small snacks, a flashlight, an extra phone mobile charger, etc.

Within the next two weeks leading to the event I will continue to post guides and helpful tips. Have a great weekend!

Pete

Today is the official unveiling of the project page here. Please take a look at the guidelines and details for the event. This blitz is rooted in the Instagram naturalist community but is inclusive to anyone interested in joining. The narrative and conversation will be split between seeing our observations here and also optionally reposting what we find using the #WildWorldwide2021 tag in IG. 

I hope you will join us in discovering the biodiversity around us. This blitz is not limited by taxa - we are looking at all around us including flora and fauna. Let's see it all!

I will be posting updates both here and via IG (ArthropodArchives) and hoping to make some basic "how to" videos explaining some things about using iNaturalist.

Cheers,
Pete 

PS - I would also like to take the time to thank Bri (Bri.Bugs on IG) for creating our banner art here. Please check out Bri on IG and Kofi! https://ko-fi.com/bribugs