Our "Working Group Amphibians and Reptiles North Rhine-Westphalia" was founded in 1978. Its tasks are the mapping and inventory of the Herpetofauna, the observation of changes, the assessment of the endangerment and the protection.
For the recording of the Herpetofauna of the German state North Rhine-Westphalia, I set up a project to support our work on January 20, 2021 to collect the observations posted in iNaturalist for the state:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/herpetofauna-von-nordrhein-westfalen
I had already started validating observations of familiar amphibians and reptiles in iNaturalist (since the end of December) and saw that there were not many observations from North Rhine-Westphalia, but at least some important observations. They complement the database of the Herpetofauna working group.
In the meantime, I have looked at almost all the amphibian and reptile observations for our state. As far as possible, I have confirmed or improved the species identification. If possible, I also added information on age and stage. Sometimes I was able to draw attention to special features ("observation fields"). Some examples of special features to be seen in photos:

• Fly maggot infestation (Myiasis)
• One animal eats another.
• A male frog through copulates with a female of another species
• More than one male frogs cling to a female
• Deformities (e.g. Polymelia)

This also shows the potential of such public platforms for reporting nature observations.

Erste Schritte zur Etablierung eines Projektes zur Herpetofauna von Nordrhein-Westfalen in iNaturalist
Unser "Arbeitskreis Amphibien und Reptilien Nordrhein-Westfalen" wurde bereits 1978 gegründet. Seine Aufgaben sind die Kartierung und Bestandsaufnahme der Herpetofauna, die Beobachtung von Veränderungen, die Beurteilung der Gefährdung und der Schutz.
Für die Erfassung der Herpetofauna des deutschen Bundeslandes Nordrhein-Westfalen habe ich zur Unterstützung unserer Arbeit am 20.01.2021 ein Projekt eingerichtet, um die in iNaturalist geposteten Beobachtungen für das Land zu sammeln:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/herpetofauna-von-nordrhein-westfalen
Ich hatte schon vorher (seit Ende Dezember) mit der Validierung von Beobachtungen mir gut vertrauter Amphibien und Reptilien in iNaturalist begonnen und gesehen, dass aus Nordrhein-Westfalen zwar nicht viele, aber immerhin doch einige wichtige Beobachtungen vorliegen. Sie ergänzen die Datenbank des Arbeitskreises zur Herpetofauna.
Inzwischen habe ich mir nahezu alle Beobachtungen der Amphibien und Reptilien für unser Bundesland angesehen. Soweit möglich habe ich die Artbestimmungen bestätigt oder verbessert. Wenn möglich habe ich auch Angaben zum Alter und Stadium ergänzt. Manchmal konnte ich auch auf Besonderheiten aufmerksam machen ("observation fields"). Einige Beispiele von auf Fotos zu sehenden Besonderheiten:

• Fliegenmaden-Befall (Myasis)
• ein Tier frisst ein anders.
• ein Froschlurch-Männchen kopuliert mit dem Weibchen einer anderen Art
• mehr als ein Froschlurch-Männchen klammern ein Weibchen
• Missbildungen (z. B. Polymelia)

Auch hierin zeigt sich auch das Potenzial solcher öffentlicher Plattformen zur Meldung von Naturbeobachtungen.

As I sit roadside peering into a batch of white-blazed Long-Leaf Pines, my eyes watering and blurring from over a half-hour of anticipatory scanning, I am amazed to think that at one time, millions of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers drummed across the eastern United States. But as the forests fell, so did the numbers of Dryobates borealis. In 1973, it was listed as an endangered species. Given my difficulty in spotting one on multiple trips to their prime habitat, it is obvious they are still in peril.

© Photographer: Liam Wolff (ospr3y) | iNat Observation: 35495207

The USFWS has been making attempts to bring back this little black-and-white woodpecker here in the Okefenokee Swamp. Along the western entrance to the refuge (Highway 177), tall stands of Long-leaf Pine, the primary nesting tree of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, are managed through prescribed burns and advanced forestry techniques. And high in those trees are placed artificial nest cavities for the woodpeckers.

© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 68679310

Bearing a white ring at the base, the pines with the artificial nest cavities are easy to spot as you drive through the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. Another tell-tale sign of woodpecker activity is the oozing white sap, like melting candle wax, that drips down from woodpecker excavations in the Long-leaf pines. This sap provides a sticky defense against climbing predators, such as snakes.

© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 68679310

I hope these efforts pay off and that one day, instead of squinting for hours just hoping to see one Red-cockaded Woodpecker, we can let an unexcited exclamation of "there goes another one. Man, these woodpeckers are everywhere!" Until then, look for the white blazed tree and hope to spot this endangered little woodpecker. ​

In this contribution to the determination of water frogs Pelophylax spec. i am referring to western, central and northern Europe, where the species Pelophylax lessonae and Pelophylax ridibundus and the hybrid Pelophylax esculentus (= Pelophylax kl. esculentus) can be found. I exclude southern Europe here.
The Pelophylax species can rarely be determined with absolute certainty based on photos. In addition to "ordinary" diploid hybrids, there are also triploid hybrids with two sets of chromosomes llr or lrr. They look like either P. lessonae or P. ridibundus. In such a reporting system for observations, the problem cannot be solved either. One can only use external characteristics, i. H. you name phenotypes (not genotypes). I think that is acceptable for field observation in practice. Color features are very variable. When determining, they are only relevant in addition to other more important characteristics. Physical characteristics are more important. These are mainly the length of the legs and the body proportions. The calls also allow the species to be identified - although the males often call in mixed choirs. That doesn't make the determination easy.
Adult P. ridibundus are easy to identify. Their calls are also characteristic (old name Rana ridibunda = laughing frog)
It is more difficult to distinguish P. lessonae and P. esculentus. In the case of females, it is not possible to determine the species based on photos for these two (the error rate is too high), but males can be recognized reasonably well. There are typical P. lessonae males that are actually easy to recognize.

Bei diesem Beitrag zur Bestimmung von Wasserfröschen Pelophylax spec. beziehe ich mich auf das westliche, zentrale und nördliche Europa, wo als Arten Pelophylax lessonae und Pelophylax ridibundus sowie als Bastard Pelophylax esculentus (auch Pelophylax kl. esculentus) zu finden sind. Südeuropa klammere ich hier aus.
Die Bestimmung der Pelophylax-Arten ist selten mit letzter Sicherheit anhand von Fotos machbar. Neben "gewöhnlichen" diploiden Bastarden gibt es auch triploide Hybriden mit jeweils zwei Chromosomensätzen llr oder lrr. Die sehen dann entweder P. lessonae oder P. ridibundus ähnlich. Genetisch sind die Arten dann aber gewissermaßen durchaus vertreten. In einem solchen Meldesystem für Beobachtungen ist das Problem auch nicht zu lösen. Man kann nur äußere Merkmale heranziehen, d. h. man benennt Phänotypen (keine Genotypen). Ich denke, das ist für die Praxis in der Feldbeobachtung und auch der Feldherpetologie akzeptabel. Auch wenn Farbmerkmale heranzuziehen sind, stehen sie nicht an erster Stelle, da sie sehr variabel sind. Wichtiger sind körperliche Merkmale, z. B. die Länge der Beine und die Körperproportionen sowie ggf. auch Rufe.
Gut erkennbar und einigermaßen sicher differenzierbar sind ausgewachsene P. ridibundus.
Schwieriger sind P. lessonae und P. esculentus zu unterscheiden. Bei Weibchen die Art anhand von Fotos zu bestimmen ist bei diesen beiden nicht möglich (die Fehlerquote ist zu groß), aber Männchen lassen sich einigermaßen gut erkennen. Es gibt z. B. typische P. lessonae-Männchen, die tatsächlich gut zu erkennen sind.

Males

According to "Social Wasps, their biology and control" (available on academia.edu), males can only be separated with reference to genitalia:

"Since the genitalia of the males are very characteristic and essential for correct identification, it is recommended that these parts should be extracted with fine needle as soon as the specimen has been killed."
Page 330/331, start of chapter "The British Species"

For the key to species, the only character given for males to separate vulgaris and germanica relates to genitalia.
For vulgaris: "Penis of males with a small barb on each side below the apical expansion which is not emarginate at the tip."
For germanica: "Penis of males with a small semicircular process on each side below the apical expansion, which is emarginate at the tip."
Couplet 6, Pages 337/338.

Similarly, from another New Zealand study: "Fifteen percent of common males had the typical German frontal patch colour marking, with no yellow extensions of the lower margin (Fig. 13A). Clypeal marks of both species were very variable (and quite different from those of workers and queens) (Fig. 14). They did not separate the species."
Clapperton BK, Lo PL, Moller H, Sandlant GR (1989) Variation in colour markings of German wasps Vespula germanica (F.) and common wasps Vespula vulgaris (L.) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 16:303–313. https://doi.org/10.1080/03014223.1989.10422895

Workers & Queens

Distinguishing workers and queens is possible by using the genal band, clypeal pattern, or markings on the pronotum, as detailed in Clapperton et al and also:
Donovan BJ (1984) Occurrence of the common wasp, Vespula vulgaris (L.) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 11:417–427. https://doi.org/10.1080/03014223.1984.10428256

No platypus seen today, but 12 people, 4 hours walking a 3km stretch of the Yellingbo bush and we recorded 34 species of birds, a Devil's-fingers (great spotting Danica), Striped Marsh-frogs calling and so much more. The best bit? Spending a few hours with like-minded people, keen to share and learn.

Дорогие друзья! Dear all! Напомню, что на время зимней гибернации мы временно перешли на пятитысячные отсечки. На счётчике сегодня 910 000 наблюдений в проекте "Флора России"! Для этой пятитысячной отметки нашему сообществу потребовалось чуть меньше 6 суток (в прошлый раз на 5 тысяч ушло 6,5 дней). За последние 6 дней число наблюдателей флоры России выросло всего на 8 человек, а число выявленных и подтверждённых видов выросло на 7 таксонов. We've got another milestone on the counter - 910,000 observations in the "Flora of Russia" project! For the 5-thousandth mark, our community spent 6 days (comparing to 6.5 days spent for previous 5K). During these days, the number of observers of the flora of Russia increased by 8 folks. We've got 7 new identified and confirmed species. За последние 6 суток всего 52 человека из 11 тыс. наблюдателей смогли выйти на улицу, сделать хотя бы одно наблюдение в природе и загрузить его на iNaturalist. В этот раз доля свежих полевых наблюдений подросла после минимума недельной давности и составила 7% (против 93%, поступивших из ранних архивов пользователей или вытащенных экспертами из бэклога). Over the past 6 days, 52 people have been able to go outside, make at least a single observation in nature and upload it to iNaturalist. This time, the proportion of fresh field observations was 7% versus 93% that came from early archives or pulled by the experts from the backlog. Давайте снова зафиксируем статистику для истории. 910 000 наблюдений наш проект достиг 26 января 2020 г. в 23:14 MSK. The project reached 905,000 observations in January 26, 2020 at 23:14 MSK. ● Статистика проекта | Project stats: 910 225 наблюдений - 7 214 видов - 4 346 экспертов - 11 053 наблюдателя | 910,225 observations - 7,214 species - 4,346 experts - 11,053 observers ● Статистика бэклога | Backlog stats: 116 083 наблюдения - 4 816 видов - 1 494 эксперта - 6 877 наблюдателей | 116,083 observations - 4,816 species - 1,494 experts - 6,877 observers ● Статистика по культурным растениям | Stats on cultivated plants: 62 403 наблюдения - 3 202 вида - 1 457 экспертов - 9 361 наблюдателей | 62,403 observations - 3,202 species - 1,457 experts - 9,361 observers ● Статистика забракованных данных | Stats of gray zone (bad data): 9 731 наблюдение - 1 939 видов - 566 экспертов - 2 237 наблюдателей | 9,731 observations - 1,939 species - 566 experts - 2,237 observers С прошлого замера проект вырос на 5,1 тыс. наблюдений, а вот антипроект наконец-то снова заметно сдулся - в этот раз на 1,5 тыс. наблюдений. По сути, благодаря усилиям экспертов мы достигли минимального объёма бэклога этой зимы. Так что лучшее время для загрузки архивов продолжается! У нас плюс 5 тыс. верифицированных наблюдений в проекте за шесть неполных дней, и это при отсутствии свежих полевых данных. Давайте посмотрим на движение данных за последние 7 суток:

389 свежих наблюдений было залито, определено и попало в проект | number of identified fresh field observations;
3 235 архивных наблюдений было залито, определено и попало в проект | number of newly added identified observations from archives;
1 493 архивных наблюдения из бэклога было определено и попало в проект | number of identified observations from older backlog;
198 свежих наблюдений было залито, но пока не определено и попало в бэклог | number of unidentified fresh field observations;
712 архивных наблюдений было залито, но пока не определено и попало в бэклог | number of newly added unidentified observations from archives.

Традиционные таблички даны ниже.

1. Самые активные участники (число наблюдений) | Top-observers (number of observations)

Место | Rank	Пользователь | User	Наблюдений | Observations	Видов | Species
1	@apseregin	35320	1970
2	@dni_catipo	16774	961
3	@panasenkonn	15482	1089
4	@velibortravoved	12625	693
5	@katerina_kashirina	12056	1278
6	@melodi_96	11599	978
7	@taimyr	11325	1320
8	@vladimir_teplouhov	11214	507
9	@dryomys	10010	784
10	@a-lapin	9908	621
11	@alzov	9230	848
12	@ledum	8881	1723
13	@julia_shner	8387	715
14	@eduard_garin	8088	836
15	@max_сarabus	7635	570
16	@sokolkov2002	7172	761
17	@pavel_golyakov	7098	905
18	@npz	6953	574
19	@vadim_prokhorov	6892	1117
20	@olga2019kuryakova	6646	550
21	@convallaria1128	6641	1486
22	@tatyanazarubo	6516	675
23	@svetlana-bogdanovich	6434	1163
24	@aleksandrebel	6425	1048
25	@smsergey	6061	673
26	@yurii_basov	5448	607
27	@sapsan	5413	1170
28	@olegdavydov	5249	406
29	@fedor_kondrachuk	4923	503
30	@dinanesterkova	4915	696
31	@kildor	4887	836
32	@borisbolshakov	4837	572
33	@svetlanakutueva	4804	499
34	@yaroslavmagazov	4714	483
35	@prokhozhyj	4240	566
36	@alebedev	4146	501
37	@mallaliev	4075	1277
38	@divitre	4028	500
39	@aleks-khimin	4023	645
40	@kiramarch	3919	569

2. Самые активные участники (число видов) | Top-observers (number of species)

Место | Rank	Пользователь | User	Наблюдений | Observations	Видов | Species
1	@apseregin	35320	1970
2	@ramazan_murtazaliev	3483	1787
3	@ledum	8881	1723
4	@convallaria1128	6641	1486
5	@vvolkotrub	3646	1405
6	@taimyr	11325	1320
7	@katerina_kashirina	12056	1278
8	@mallaliev	4075	1277
9	@svdudov	2225	1191
10	@sapsan	5413	1170
11	@phlomis_2019	3767	1166
12	@svetlana-bogdanovich	6434	1163
13	@vadim_prokhorov	6892	1117
14	@lenatara	3097	1101
15	@panasenkonn	15482	1089
16	@aleksandrebel	6425	1048
17	@melodi_96	11599	978
18	@dni_catipo	16774	961
19	@mihail13	1664	935
20	@dinasafina	3543	911
21	@pavel_golyakov	7098	905
22	@alzov	9230	848
23	@kildor	4887	836
24	@eduard_garin	8088	836
25	@petr_kosachev	1656	823
26	@ev_sklyar	2903	802
27	@dryomys	10010	784
28	@allaverkhozina	2639	783
29	@vladimirarkhipov	1354	772
30	@sokolkov2002	7172	761
31	@gen_ok	1489	760
32	@birdchuvashia	3453	757
33	@alopecurus	3610	754
34	@daba	2685	753
35	@ggularijants	1393	753
36	@naturalist16000	2923	748
37	@julia_shner	8387	715
38	@dinanesterkova	4915	696
39	@velibortravoved	12625	693
40	@epopov	1450	690

3. Статистика региональных проектов (наблюдения) | Regional projects' stats (observations)

Место | Rank	Проект | Project	Наблюдений | Observations
1	Флора Подмосковья | Moscow Oblast Flora	87950
2	Флора Москвы | Flora of Moscow	77004
3	Флора Брянской области | Bryansk Oblast Flora	39905
4	Флора Курской области | Kursk Oblast Flora	33262
5	Флора Тульской области | Tula Oblast Flora	30972
6	Флора Новосибирской области | Novosibirsk Oblast Flora	30438
7	Флора Нижегородской области | Nizhny Novgorod Oblast Flora	30435
8	Флора Алтайского края | Altai Krai Flora	25312
9	Флора Иркутской области | Irkutsk Oblast Flora	25208
10	Флора Свердловской области | Sverdlovsk Oblast Flora	24933
11	Флора Крыма | Flora of the Crimea	24707
12	Флора Севастополя | Sevastopol Flora	24117
13	Флора Омской области | Omsk Oblast Flora	21796
14	Флора Воронежской области | Voronezh Oblast Flora	20026
15	Флора Татарстана | Tatarstan Flora	19671
16	Флора Чувашии | Chuvash Republic Flora	19546
17	Флора Мордовии | Flora of Mordovia	19397
18	Флора Владимирской области | Vladimir Oblast Flora	19017
19	Флора Ярославской области | Yaroslavl Oblast Flora	18524
20	Флора Башкирии | Bashkortostan Flora	18034
21	Флора Камчатки | Kamchatka Flora	17634
22	Флора Костромской области | Kostroma Oblast Flora	15073
23	Флора Тверской области | Tver Oblast Flora	13638
24	Флора Краснодарского края | Krasnodar Krai Flora	13033
25	Флора Челябинской области | Chelyabinsk Oblast Flora	12981
26	Флора Ленинградской области | Leningrad Oblast Flora	11433
27	Флора Красноярского края | Krasnoyarsk Krai Flora	10376
28	Флора Санкт-Петербурга | St Petersburg Flora	10205
29	Флора Приморского края | Primorsky Krai Flora	10155
30	Флора Самарской области | Samara Oblast Flora	9800
31	Флора Калининградской области | Kaliningrad Oblast Flora	9531
32	Флора Дагестана | Dagestan Flora	9423
33	Флора Югры | Flora of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug	9372
34	Флора Калужской области | Kaluga Oblast Flora	8592
35	Флора Тюменской области | Tyumen Oblast Flora	7820
36	Флора Пермского края | Perm Krai Flora	7806
37	Флора Белгородской области | Belgorod Oblast Flora	7577
38	Флора Томской области | Tomsk Oblast Flora	6473
39	Флора Республики Алтай | Altai Republic Flora	6461
40	Флора Кировской области | Kirov Oblast Flora	5812
41	Флора Бурятии | Buryat Republic Flora	5062
42	Флора Удмуртии | Udmurt Republic Flora	4427
43	Флора Саратовской области | Saratov Oblast Flora	4265
44	Флора Мурманской области | Murmansk Oblast Flora	4195
45	Флора Карелии | Flora of Karelia	4150
46	Флора Кемеровской области | Kemerovo Oblast Flora	4078
47	Флора Рязанской области | Ryazan Oblast Flora	3999
48	Флора Волгоградской области | Volgograd Oblast Flora	3952
49	Флора Липецкой области | Lipetsk Oblast Flora	3854
50	Флора Ямало-Ненецкого АО | Flora of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug	3403
51	Флора Сахалинской области | Sakhalin Oblast Flora	3369
52	Флора Ростовской области | Rostov Oblast Flora	3276
53	Флора Архангельской области | Arkhangelsk Oblast Flora	3163
54	Флора Псковской области | Pskov Oblast Flora	3126
55	Флора Карачаево-Черкесии | Flora of Karachay-Cherkessia	2906
56	Флора Амурской области | Amur Oblast Flora	2862
57	Флора Ульяновской области | Ulyanovsk Oblast Flora	2833
58	Флора Новгородской области | Novgorod Oblast Flora	2757
59	Флора Хакасии | Flora of Khakassia	2643
60	Флора Курганской области | Kurgan Oblast Flora	2542
61	Флора Пензенской области | Penza Oblast Flora	2521
62	Флора Ивановской области | Ivanovo Oblast Flora	2446
63	Флора Марий Эл | Mari El Flora	2207
64	Флора Вологодской области | Vologda Oblast Flora	2106
65	Флора Астраханской области | Astrakhan Oblast Flora	1870
66	Флора Смоленской области | Smolensk Oblast Flora	1850
67	Флора Ставрополья | Stavropol Krai Flora	1406
68	Флора Оренбургской области | Orenburg Oblast Flora	1317
69	Флора Тамбовской области | Tambov Oblast Flora	1244
70	Флора Адыгеи | Flora of Adygea	1229
71	Флора Забайкальского края | Zabaykalsky Krai Flora	1185
72	Флора Чукотки | Flora of Chukotka	1089
73	Флора Коми | Komi Republic Flora	887
74	Флора Якутии | Flora of Yakutia	825
75	Флора Хабаровского края | Khabarovsk Krai Flora	757
76	Флора Кабардино-Балкарии | Flora of Kabardino-Balkaria	738
77	Флора Орловской области | Oryol Oblast Flora	719
78	Флора России - потеряшки | Flora of Russia - lost-and-found	421
79	Флора Магаданской области | Magadan Oblast Flora	379
80	Флора Тувы | Tyva Republic Flora	351
81	Флора Чечни | Chechen Republic Flora	202
82	Флора Северной Осетии | Flora of North Ossetia	165
83	Флора Ненецкого АО | Flora of Nenets Autonomous Okrug	126
84	Флора Калмыкии | Flora of Kalmykia	119
85	Флора Еврейской АО | Flora of Jewish Autonomous Oblast	118
86	Флора Ингушетии | Flora of Ingushetia	55

4. Статистика региональных проектов (виды) | Regional projects' stats (species)

Место | Rank	Проект | Project	Видов | Species
1	Флора Дагестана | Dagestan Flora	2110
2	Флора Крыма | Flora of the Crimea	1825
3	Флора Краснодарского края | Krasnodar Krai Flora	1624
4	Флора Приморского края | Primorsky Krai Flora	1508
5	Флора Севастополя | Sevastopol Flora	1475
6	Флора Алтайского края | Altai Krai Flora	1349
7	Флора Подмосковья | Moscow Oblast Flora	1346
8	Флора Брянской области | Bryansk Oblast Flora	1297
9	Флора Москвы | Flora of Moscow	1279
10	Флора Курской области | Kursk Oblast Flora	1272
11	Флора Воронежской области | Voronezh Oblast Flora	1261
12	Флора Свердловской области | Sverdlovsk Oblast Flora	1247
13	Флора Красноярского края | Krasnoyarsk Krai Flora	1236
14	Флора Иркутской области | Irkutsk Oblast Flora	1208
15	Флора Татарстана | Tatarstan Flora	1144
16	Флора Башкирии | Bashkortostan Flora	1121
17	Флора Тульской области | Tula Oblast Flora	1071
18	Флора Нижегородской области | Nizhny Novgorod Oblast Flora	1058
19	Флора Республики Алтай | Altai Republic Flora	1033
20	Флора Новосибирской области | Novosibirsk Oblast Flora	1031
21	Флора Владимирской области | Vladimir Oblast Flora	1015
22	Флора Бурятии | Buryat Republic Flora	992
23	Флора Камчатки | Kamchatka Flora	985
24	Флора Костромской области | Kostroma Oblast Flora	975
25	Флора Ярославской области | Yaroslavl Oblast Flora	929
26	Флора Белгородской области | Belgorod Oblast Flora	912
27	Флора Мордовии | Flora of Mordovia	910
28	Флора Тверской области | Tver Oblast Flora	890
29	Флора Чувашии | Chuvash Republic Flora	881
30	Флора Ростовской области | Rostov Oblast Flora	859
31	Флора Самарской области | Samara Oblast Flora	857
32	Флора Омской области | Omsk Oblast Flora	849
33	Флора Амурской области | Amur Oblast Flora	833
34	Флора Челябинской области | Chelyabinsk Oblast Flora	821
35	Флора Томской области | Tomsk Oblast Flora	802
36	Флора Сахалинской области | Sakhalin Oblast Flora	795
37	Флора Ленинградской области | Leningrad Oblast Flora	793
38	Флора Волгоградской области | Volgograd Oblast Flora	788
39	Флора Карачаево-Черкесии | Flora of Karachay-Cherkessia	785
40	Флора Калининградской области | Kaliningrad Oblast Flora	784
41	Флора Пермского края | Perm Krai Flora	779
42	Флора Архангельской области | Arkhangelsk Oblast Flora	762
43	Флора Калужской области | Kaluga Oblast Flora	754
44	Флора Кемеровской области | Kemerovo Oblast Flora	737
45	Флора Тюменской области | Tyumen Oblast Flora	701
46	Флора Санкт-Петербурга | St Petersburg Flora	700
47	Флора Кировской области | Kirov Oblast Flora	682
48	Флора Саратовской области | Saratov Oblast Flora	682
49	Флора Псковской области | Pskov Oblast Flora	671
50	Флора Югры | Flora of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug	665
51	Флора Липецкой области | Lipetsk Oblast Flora	655
52	Флора Хакасии | Flora of Khakassia	650
53	Флора Пензенской области | Penza Oblast Flora	649
54	Флора Рязанской области | Ryazan Oblast Flora	643
55	Флора Удмуртии | Udmurt Republic Flora	608
56	Флора Ульяновской области | Ulyanovsk Oblast Flora	589
57	Флора Новгородской области | Novgorod Oblast Flora	567
58	Флора Мурманской области | Murmansk Oblast Flora	547
59	Флора Марий Эл | Mari El Flora	530
60	Флора Вологодской области | Vologda Oblast Flora	529
61	Флора Адыгеи | Flora of Adygea	525
62	Флора Ставрополья | Stavropol Krai Flora	525
63	Флора Карелии | Flora of Karelia	519
64	Флора Смоленской области | Smolensk Oblast Flora	515
65	Флора Ямало-Ненецкого АО | Flora of Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug	507
66	Флора Ивановской области | Ivanovo Oblast Flora	495
67	Флора Забайкальского края | Zabaykalsky Krai Flora	489
68	Флора Курганской области | Kurgan Oblast Flora	473
69	Флора Оренбургской области | Orenburg Oblast Flora	471
70	Флора Якутии | Flora of Yakutia	404
71	Флора Кабардино-Балкарии | Flora of Kabardino-Balkaria	356
72	Флора Хабаровского края | Khabarovsk Krai Flora	352
73	Флора Чукотки | Flora of Chukotka	343
74	Флора Тамбовской области | Tambov Oblast Flora	339
75	Флора Коми | Komi Republic Flora	321
76	Флора России - потеряшки | Flora of Russia - lost-and-found	305
77	Флора Астраханской области | Astrakhan Oblast Flora	304
78	Флора Орловской области | Oryol Oblast Flora	301
79	Флора Тувы | Tyva Republic Flora	247
80	Флора Магаданской области | Magadan Oblast Flora	176
81	Флора Чечни | Chechen Republic Flora	158
82	Флора Северной Осетии | Flora of North Ossetia	136
83	Флора Ненецкого АО | Flora of Nenets Autonomous Okrug	78
84	Флора Еврейской АО | Flora of Jewish Autonomous Oblast	75
85	Флора Калмыкии | Flora of Kalmykia	73
86	Флора Ингушетии | Flora of Ingushetia	48

5. Топ-наблюдатели за 6 дней (по числу видов) | 6-days top-observers (species)

Место | Rank	Пользователь | User	Наблюдений | Observations	Видов | Species
1	@svetlana-bogdanovich	99	80
2	@krylenkosl	47	32
3	@katerina_kashirina	24	21
4	@a-lapin	25	19
5	@alebedev	17	15
6	@svetlanakutueva	22	11
7	@mallaliev	10	10
8	@naturalist49367	10	10
9	@npz	13	10
10	@nikolaydorofeev	9	9

6. Топ-поставщики видов за 6 дней (поле + архив) | 6-days top species uploaders (field & archives)

Место | Rank	Пользователь | User	Наблюдений | Observations	Видов | Species
1	@apseregin	294	244
2	@julia_shner	514	235
3	@anna_efimova	249	181
4	@vaglazunov	125	111
5	@sashadavydova	180	92
6	@svetlana-bogdanovich	100	81
7	@ledum	118	79
8	@olga2019kuryakova	119	78
9	@petr_kosachev	82	78
10	@aleksandrebel	84	74
11	@daba	86	74
12	@taimyr	409	74
13	@zibzap	100	74
14	@bashkevich	65	62
15	@krylenkosl	97	62
16	@katerina_kashirina	59	43
17	@borisbolshakov	44	41
18	@mallaliev	40	37
19	@hapugin88	30	27
20	@nat_zouieva	29	27
21	@prokhozhyj	36	27
22	@naturalist49367	26	26
23	@mihail13	29	24
24	@dmitriy_kuklin-volfson	23	23
25	@andrewins	27	22
26	@smsergey	25	22
27	@aleksey_loginov	23	21
28	@vadim66	94	20
29	@a-lapin	25	19
30	@pushai	21	18
31	@anenkhonov	18	17
32	@goncholgaj	20	17
33	@gyng	16	16
34	@olga_chernyagina	17	16
35	@toopique	25	16
36	@alebedev	17	15
37	@frankdoubleyou	18	15
38	@hln_m_t	15	15
39	@sergegorin	15	15
40	@tatyanazarubo	15	15

7. Самые активные эксперты для загруженных за 6 дней наблюдений (поле + архив) | Top-experts for the last 6 days uploads (field & archives)

Место | Rank	Пользователь | User	Определений | IDs
1	@daba	944
2	@convallaria1128	604
3	@julia_shner	365
4	@madmanserg	357
5	@phlomis_2019	344
6	@mallaliev	252
7	@borisbolshakov	239
8	@prokhozhyj	184
9	@alex_iosipenko	166
10	@eduard_garin	149
11	@svg52	140
12	@aleks-khimin	133
13	@olga_chernyagina	125
14	@vvolkotrub	111
15	@mercantour	104
16	@tatiana_moscow	95
17	@olga2019kuryakova	89
18	@sapsan	87
19	@vladimirbakutov	84
20	@svetlana-bogdanovich	72

ТЕКУЩИЕ ТЕМЫ: ● Проекту исполнилось два года! В честь небольшого юбилея, мы сделали дайджест основных событий в виде интерактивного оглавления. Например, там собраны все инструкции по разным аспектам жизни портала, опубликованные в журнале. Надеюсь, будет интересно! ● Свежий пост о пользе GBIF со свежей статистикой опубликован на днях. Кто не в теме - читайте, просвещайтесь. Уже пятая часть данных по биоразнообразию России поступает туда именно из iNaturalist! ● Приглашаем всех участников iNaturalist подписываться не только на проект МГУ "Флора России", но и на региональные страницы этого портала, на антипроект (бэклог) и "серую зону". В паспорте каждого наблюдения будет, таким образом, отражена как ссылка на общероссийский проект (в т.ч. ещё до определения или при съемке культурных растений), так и региональная принадлежность наблюдения. О том, что такое "серая зона", написано в специальном посте. ● На майские праздники состоится традиционный четырехдневный марафон City Nature Challenge. Уже работает российское табло. От России в международный челлендж заявлено четыре города; для участия в неофициальном российском зачете есть специальная ветка в журнале, там же даны кое-какие подробности. ● А летом нас ждёт наш традиционный Командный кубок! Небольшие новшества в регламенте, подборка всех материалов прошлых лет и анонс календаря здесь. ● Напоминаем всем участникам, что мы объявили конкурс "Белые пятна" для стимулирования сбора данных по флоре отстающих регионов. Предварительное объявление о конкурсе размещено тут, положение будет опубликовано до 1 марта 2021 г. В ближайшие дни мы узнаем, какие регионы примут участие в конкурсе! Это будет определено с помощью опубликованной статистики от 31 декабря 2020 г. Для написания данного поста использован конвертер текстовых и табличных данных, который осуществляет разметку текста. Конвертер разработал Константин Романов (@kildor). Если у вас есть свои проекты, то вам эта ссылка, уверен, пригодится!

I documented 25 newts, 6 of them were new. I added flags to all the new newts, getting up to flag #24.
It was very cold, with light rain. I didn't see any live newt. One of the newts I saw was freshly killed.
Flag #13 - one of the 2 newts was missing
Flag #6 - newt missing. I removed the flag
It was very quiet, very few people and cars - 44 cars, 1 bike, 1 pedestrian, 7 parked cars. There were at least 10 more cars parked at the boat club. Most traffic was right around 5:15, maybe coming back from the boat club.

• Culm (ariel stem) - erect
• Ligule membranous and sometimes minutely fringed
• Inflorescence a panicle (branched raceme) of short racemes in clusters, each raceme subtended by a leafy bract or spathe; racemes of an involucre of 4 sessile or shortly pedicellate, male or sterile spikelets with a terminal triplet of a bisexual, sessile spikelet and a pair of shortly pedicellate male or sterile spikelets
• Spikelets subtended by spathe-like bract
• Cluster of 7 racemose spikelets on peduncle, each raceme c. 1.5–2.2 cm long (excluding awn)
• Cluster of 7, lower 4 male or sterile and a triad of 2 male surrounding a female, female spikelet with purplish bristle.
• Involucral spikelets usually male, 9–13 mm long; fertile spikelet slightly shorter than those of involucre, male spikelet hangs lower to release more pollen into wind
• Clusters of 7-flowered spikelets,
  
• Fertile spikelet with hardened glumes, callus-like pedicel elongate, with silky brown hairs,
• Fertile floret inconspicuous, its lemma continuous with base of stout, purplish twice-bent awn

Our Observation of the Week is this Poison Fire Coral fungus (火炎茸), seen in Japan by @hirabe1216!

Hiroshi Abe has been fascinated with fungi since he was a child and ended up studying mycology in both college and graduate school. His focus is on the ecology of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis, “the strong relationship between tree species and mushroom forming fungi,” he explains. “I was really surprised to know tree species cannot survive without fungal symbionts in the natural environment.”

Since graduating, he has been studying fungi of nearby Komiya Park in Tokyo as a first step towards urban ecosystem conservation. 

I think even recording species with a short description and DNA sequence data will help us understand and evaluate the local natural environment. In addition, due to the fact that taxonomy of fungi is now just developing, undescribed species are found even in the local park!

Poison fire coral fungus, however, is a well known species, and Hiroshi (along with his friend Takahiko Koizumi) came across this specimen during their first exploration into Komiya Park. “This species is well-known as a lethal mushroom in Japan,” he tells me, “[and its] Japanese name is ‘火炎茸(kaen-take)’ meaning ‘flame fungus.’

It is also said that the number of [poison fire coral fungi] is increasing as oak wilt disease expands in Japan. Oak wilt disease, which triggers mass mortality of Quercus trees nurturing birds, insects and ectomycorrhizal fungi etc., is now one of the serious problems in urban ecosystems in Japan. In fact, dead Quercus trees attacked by the disease are increasing in Komiya Park.

Hiroshi (above) uses iNat to record and share his fungus explorations, look for observations made by others, and get ID help from the iNat community. “iNaturalist,” he says, “is the great first step of citizen-science!!”

(Some quotes have been lightly edited for clarity.)

---

- Poison fire coral fungus (also known as Podostroma cornu-damae) has devastating effects if ingested, you can read more here [PDF] if you’re interested.

- Once known mainly eastern Asia, it has been found as far a south as Australia. There’s even an iNat observation of one there.

- And because why not, here’s an electronic instrumental dance song named after this mushroom.

Итак, "Серая шейка - 2021" завершена, в том числе и на iNat.
Все цифры (исследовательского уровня) вы видите на картинке.

Если сравнивать с предыдущим годом (данные на раннее утро 25 января), то в этом году более чем в 2,5 раза больше наблюдателей (63 и 167 соответственно) и в 3 с лишним раза рост количества наблюдений (233 и 830). Естественно, весьма расширилась и география наблюдений.

Всем спасибо, надеюсь, что региональные координаторы используют какие-то данные в своих отчётах.

Ждём следующего сезона. :)

January 26, 2021 (Tuesday), 9:00am - 11:15am
Coverage: (Note this is different) Los Gatos rowing club to second stop sign.

8 dead newts, 0 juveniles, 0 live newts.

Other roadkill: one millipede, one worm (I bet @merav logged the worm)

Weather: Chilly, around 50F, mostly sunny to start, with clouds moving in, as a storm system approaches (yay! but hopefully not too much all at once...)

Traffic: 16 cars; 3 bikes; 5 quarry trucks; 1 pedestrian (a very quiet day)

Merav and I started off together at Jones, flagging newts on the first mile of road between Jones and the Los Gatos rowing club for the how-many-are-disappearing experiment. She documented those newts and did the other half of the flagging, while I continued on to do the rest of the usual mid-week survey.

One interesting thing happened regarding the experiment. On my return trip, I checked the flagged newts to see if anything had changed already. I could not find one of the newts that Merav flagged (#16), just looking around the area I'd expect to find it. Looked further to find that it was on the other side and a bit down the road. It was a newt cracker, so easily blown around. While we were texting about how to handle such an event, a quarry truck came along and disappeared the newt, at least from the larger surrounding area I looked for it afterward. So right there may have happened the very thing we're studying.

I had postulated that not a large number of newts disappear, based on their toxicity and being ground into the pavement, such that we generally need to peel them off. But then there are, of course, other circumstances (like getting stuck to tires), along with those who go through enough of a dry phase to turn into crackers and can simply blow away, like this one.

Hi everyone. Look! An update, finally! We will try to be more punctual next week.

Week three. If you're still making IDs, congrats for making it so far! If you've had to skip a little time, it's the perfect time to get back into the groove... welcome back ;)

Remember, slow and steady -- this is a marathon, not a race. Take breaks, drink plenty of water, and stand up and stretch periodically. You can do it!

First of all, Total% ... what have we done together, in this short span of time?

61 people have made a total of 18155 IDs!
Over the span of the entire competition, that's 71656 IDs! Fantastic!

Improve%

1st @natashataylor, 250.5% (1373 IDs added)
2nd @philiptdotcom, 207.2% (1688)
3rd @matthewvosper, 119.5% (794)
4th @abigstone, 117.7% (67)

10th @lynnharper, 106.2%
20th @roshan2010, 101.9%
30th @lera, 100.4%

40th 100.2%
50th 100.03%

Old%

1st @sedgequeen, 208
2nd @lisa_bennett, 66
3rd @ddubois2, 50
4th @lynnharper, 38

This will be the fourth and final prize for ddubois2. After this if ddubois2 wins again the prize will got to the next person down.

And now, the grand reveal... what is Mystery% this week??
Most IDs of organisms observed on the day @trh_blue's cat was born--August 26 2019.

1st @navaneethsinigeorge , 101
2nd @esummerbell, 23
3rd @csledge, 19
4th @roshan2010, 3

If you are one of the top 4 in any category, you win a shiny virtual certificate declaring you a Top Four [your category] Winner of Third Week of ID-a-thon. Coming to your Messages inbox soon.

We can do this together! five more weeks to go!

The hint for next week's Mystery% is:
Set some trends

I was just tipped off to a recent paper noting a subspecies of Cylindropuntia whipplei found in northwest Arizona and southern Nevada, C. whipplei ssp. enodis. Its principal difference (as discernible in photos) is its fruit with absent or much-reduced tubercles. Also, as noted here, the fruit can proliferate (like chain-fruit cholla). A search of iNaturalist observations turned up a number of matching plants, especially around Kingman, AZ.

Anemones!

It's officially the beginning of Anemone season here in Texas. We kick off the season this year with the first Anemone in bloom to be documented here on iNaturalist. Congratulations @humblegardener!

There's still a lot of gaps to fill in regarding the Anemones. I'll get to those in a moment, but first, here's how to identify the species of Anemone in Texas and adjacent states. Be sure to photograph the key features needed to identify them.

So what what are the gaps in knowledge that iNatters can help with?

• There are some gaps in the distribution of Anemone edwardsiana in the Hill Country. Are those gaps real and the populations are disjunct, or are the gaps just a reflection of lack of observations in those areas? A recent post by @bacchusrock of an earlier observation has pushed their iNaturalist-documented distribution westward.
• We might still find some populations of Anemone caroliniana in the DFW area. Beyond DFW, this species is poorly documented.
• In the western half of Texas and into eastern New Mexico, we have an unresolved issue of Anemones with an unusual morphology. Thanks to @kayakqueen for posting the first observations of these in the Lubbock area. Do they represent an undescribed species? More observations of these to document morphological variation will prove useful. I'm hoping to do some genetic work to help address this question also.

Special thanks to @kimberlietx, without whom I would certainly still consider this to be just an ugly garden weed.

So, keep your eyes peeled for this winter- and early-spring-blooming wildflower!

January 26, 2020 - iNaturalist project begins.

I feel like such an amateur birder. I know that I certainly am one, but I wish it didn't feel so... evident. A short time ago, I began feeling more confident recognizing bird species that had been new to me not-so-long before. I was consistently spotting egrets, pelicans, and terns which was exciting, but I was hoping to expand my birding to new orders and families, particularly passerines.

On a sudden whim, I bought a sturdy bird bath and a solar-powered fountain to set up in my backyard. I was sure to keep the water clean and fresh, but to my dismay I discovered no new visitors. Even weeks after its installation, I've only noticed a couple instances of a mockingbird sitting at the bath briefly. Better than nothing, I suppose, but I was disheartened that the other birds I'd seen near the house (warblers, mourning doves, mockingbirds, humming birds, etc.) hadn't been enticed by my attempt to make my backyard more bird friendly.

My conclusion was that it's not bird friendly enough. So I looked on Etsy and got myself a bird feeder cage and home-made suet cake. I'm rethinking the decision for suet over seeds (I'm living in the heat of Florida, after all), but the photos of woodpeckers eating suet was appealing to me in the moment. I finally got it hung up on the eaves of the roof, and I waiting a few days for the birds to find its location, but in vain. I admitted to myself that even though it was an ideal spot for me to see out my window, it wasn't the best place for the birds seeking food. So I purchased a shepherd's hook and re-located the feeder near the mangroves separating the yard from the canal. I constantly hear birds within that vegetation, so I figured I'd see birds within maybe a week. I was wrong again, and my excitement deflated.

In a not-too-optimistic act, I saved the seeds from a butternut squash I had cooked for a soup. I looked up if they were safe for birds, and found out that mockingbirds, blue-jays, and cardinals can indeed eat squash seeds. I put them out by the mangroves on a plate and played the waiting game yet again. It took a couple days, but I finally spotted a northern cardinal pecking at my seeds! He was even there the next day as well. Of course, my camera was acting up and not performing at its usual quality, but I finally had some satisfaction that my efforts yielded a visit from my intended guests.

Perhaps this is a sign to get a new type of bird feeder?

@newtpatrol and I went there this morning to do the first walk, as part of the regular weekday survey.
We had about 23 newts on this 1 mile section (from St. Joseph's Hill parking lot to the boat club road). Most of the newts were pretty dry. It’s amazing how quickly they dry out - it rained just on Sunday. We marked each newt with a numbered flag. In a few places we had 2 newts together, and they got one flag, but we wrote a note on the flag. @newtpatrol watched as one of the newts got blown away in front of her when a truck drove by on her way back (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/68654375)! She aslo found two newts that weren't maked on the road - an additional one on Flag #10, and Flag #18.
Since this was the regular survey day for this week, all observations were added to the 2021 project, and also to this new project. None of the newts were removed.
All data was added to a new preadsheet.
Traffic data: 5 trucks, 10 cars, 1 bike, 3 pedestrians, 20 parked cars.
It was so cold (3c) that there was beautiful frost everywhere, including 1 dead newt.

Итоги всероссийского Большого года - 2020 подведены, но большинство региональных лидеров все еще находятся в тени. Как и в прошлом году, администрация проекта Птицы регионов России решила отметить самых активных наблюдателей на местах с помощью скромных электронных дипломов. Поможет нам в этом Союз охраны птиц России!

Отмечаем самых продуктивных участников проекта в номинации "Лучший наблюдатель в регионе". Дипломом будут награждены участники (если, конечно, этого захотят), отметившие максимальное число видов птиц в одном регионе в 2020 году. Необходимое условие для получения диплома - наблюдения не менее 50 видов. Очень здорово, что этот порог в 2020 году пройден в 53 субъектах РФ - это на целых 20 больше, чем в 2019 году!

Если ваше логин упомянут в данном сообщении, значит вы стали лидером в одном из регионов. Что делать дальше? Пожалуйста, перейдите по указанной ниже ссылке. Познакомьтесь с результатами рейтинга (вкладка 2020). Проверьте, выполнено ли условие для получения диплома (+ в зеленой ячейке). Ответьте на вопрос "Нужен ли вам диплом?" Укажите ФИО или ФИ для заполнения диплома.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UisenjLs4BhAPWhcG49324wnFinqh6jq8LVw0FMWB9A/edit?usp=sharing

Ссылка для скачивания готовых будет разослана позже, после согласия участников и заполнения соответствующих полей. Данные прошлогодних лидеров в таблице уже указаны.
Вот, собственно, все! Ждем вашего отклика, готовим электронные награды! По возникающим вопросам можете обращаться к @ev_sklyar

@alexandrkochetkov, @tomegatherion, @dmitrydubikovskiy, @anatolykotlov, @konstantinsamodurov, @olegglushenkov, @ev_sklyar, @mikhail_87_, @naturalist25016, @solisia, @igor-dvurekov, @polinalikhacheva, @noyablokov, @alekseyfaraway, @vyatka, @konstantinseliverstov, @deniszhbir, @uralbirds, @aquacielo, @sergey_48, @andrewbazdyrev, @ruseva, @rimma_anashkina, @deniszhbir, @shukov, @plrays, @shukov, @radik_kutushev, @anton_abushin, @vyacheslavluzanov, @tatyana-omck, @isakovdenisrussia, @okasana, @naturalist24974, @dmitriy_schanitsyn, @andrewbazdyrev, @olga2019kuryakova, @nastasya40, @nat_zouieva, @denzanova, @sundry_divers, @lyudmilamikh, @gennadiy, @indigoinsane, @aleksei_maltsev, @aleks-khimin, @diogeno, @shukov, @birdchuvashia, @grihahasanov, @dmitrydubikovskiy, @naturalistprussian, @ivanovdg19, @mikhailezdakov, @naturalist28098, @labomez, @anastasiiamerkulova, @ubeeque, @romenka, @kiramarch, @ksubela, @igor_kokushkin, @igor-dvurekov, @dmitrydubikovskiy, @elena_71, @tatyana-seaangel, @naturalist48908, @natalya_ostapova, @romenka, @sansansusan, @vera_chistyakova, @dmitribizykov, @naturalist4631, @naturalist5430, @shaburhunchik, @dzirt2142, @ludaalimova, @oxanas, @andrewbazdyrev, @larasaparbaeva, @svetlanakhanty, @nature_traveler

Südseite zwischen Clever Straße und Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer/Bastei

neue Arten:
Eisenholzbaum (mehrere, alternierend mit Hainbuchen als Randbepflanzung; erste Blütenknospen öffnen sich)
Schwarzkiefer (Gruppe von 6 Ex., unterschiedlich alt)
Roteiche (Gruppe von 3 Ex., unterschiedlich alt)

Am Weiher: Eisvogel

Voting is not open yet.

23.01.2021
Südseite Fortsetzung, Richtung Rhein

Rosskastanie
Ahorn (Art unklar, evtl. Berg-)
Platane
Hainbuche
junge Hainbuche
Berg-Ahorn
Europäische Eibe
Platane
Berg-Ahorn
Europäische Stechpalme (mit offener männlicher Blüte dicht über dem Boden)
Linde
unbekannter Baum mit dichten, hängenden Zweigen, im Frühjahr nachbestimmen
3 Baumhasel
großer Feld-Ahorn (waagerechte Flügel, Korkleisten, Blattform)
2 Platanen
Winter-Linde
Platane

in der Winter-Linde: Baumwanze

Monday:
Monday: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/68303243
Uploaded by: @imladris
Canada Goose
Note: Sorry this was taken a few days ago we had no new observations today.

21.01.2021: Südwestliche Ecke

Hainbuche
Stieleiche
Flieder
Berg-Ahorn
Linde
3 Ahorne (Art unklar)
Schwarz-Pappel

am Weiher: Lachmöwe, Kormoran, Nilgans, Kanadagans, Stockente

Great short article on the different Luciferases found in organisms. Makes me wonder if there are Luciferases that act beneath the visible spectrum emitting light that insects may pick up that we can not.

http://actanaturae.ru/2075-8251/article/view/11152

A high level look at what spectrum different organisms produce light in and their associated Luciferase enzyme size:

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A more detailed look at the mechanism of light production for each of these Luciferases:

iNaturalist is not only available through your web browser, but also available free to download at your app store!

Original source: https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/article248775710.html

By: Ryan Sabalow
January 26, 2021

A San Francisco Democrat has introduced a bill that would ban black bear hunting in California, despite a bear population at its highest levels in decades and repeated conflicts with the wild animals in Lake Tahoe and other high-tourist areas

On Monday, state Sen. Scott Wiener introduced Senate Bill 252, “The Bear Protection Act” sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States.

The bill would ban California’s sport hunting season that now allows for 1,700 bears killed in the fall and early winter. Under the bill, bears could still be killed under a permit to protect public safety, livestock and for scientific research.

“Over the past few years, black bears have faced unprecedented habitat loss due to climate change and wildfires, and continued sport hunting in California makes survival an even tougher climb,” Wiener said in a news release announcing the bill. “It’s time we stop this inhumane practice once and for all.”

The legislation is likely to create another pitched battle between the considerably large and vociferous animal-rights and hunting communities in California, which itself features a now-extinct California grizzly bear on its flag and is home to tens of thousands of square miles of wilderness hunting grounds stretching from Southern California to the Oregon border.

Wiener cited public opinion polls showing that a majority of Californians support a ban on hunting bears, and he argued that hunting has no effect on population sizes near communities where bear conflicts are common, because hunting is impractical or off limits in those areas.

Locally, around Lake Tahoe, bear populations have grown to some of the largest densities in the country, and bears have been aggressively breaking into vacation homes, and attacks on people happen from time to time.

The bill’s introduction comes as California’s statewide bear population has more than doubled in the past four decades. Black bears are not endangered. State officials estimate that in 1982, the statewide bear population was between 10,000 and 15,000 bears. The black bear population is now “conservatively estimated” to be between 30,000 and 40,000 animals, state officials say.

California’s limited bear-hunting season has had no impact on this statewide population growth.

In 2011, with bear populations growing, the state proposed increasing the state’s annual harvest quota to 2,000 bears, but the plan was scuttled after fierce opposition from the state’s influential cadre of environmentalists and animal rights activists. The same year, the state legislature banned hunting bears with hounds in a bill pushed by animal rights activists who called it barbaric.

The hound-hunt ban took effect in 2013, and dramatically reduced the number of bears hunters killed in California.

The way California’s bear season works is an unlimited number of licensed hunters are allowed to buy a $49.42 permit known as a “bear tag.”

If they kill one, hunters are required within one business day to bring the skull to a Department of Fish and Wildlife office to have the head examined by a state biologist. The bear kill is included in the state’s harvest tally. If hunters hit the 1,700 quota, the season is immediately canceled before its late December end date. California game warden can cite a hunter if he or she shoots a female bear with cubs.

Since the ban on hunting black bears with hounds, the state’s hunters haven’t come close to hitting the 1,700-bear kill quota.

Last year, the season ended on Dec. 27 with the state’s 30,394 bear-tag holders killing just 919 bears.

Supporters of bear hunting say Wiener’s bill, if it should pass both the state Assembly and Senate and be signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom later this year, would deprive the state of a key source of funding for California’s wildlife habitat. And hunting associations say it undermines the state wildlife agency’s campaign to boost declining rates of hunters.

The state’s 235,000 licensed hunters play an outsized role in supporting habitat and wildlife. In California, around a quarter of the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s budget is paid through hunting and fishing licenses and taxes on hunters’ firearms and gear.

Bear tags generated $1.39 million in revenue last year for the state’s wildlife agency. The money goes into a big game management fund that supports habitat preservation for bears and other species including deer, elk, pronghorn antelope and bighorn sheep.

“Those dollars are used for (habitat) projects, research and things that are critically important to the management of all big game species,” said Bill Gaines, a lobbyist for various hunting causes. “So this would have serious impacts across the board.”

Animal rights activists often describe bear hunting as a cruel bloodsport whose sole goal for hunters is trophies, but bear meat is a delicacy for many hunters.

Because of their varied diet of animal flesh and vegetable matter, bear meat is similar in flavor and texture to pork, and bear fat is often used for pie and pastry crust.

Male bears are often called “boars” and females are called “sows,” which is traced back to their pig-like flavor and eating habits.

Wiener’s legislation is the latest bill that’s sought to protect charismatic predators and big game species from what activists describe as trophy hunting.

Last year, the Legislature passed a bill that would prohibit hunters from importing trophies such as lions and elephants from Africa.

Gov. Newsom was unable to sign the bill due to it not making it to his desk before a legislative deadline. His predecessor, Gov. Jerry Brown, vetoed similar legislation in 2018, saying the ban “would be unenforceable.”

In 2019, the state legislature banned bobcat hunting. The same year, Newsom signed a bill banning recreational fur trapping.

In 1990, Californians voted to permanently ban hunting of mountain lions, despite sport hunting for cougars not being allowed since Gov. Ronald Reagan signed a moratorium in 1972.

16.01.2021 состоялся традиционный учет зимующих водоплавающих птиц в рамках Всероссийской акции "Серая шейка", проводимой по инициативе Союза охраны птиц России. В Туле учтено 1457 крякв. Подробнее здесь: http://redbooktula.ru/events/?ELEMENT_ID=200208

The species in this project come from the (1) New Mexico Rare Plants List, (2) "Threatened and Endangered Species of New Mexico 2020 Biennial Review: Draft, (3) Environmental Conservation Online System, and (4) "Otero County, NM, USA" on iNaturalist.

(1) https://nmrareplants.unm.edu/rarelist.php
(2) http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/conservation/wildlife-species-information/threatened-and-endangered-species/
(3) https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/
(4) https://www.inaturalist.org/places/otero-county#threatened=1

Please message tularsoatabulator about additional literature regarding rare and imperiled species in Otero County, NM.

No matter how many times I see the green and purple leaves of Tipularia discolor poking through the thick leaf layers, I feel like it's my first time seeing it.

Leaves are dullish green on top and purple on the underside. They grow close to the ground and are easy to miss. Each leaf is a separate plant, and if all goes well, will have its own flower.

It's also known as crippled cranefly, although I've not heard that name until just now, as I look it up to write this, and it is a perennial terrestrial woodland orchid. It is the only species of Tipularia found in North America. It ranges from Texas to Florida, north to the Ohio Valley and along the Appalachians up into the Catskills. Tipularia require rotting wood and the organisms that cause decomposition. Larus Park is a nearly prefect environment with our abundance of rotting wood and leaf matter.

I think there are a couple of reasons that I get excited about it. First, it's an orchid, growing in the woods, absolutely fine without any human intervention. Not all orchids are fussy after all.

Secondly, it blooms in late summer and by that time all of the leaves have disappeared. The flower stalk and flowers are tiny and delicate, and even more easily overlooked than the leaves. Flowers are extremely hard to photograph for the average woods walker like me. So the leaves are not helpful if you're looking for flowers. I always try to remember where I saw the leaves so I can search for flowers in July and August. Maybe this year I will remember to mark some of the locations.

This orchid is pollinated by nocturnal moths in the family Noctuidae. I'll leave a description of how these moths work their magic for another post.