Diario de sambiology

Hey all!

A bit of a short notice announcement, but we're planning on a bioblitz/biosurvey next week Thursday (Nov 16) at Ladd Nature Preserve in Duncanville. Two of the new urban wildlife biologists from Austin and San Antonio are coming up, and we're wanting to show them how we conduct and participate in a biosurvey. They're relatively new to iNat as well, so some of it will be just showing how to use the tool.

If you're able to come, cool! It is during somewhat odd hours -- 2 to 5 PM on Thursday... I fully recognize that it won't work for everyone, but if you've got some time free and watch to come and catch some bugs or look at plants or chase after birds with us, please come!

Also, it looks like it may be rainy -- we'll still plan on doing it in the rain (bring boots and umbrella)! :)

If you have any questions or concerns, let me know. It's open to anyone and everyone!

So, if you've got a free 20 min or so, you really need to watch @kueda 's commencement keynote about iNaturalist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AECD7qfFAV0

I'm sure happy to be in this community with so many of my friends -- some I've met in person, others I've met just online -- but we all share that enjoyment by engaging with nature. :)

I joined iNaturalist on 21 September 2013 -- was introduced to it by Derek Broman @dbroman , then the urban wildlife biologist in Dallas/Fort Worth with Texas Parks and Wildlife. Since then, it's radically changed the way that I go outside and how I engage with nature.

So proud and happy and lucky to be a part of this growing and vibrant community of nature enthusiasts!

I know it's still crazy hot, and it'll maybe be hot for another month or so, but there are some gatherings/events planned already! If you know of others in the DFW area, toss them in the comments.

August 4 - Friday - 8:30 to late - black-lighting at Cedar Hill State Park ($7 park entrance fee):
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=59986

August 12 - Saturday - 8:30 to late - black-lighting at Broadcast Hills (next to Tandy Hills) in Fort Worth:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=163323

August 16 - Wednesday - 3 - 6 PM and then 8 to late - bioblitz and blacklighting at Grand Park in Frisco :
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=187386

September 1 - Friday - 3-6 and then 8 to late - bioblitz and blacklighting at Ladd Nature Preserve in Duncanville :
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=178712

September 9 - Saturday - 7 - 11 AM - bioblitz at Dixon Water Foundation's Josey Pavilion north of Decatur:
https://www.inaturalist.org/posts/82933-bioblitz-at-dixon-water-foundation-s-josey-pavilion

September 9 - Saturday - 8 to late - blacklighting at LLELA (location TBD):
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=63542

October 20 - Friday - 8 to late - blacklighting at Natural Springs Park in Anna :
https://www.annatexas.gov/1226/Natural-Springs-Park

There may be some other events that pop up, and as I hear about them (or see them in the comments), I'll update this journal entry.

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns: sam.kieschnick@tpwd.texas.gov or 214 215 5605 or @sambiology!

42 acres in Duncanville are being preserved -- this is a wonderful thing!
https://greensourcedfw.org/articles/duncanville-creates-citys-first-nature-preserve

So, what now? Well, we naturalists need to continue to go out to the land, tell our friends, tell strangers, go out to this place and continue to engage with nature! So far, around 1000 species have been documented (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=178712), but there are countless more out there to engage with.

If you find yourself out there, be sure to bring a little bag for any trash that you see! @mgram55 and many others have dedicated a LOT of time and energy to not just this advocacy for the land, but also the daily trash removal. It's a good thing to help out with this as we can!

I predict more developments coming out of all of this (trails, foundation of a 'friends' group, bioblitzes, other nature events), so I'll be posting updates as I hear them! In the meantime, celebrate this good news!!! :)

So, in preparation of National Moth Week, I want to update some folks about my black-lighting set up! Now, I still use some of the equipment from BioQuip (unfortunately, they went out of business), but I've also been using some new gear.

Mercury vapor bulb - super power! So, this does not run on any of my batteries, this only works via an outlet. This mercury vapor I got from BioQuip, so I don't know where you could get one... I put it on a tripod rather than hang it up. It tends to be a bit too powerful, to be honest -- it's kinda painful on my eyes, even when I'm not even looking at it! It brings in LOTS though, so I still use it from time to time.

BioQuip UV lights - these are the circular lights -- I was fortunate enough to purchase 5 of these, and so far, they still work! I wish wish wish I knew where one could still get these, but alas, I can't seem to find them anywhere...
I have a few different batteries to run these-- I have a Yeti 1000X and then two Yeti 200X: https://www.goalzero.com/collections/portable-power-stations
The batteries are a bit pricey, but they are pretty long lasting.

New lights -- so I've found that the relatively cheap UV lights are pretty good! There are a lot of options for these, but the flat black-lights powered by USB have been quite productive:
https://www.amazon.com/TITO-Blacklight-Bedroom-Tapestry-Supplies/dp/B09M43Z3JW/ref=pd_ci_mcx_mh_mcx_views_1?pd_rd_w=Ouetr&content-id=amzn1.sym.0250fb24-4363-44d0-b635-ac15f859c3b5%3Aamzn1.symc.40e6a10e-cbc4-4fa5-81e3-4435ff64d03b&pf_rd_p=0250fb24-4363-44d0-b635-ac15f859c3b5&pf_rd_r=ZT3CKZMCVAZ7ZKQQCZCX&pd_rd_wg=fJkxm&pd_rd_r=f8beec84-3b60-4316-9153-3c4b5f6ae08e&pd_rd_i=B09M43Z3JW
I think that the main characteristic needed is the spectrum of 385-400nm...
I use portable chargers to run these:
https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Charger-38800mAh-Charging-Compatible/dp/B09H4GLZXT/ref=sr_1_1?c=ts&keywords=Cell+Phone+Portable+Power+Banks&qid=1689386661&s=wireless&sr=1-1&ts_id=7073960011
I'll also use some USB extension cords so that I can hang these lights from one of the taller branches:
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/best-buy-essentials-10-usb-a-3-0-male-to-female-extension-cable-black/6435159.p?skuId=6435159&ref=212&loc=1

I did also just purchase a new black-light from https://entoquip.com/... This was fairly pricey, and I've not yet gotten it, so we'll see how it functions!

As for sheets, I use the fairly cheap white bed sheets. The ones that are fairly consistent in thread count/pattern are the most useful, I think. These are usually around 10 bucks.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/NC-Home-Fashions-Classic-300-Thread-Count-Bright-White-Microfiber-Sheet-Sets-Twin/853015950

To hang the sheets, I use a bunch of clothes pins and try to place them on branches/trees/shrubs so they stay put... Now, if there's some wind, that stinks for the photography and for the moths to stay still on the sheets... The more still the conditions, the better!

One of the things that my good friend @k8thegr8 got me was magnets! I use these magnets to secure a few sheets on the sides of my vehicle. I then hang up the BioQuip UV lights close to these sheets.

As always, I tend to see the most biodiversity in areas with good wildlife habitat (diversity of plants), and if there is relatively little light pollution.

So, there are a few more events happening this summer in the DFW metroplex. Here are the ones that I know of. Lots of blacklighting! If you know of others, want to host something, or just want some company on a bioblitz, please comment!

June 17 - Saturday - 8 to late
Blacklighting at Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve in Plano
5901 Los Rios Blvd, Plano, TX 75074
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=138107&subview=map

June 20 - Tuesday - 8 to late
Blacklighting at Green Acres Memorial Park in Flower Mound - limited parking, message me if you want to attend!
4400 Hide-A-Way Ln, Flower Mound, TX 75022
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=123039&subview=map

June 25 - Sunday - 3 to 6 and then 8 to late
BioBlitz and then blacklighting at Ladd Land in Duncanville
1346-1296 Cedar Hill Rd, Duncanville, TX 75137
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=178712&subview=map

July 7 - Friday - 8 to late
Blacklighting at Brookhaven College in Farmers Branch (Windmill Gardens area)
3939 Valley View Ln, Farmers Branch, TX 75244
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=121125&subview=map

July 22 - Saturday - 8 to late
Blacklighting at Spring Creek Forest Preserve in Garland
1770 Holford Rd, Garland, TX 75044
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=144920&subview=map

July 25 - Tuesday - 8 to late
Blacklighting at River Legacy Park in Arlington (Raccoon Run Picnic Area)
Rose-Brown-May Pkwy, Arlington, TX 76006
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=60567&subview=map

July 28 - Friday - 8 to late
Blacklighting at John Bunker Sands Wetlands Center in Seagoville
655 Martin Ln, Combine, TX 75159
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=81744&subview=map

July 29 - Saturday - 8 to late
Blacklighting at Acton Nature Center
6900 Smokey Hill Ct, Granbury, TX 76049
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=114934&subview=map

Another note -- the Texas Parks and Wildlife DFW urban wildlife has an intern this summer (June - August), and we'll be planning some all day bioblitz/surveys in Duncanville at the Ladd Land and in Frisco at Grand Park. These will likely be during the weekday and probably like a 9 AM to 3 PM thing. Stay tuned for details on this.

Some fun gatherings and events coming up in DFW!

Sunday, April 23 - 3-6 and then 8 to late (for blacklighting!)

• BioBlitz/biosurvey at Ladd Natural Area in Duncanville
  https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=178712&subview=map
  Duncanville City Council has been deciding on what to do with this 42 acres along Ten Mile Creek, so the more evidence we can show that it's a refuge for biodiversity and the naturalists that engage with it, the better! I hope you can come!

Tuesday, April 25 - 9 am to noonish

• Biosurvey at Running Bear Park in Irving
  https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=165018&subview=map
  We've been here before, but they're wanting to do some bioswales, and the city wants to see if these areas can act as little habitats for bugs. So, let's show them!

CANCELLED Friday, April 28 - 8 to late

• Black-lighting at Mockingbird Nature Park in Midlothian
  https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=78876&subview=map
  CANCELLED

Saturday, April 29 - 3 - 6 and then 8 to late (for blacklighting!)

• Bioblitz/blacklighting at Frisco Grand Park
  https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=187386&subview=map
  300 acre park in Frisco -- they're just now starting the discussions on how to manage this area... We want them to keep the biodiversity in mind, so let's do that through some bioblitzing!

Monday, May 15 - 3 - 8 pm

• Pollinator bioblitz at Canyon Creek Wetlands in Richardson
  https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=187694&subview=map
  Super cool site with some really active master naturalist activity, but not a lot of insect observations -- we're planning a bioblitz to focus on the pollinators on this date. It's come and go, so stay as long as you'd like!
  parking spot is at Hilton Garden Inn Dallas/Richardson, 1001 W President George Bush Hwy, Richardson, TX 75080

Tuesday, May 16 - 8 PM to late

• Blacklighting/mothing at Ladd Land!
  
  https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=178712&subview=map

If there are other bioblitzes or iNatty stuff going on in DFW, please let me know, and I'll update the above list.

If you have any questions or concerns, let me know: sam.kieschnick@tpwd.texas.gov or 214 215 5605

Super excited about a workshop that's coming up in a few weeks... This will be all about the joys of bugs!!! Some really good friends and active iNatters will be presenting on the joys of moths, bees, beetles, dragonflies, and flies! It's going to be in person at North Lake College in Dallas, but it's also going to be available to watch online. Would love to see you in person or online to learn along with me!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/insect-appreciation-workshop-registration-430453416757
(all proceeds go to the North Texas Master Naturalists)

Big thanks to @brentano @kimberlietx @kimberlywalks and @entomike for presenting on insects this day.

Also, MASSIVE thanks to @laurahaynes for doing a super human job of logistical planning.

Bugs are cool. :)

Just wanted to toss up a tiny journal post about some of the upcoming gatherings/bioblitzes around DFW. I don't have all of the details on these (yet), but as I get them, I'll update this journal post!

October 8: black-lighting at LLELA in Lewisville
October 15: black-lighting at Harry Myers Park, Rockwall (details below)
October 29: bioblitz at Coyote Loop Trail in Burleson

Mark your calendars! :)