Today's highlighted observation - another spider but what a beauty! This one has had a suggested ID of a gem-shaped orbweaver but it needs confirmation. Can you help?

We have just a few days left to enter our iNaturalist challenge and be in to win prizes. Get your observations posted now! https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/willow-bend-nature-challenge

This caterpillar has been identified as a Southwestern Tent Caterpillar Moth
www.inaturalist.org/observations/49358391

Have you seen any caterpillars? How about butterflies or moths?

Join the challenge and add your observations for a chance to win awesome prizes and contribute important ecological data in Coconino County!
www.inaturalist.org/projects/willow-bend-nature-challenge

Did you know that you can include plants, bugs, birds, or animals in your observations? Today's featured observation has been identified as an oblong lady beetle.

Remember the iNaturalist challenge runs through all of June - and you can make as many observations as you like. Why not get started today? https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/willow-bend-nature-challenge

This observation of the day is a native, perennial, flower called the Doubting Mariposa Lily (Calochortus ambiguus)
Isn’t there something peaceful about this flower? If I were a bee, I would totally nap in this flower!

Range map for Calochortus ambiguus from USDA Plant Database

The Willow Bend Nature Challenge is a fun June virtual challenge through iNaturalist, a free observation platform that can be used on your smart phone or computer. It acts as a place for people to record observations, learn how to identify organisms and interact with other enthusiasts and experts. Observations from iNaturalist also contribute to biodiversity science. Anyone can freely access and use this information. Join our challenge: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/willow-bend-nature-challenge

How exciting to see that Rocky Mountain Bee Plant (Cleome serrulata) is now flowering in Coconino County! This plant often grows in clusters, and plants can grow over 4 feet tall. Many pollinators are a fan of the rocky mountain bee plant, and we are also fond of it. Do you know any fun facts about this plant?

The Willow Bend Nature Challenge is a fun June virtual challenge through iNaturalist, a free observation platform that can be used on your smart phone or computer. It acts as a place for people to record observations, learn how to identify organisms and interact with other enthusiasts and experts. Observations from iNaturalist also contribute to biodiversity science. Anyone can freely access and use this information. Join our challenge: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/willow-bend-nature-challenge

Have you seen this beautiful bird any were around Flagstaff?
If you havent you can visit Frances Short Pond, or the Rio Wetlands during early morning or early evening for a chance to spot the heron.

Join our challenge today and add observations of your favorite birds, insects, plants, fungi etc
www.inaturalist.org/projects/willow-bend-nature-challenge

Enjoy spending time outdoors (even right outside your house)? Love wildlife and plants? Want to learn more about them? Or are you an expert in your field and can help identify observations? Join the Willow Bend Nature Challenge.

Willow Bend, in partnership with City of Flagstaff Open Space, Coconino County Parks and Rec, and the Junior Entomology Academy will be hosting a community wide Nature Challenge for Flagstaff and Coconino County during the month of June. By participating you will automatically be entered to win awesome prizes each week! Plus you can help contribute important information to citizen science projects, learn new things, and connect with other nature lovers, scientists and experts in our area.

The Willow Bend Nature Challenge will be done through iNaturalist, a free observation platform that can be used on your smart phone or computer. It acts as a place for people to record observations, learn how to identify organisms and interact with other enthusiasts and experts. Observations from iNaturalist also contribute to biodiversity science. Anyone can freely access and use this information.

We are SO excited to see and share your observations during our June iNaturalist Nature Challenge.
Check out this recent observation of a lizard! This observation needs an ID, can you help us identify the lizard? Go to https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/48245358 to help out!

We can't wait to see all of your observations come through. Join our challenge today!

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/willow-bend-nature-challenge

Today's observation is a small tree called the New Mexico Locust (Robinia neomexicana). You may be able to tell by this plant's flowers that it is part of the pea family, Fabaceae. This plant is native to the southwestern United States, and can often be found in areas disturbed by fire. Have you seen the New Mexico Locust flowering in Coconino County?



Range map for Robinia neomexicana from USDA Plant Database



Join our challenge: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/willow-bend-nature-challenge

The Willow Bend Nature Challenge is a fun June virtual challenge through iNaturalist, a free observation platform that can be used on your smart phone or computer. It acts as a place for people to record observations, learn how to identify organisms and interact with other enthusiasts and experts. Observations from iNaturalist also contribute to biodiversity science. Anyone can freely access and use this information.

Thanks to all of you who have submitted observations during the first week of June. We have over 200 observations across the County already. Keep them coming!

We took the usernames of everyone who submitted observations during this past week and randomly chose someone as our first winner.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ARIANAAYUP! Send us a message (or email info@willowbendcenter.org) and we'll tell you what you've won and how to claim your prize.

For everyone else, remember you need to submit at least one observation each week (or more) to be in those prize draws.

Check out this image from one of Arianaayup's observations...

Next prize draw is Monday, June 15th. Get outside and get observing!