Friends, mark your calendars. April 5 - 8 (roughly -- maybe longer, if folks want) around Del Rio, Texas -- bioblitz/gathering!
I'm still working on the details, but after talking to some folks, it looks like April 5 - 8 is going to be the target time... Hopefully we get some winter rains that will cause the plants to bloom and bugs to come out. :)
Looking at a few places around Del Rio that we may go:
Amistad National Recreational Area: https://www.nps.gov/amis/index.htm
Devils River State Natural Area: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/devils-river
Seminole Canyon State Park: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/seminole-canyon
Kickapoo Cavern State Park: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/kickapoo-cavern
Again, I'm still working on details of stuff, but mark your calendar if you think you might be interested in gathering with some fellow iNatters for camaraderie and seeing lots of cool things.
Comments
Definitely, keep me posted as it gets closer. It's too far away to consider right now, but would be fun if I can make it work.
Definitely interested - I will put a little parentheses around these dates. @tui
Only 192 days to go!!
This sounds great! Marked on my calendar.
"I'm so excited, and I just can't hide it!" (Quoted from the Pointer Sisters song, back from my younger days when the music was really good.)
Such great areas to explore that I have heard about but have yet to visit!
Yep...Far as I know I can do this one as well. There are some interesting areas there.
One of my favorite parts of Texas, particularly because it's under-explored. Caution, Sam: Your set of destinations are rather spread out--considerable travel distances--and couldn't possibly be done justice in one BioBlitz. I'd suggest picking one or two destinations and doing them thoroughly.
Yeah, I agree with Chuck. There are lots of places right in town as well along the river.
these are just a couple of spots in town; there are others:
many hundreds of yards of area along San Felipe Creek in town:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2039526
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2039516
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2020950
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2020960
plus areas on Vega Verde Rd.:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2020839
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/2020877
Plus Fort Clark Springs
Sounds like fun, I think I can join in.
Seminole Canyon was absolutely stunning when we visited earlier this year. The camping facilities were very good, trails well marked, etc. I noticed lots of tent camping with good shelters. For what looked like a moonscape when we first drove up in the late afternoon, became gloriously populated with birds and blooms when the heat wore off and the wind died down.
For those interested, Jackie Poole (1st author of Rare Plants of Texas) created an inventory of the Amistad National Recreation Area: http://w3.biosci.utexas.edu/prc/pdfs/Poole-Lundellia16.pdf. I think Wendy Weckesser has added some species since then, but it should be a very good resource for anyone interested in the plants. I couldn't find a checklist for any of the other spots, but the vegetation should be pretty similar.
Sam, keep me in the loop if you want a bad influence to join ya.
I want to be kept in the loop on this one too. I once had a 6-month job on the Black-capped Vireo along the Devils River and fell in love with the area. Awesome biodiversity.
Sounds like fun.
Don't know if I can join, but adding my comment here to stay informed! Thanks Sam.
Oh yes! I went to Kickapoo in the pre-iNat days and vowed to go back to photograph EVERYTHING. Strange, cave tour guide found a scorpion and I was the only person who ran up to see it! Glowing under blacklight and everything. That's the trip I broke my favorite camera on (ironically enough, not until after getting back to the campsite after caving)!
Putting it on my calendar! I hope to be able to go. I've got another trip at the end of April.
It's on my calendar, will do everything possible to come.
It's on my calendar now. Always wanted to go to Devil's River. So that gets my vote for focal point.
I have it set on my calendar. I'm also planning on visiting Big Bend either on the way there or on the return home. Anyone else is free to tag along too.
@robberfly @nathantaylor7583 @gyrrlfalcon @tui @jaykeller
Falls right into Mission Blue monitoring but this kinda of notice is great. Will get it in planner. Thanks, folks..
I added it to my calendar, thanks to a nudge from @kimberlietx . Better late than never!
@mikeintyler
That sounds exciting! I've never been to that part of Texas. I'm going to forward this to my TMN chapter in case anyone else wants to go.
Anyway, my vote is for Devil's River.
Awesome area. Hope to make it there for the even. It is on my calendar.
Got my Airline tickets.
Just heard about this from @greglasley. Not sure how I missed it earlier! Please include me and keep me posted. :-)
I would definitely love to join!
Hey friends,
Just wanted to give a little update on this. I'm in talks with folks at Amistad NRA and Devil's River SNA's. Stay tuned to some more details in another journal post as I try to get some more things ironed out. :)
HUGE thanks to @gcwarbler , @greglasley , and @beschwar for scouting locations and not already observing ALL of the organisms out there... They did leave us some to find. ;) Special thanks to Chuck for a detailed write-up of potential gathering locations. There are lots of good spots around Del Rio (all of which will be new for me!). Just an FYI -- it seems like there are VERY few amenities around these locations. You may want to read up on the proper ways to go potty in nature. ;)
I hear that some folks are planning to go to Big Bend either before or after this event too. As I find out info here, I'll let folks know (if they want company).
Also, I'm making new iNat shirts for this event. Incentive for you to come!!! :-D
Marked it on my calendar so hopefully nothing from work comes up and conflicts with it. @finatic I'd definitely like to tag along with you guys at Big Bend if I'm able to make it. I've really wanted to go there for a long time.
Following
Marking in on the calendar, really looking forward to a chance to meet folks in person!
I'm interested... Just wanted to put my name on this so you don't forget me.
Sam.... are April 5-8 definite dates?
pinging @hydaticus
Anybody else we're missing?
Awesome! I think I'll be free for those dates. I've been to Devils River SNA several times--it's always a blast, but getting out there can be difficult. Does anyone have any contacts for caving? There are tons of cool karst inverts that I'd love to see. That area is the only place in TX to see both Amblypygi and Schizomida.
I'm interested! Now hopefully school won't get in the way :)
Still interested, but April's getting busy...@finatic stay in touch about Big Bend, as I may be in good enough shape to make the Colima Warbler hike now!
Jenn, the switchbacks to the summit are easily graded, just constant. Take it from your Non-birder pal, you can do it.
@susanhewitt
Updated details:
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/sambiology/13715-del-rio-details-inat-gathering-and-bioblitz-at-amistad-and-devil-s-river
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