Apparently Ostrava CNC has 150k obs, 1/3 of which are unknowns… Hopefully the focus is not on the number of obs this year, but it looks like a serious organization problem. A lot of cultivated plants in the lot as well.
Down to about 152k from almost 158k on Tuesday morning, so some of them are getting marked casual
I’m still going with about 4000 broad IDs through Durban school gardens. Trying to sort out potted plants as good as I can (together with a pot it’s easy, when you don’t know, if its planted or a garden weed without knowing the species, than it’s not). There is not much reaction from local specialist to refine the broad IDs so far. I hope, you have some who could do so.
I will continue with Ostrava, if I have finished Africa. ;) Good to know that there is help needed.
There are a number of frequent reposters at Tagum City CNC, though not 5 or 6 times! Very many botanical garden observations, too, I don’t think the word about not including cultivated plants was heard here.
I got some well intentioned but unsettling responses to my usual cultivated plants copy-paste note so will possibly hold off from that project for a bit, will try to make up for it elsewhere!
I put in an hour or two on the Ostrava CNC Unknowns yesterday and I was pleasantly surprised to see that most of them were NOT cultivated. Lots and lots of dandelions, Lawn Daisies, and other common weeds, with just a few potted or obvious garden plants here and there. I’ve seen much worse in the Boston CNC in the past.
Now, if we, the CNC local organizers, can just emphasize that observers really must add an initial ID on upload, I think we will all have made great improvements in the CNC.
3 days later
San Antonio 46% up to 55% - if we could distribute some of that ID enthusiasm, where it is more needed ? (You have won where it matters on sp count) Always tidying up to do later.
The Umbrella 36% up to 40%
Africa 31% up to 35%
Cape Town 28% up to 32%
Ostrava 14% up to 18% 56K down to 43K 2 days later.
Yes, indeed.
It looks like schoolchildren in Ostrava have been encouraged (required?) to participate in CNC, which bring the usual problems involving class projects. And a glace at the banner photo used for the CNC Ostrava project page implies that they’re ignoring the rule about 13 being the minimum age for a CNC account.
But disconcertingly obvious that they are AI kids - that little girl’s teeth bother me every time. Photobombing feet and legs look teenaged.
I think that students are encouraged or required to participate in the CNC in many places. It wouldn’t surprise me if their teachers don’t always know the difference between a cultivated plant and a wild one. I’m mostly a plant identifier and I don’t always know the difference when I travel to far-off places. Potted plants are easy, but big conifers in a dense residential neighborhood? Are they always planted? Are daffodils always planted, if you find them in an urban area? I don’t know the answers even in my own area - for that matter, even in my own six-tenths of an acre in a town.
Hi, Diana, Hw did you flag them? I also was going to start a list, then realized I don’t know how iNat wants us to report the worst
Traitor! 
What were you doing over there, when there are still so many thousands to ID in Newcomb’s Wildflower Range over here? 
I had the opposite experience while IDing in Ostrava CNC yesterday. So many landscaping plants! I guess it depends on the part of the city and/or the user.
Why couldn’t an obligatory click-through page (in the relevant language) be added to each CNC project as part of the joining process?
“I agree not to upload observations of cultivated plants or domesticated animals (see definitions here).
I agree to add an ID for each observation on upload at a level I am confident with, such as ‘Plant’, ‘Fungus’ or ‘Bird’.
I understand that the CNC is NOT a competition for the most observations, but a personal challenge to engage with nature.”
It at least serves as a slice of education.
Hi, Diana, sorry for coming back to this after a very, very, very long time (I’m not sure how it showed up here and thought I responded long ago). I’ve never re-uploaded a photograph that I’ve deleted with IDs on it, I don’t think. Never is a bold word, but a typical Canada vs. Cackling Goose dispute is the only one I recall. I may (?) occasionally delete IDs to check out of notifications and other weirdnesses (can’t recall any), but I don’t generally delete photos. I don’t post that much. I’m coming up on 1,500 observations and 100,000 IDs! By midsummer I hope… :)
Apparently, I think I can do everything, everywhere. It’s one of my worst traits.
Thanks! Just knowing it worked for someone helps.
I’ve mentioned in this thread how a misidentified insect led me to learn about the European Firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus). And I’ve mentioned how I’ve been able to identify more of that species than any other during the recent CNC. Now the story has come full circle.
On Tuesday, I noticed an observation that was misidentified as Pyrrhocoris apterus and I went down a rabbit hole trying to figure out what it actually was. I couldn’t find an answer, so I just left a comment, expecting to jump back into that rabbit hole another time. But by Wednesday morning, other identifiers had solved the mystery.
Caenolyda reticulata, a rare Web-spinning Sawfly, and only the third observation of this species in Spain. So I didn’t get the thrill of discovering the identification, myself, but my confirming vote did make the observation RG, moving us one step closer to including this species in the CV.
I suddenly discovered a desire to identify birds by feathers
I feel a bit like a detective :)