I don’t think people should be posting photos they don’t have the rights or explicit permission for as observations
The activity at iNat at the Olympics is reee-diculous. Over 1300 observations. 604 species. And 287 observers with 304 identifiers. There are some hard core observers out there that are slaying it.
Tonight’s update will be quick because we all know it will be totally different tomorrow.
The plants have elbowed out the birds for the 1,2,3 spots in the Species event. Birds-eye speedwell continues to lead but Christmas-Rose is right on its tail and with Primrose strailing but not by much.
Over in the Tree of Life field, Plants are dominating with Birds ahead of Insects. Insects needs to look over its shoulder because Fungi is positioned to move with 62 observations to Insects 88. Mammals has moved into 5th place with 20 but I’m sure Arachnids at 19 have all 8 of their eyes on that spot.
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Speedwell has to be the ultimate winner of gold. It is. All in the name. Magic and medicine in an Alpine herb
And a better definition for iNatters - before the advent of motor vehicles, the bright blue flowers of this botanical, which often form in clumps along hedgerows, grassy lanes and roadsides, were appreciated by travellers, so it became known as the wildflower to ‘Speed You Well’.
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Do you mean sleighing it?
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Extra points for working in a bobsled pun.
Anyway.
So! Much! Action! Who would have predicted Ferruginous Duck rocketing out of nowhere to take the first place spot on the Species course? A scant two observations ahead of Bird’s-eye Speedwell (32 to 30) Ferruginous Duck is far from having it wrapped up. Mallard has to be quacking mad but with 23 observations and in 4th place in a very crowded field is still in position to medal.
On the Tree of Life Field, Plants (314) have a solid lead with Insects (153) in 2nd and Birds in 3rd (145). This breakaway pack will battle among themselves for the medals. Fungi at 76 is falling out medal contention but none of the other Taxa are close which has to feel like a win after a disappointing show in Paris (12). Arachnids (38) have pulled out in front of Mammals (25). Mammals need to watch Other Animals (22) which are mostly non Insect/non Spider Arthropods. Mollusks are also hanging in there with 20 observations.
Still no comment from Mollusks about drug testing.
Stay tuned as it is still any Species’ and Taxon’s game and we have almost 10 days to go to the closing ceremony. Thanks to Marv in the booth and the observers on the ground and of course Identifiers, you make Research Grade happen.
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Since the Winter Olympics are finished I think it’s time to give the results here. I’m not into sports, so I remind @anneclewis to give the official results. I can only say, it is really amazing and has put this region of Italy onto my travel-wish-list. I didn’t think it would be very different from Spain, but we don’t have porcupines, jackals, Florida rabbits (forgot the real name), American grey squirrels, African sacred ibis. The only bird that didn’t want to participate is the ubiquitous very common house sparrow. :-)
Thank you @susanne-kasimir. The last two weeks got away from me.
And now for the medal ceremony!
In the Species event
Gold - Yellow-legged gull
Silver - Primrose
Bronze - Common Snowdrop
4th place was Christmas Rose and 5th was Spring Snowflake.
Birds-eye speedwell which held the lead through much of the first half of the Olympics came in 6th, followed by Mallard in 7th. Rounding out the top ten Black-headed Gull, Liverleaf, and Great Cormorant in 8th, 9th and 10th.
On the Tree of Life Field which is the team sport of iNat:
Gold - Plants
Silver - Insects (even though no one species made it into the top ten)
Bronze - Birds which had a gold winning species.
Fungi was in 4th much to everyone’s surprise. Arachnids carried 5th place and Molluscs placed 6th without ever confirming or denying the rumors of drug enhancements.
Other Animals, Mammals, Amphibians and Reptiles completed the top ten.
Ray-finned fishes, Chromista and Protozoans did not make it on the board. Maybe next time.
A new event, the Research Grade race, ended with Primrose, Yellow-Legged Gull and Common Snowdrop taking the Gold, Silver and Bronze, respectively.
The real winner in all this is Biodiversity and Nature! And maybe the Italian Tourism Department because I too am motivated to visit Italy to observe some of this amazing wildlife.
We will see you all in Los Angeles in 2028!
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Oh my! I just looked at the project again and somehow primrose overtook the yellow-legged gull and grabbed the gold medal!
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Probably a late upload. Next time I will have to filter observations by upload date as well. We could have shifting winners for months and years yet to come.
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Nothing. On iNat. Is carved in stone. The jury is always, still, out.
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