All,

Thanks to the initiative and coordination of our regional Inventory and Monitoring Branch, we were able to sponsor the Southeast Region’s iNaturalist Bioblitz Challenge.   The goals were to encourage a community connection with nature and to document the incredible biodiversity across the Southeast Region's 130 National Wildlife Refuges and 14 National Fish Hatcheries.  This Region accepted that Challenge!

It is now our honor to recognize the 730 unique U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) employees, volunteers, and visitors that contributed over 16,000 observations on National Wildlife Refuges and National Fish Hatcheries during the six months of the Challenge.  All verified species occurrences have been permanently archived and are contributing to a database of species occurrence records on USFWS properties nationwide.  

We are thrilled to announce the three USFWS stations that rose to the top in each of three Challenge categories, as described in the Challenge Challenge announcement and FAQ.   Each top-ranked station demonstrated outstanding support, engagement and commitment, and has now received one of the coveted Nikon CoolPix P900 digital camera system prizes.  Congratulations to the prize-winners; it was a great race right to the finish!  

Our hearty congratulations go to:

Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee NWR – MOST SPECIES
With an astounding 540 species documented and verified in iNaturalist during the Challenge period, SDH Noxubee NWR set the pace on this competition.  This refuge also ranked #1 in the Most Unique Contributors category, directly connecting people with nature via 51 contributors to the Bioblitz.  Well done, Noxubee! 

Clarks River NWR – MOST NEW SPECIES ADDITIONS 
A truly impressive 514 species were documented in iNatualist for the first time on this 9,300 acre nugget of largely bottomland hardwood habitat, to rank #1 in the Most New Species category.   Not only this, but the refuge also ranked #2 in the overall Most Species category, with 517.   Very cool, Clarks River!

St. Marks NWR – MOST UNIQUE USERS

With 32 individual contributors providing at least 5 verified observations, St. Marks NWR demonstrated the power of community.   Coming in second only to one other station, this refuge not only placed a prize-winning second in this category and also documented a truly impressive 254 species during the contest period.  Rock on, St. Marks!

In recognition of a handful of other especially notable accomplishments, we also share these

Honorable Mentions:

v Greers Ferry NFH, which ranked highest among the Hatcheries in two categories, with an impressive 153 species documented! 

v St Vincent NWR, which missed out on a prize per the Challenge rules, but placed third in all three Challenge categories!  

v The top single contributor provided 731 observations - Awesome!

v Six individuals each contributed > 300 observations to a single station!

v One user contributed to 12 separate stations - Wow!

v Two high contributing users each had >90% of their observations identified to species (suggesting well-documented records)!

In recognition of the individual accomplishments that made this Challenge a success, commemorative iNaturalist Challenge coins are being sent to each participating station for distribution to all contributors of at least five (5) observations at that refuge or hatchery.  These contributors can contact the refuge or hatchery they contributed to in order to retrieve their coin.