May Plant Count

The May Plant Count is a component of the annual May Species Count and is open to anyone with an interest in plants and flowering. The survey takes place between May 25 – 31 and focuses on documenting the flowering status (i.e., phenological stage) of native plant species across Alberta. The aim is to collect valuable plant data while encouraging stewardship and appreciation of the amazing natural areas Alberta has to offer.

With the advent of iNaturalist, new possibilities have opened to make the May Plant Count more efficient and to boost its value to science and conservation. By using iNaturalist for recording observations, participants in the May Plant Count contribute to the world’s largest biodiversity database, available at no charge to naturalists, educators, and researchers. The high profile of iNaturalist ensures that the data are used for conservation applications. In addition, iNaturalist provides many benefits to naturalists, which are summarized here.

Submitting Observations

The best way to submit observations to the May Plant Count is to use the iNaturalist smartphone app. But manual observations are still welcome (see below). If you are new to iNaturalist, please see our Getting Started Guide.

All plant photos submitted during the count period will contribute to the iNaturalist database. However, we encourage participants to take the extra step of reporting the flowering stage of plants that are in flower. To do this you will first need to join the May Plant Count project, which will add a flowering stage field to the iNaturalist app.

When determining the flowering stage of a given species, base your assessment on the entire patch you are observing, rather than on individual plants. But choose a single representative specimen when taking a photo. It is best to submit observations you are confident of, even if just one or two species, than it is to submit a large number of uncertain observations.

Submitting observations using the iNaturalist phone app

Follow these steps to submit the flowering stage:

Begin by opening the iNaturalist app and taking a photograph of the flower, as usual
Enter the species name in the “What did you see” box
The location and date are filled in automatically; the Notes section is not used.
Use the available checkbox to indicate if the plant is cultivated rather than wild.
Click on the "Project" box at the bottom of the screen and then select "Alberta May Plant Count". This option will only be available if you have joined the project.
Choose the appropriate stage of flowering in the "MPC Flowering Stage" drop down box.
On an Android phone, click the checkmark in the top right corner to confirm and return to the main page (do not use the previous page arrow). On an iPhone, click the < symbol to return.
Note: iNaturalist can be used without a data connection, but the app will not know which projects you have joined. The solution is to open iNaturalist before you leave and select "Projects" from the main menu. This loads your projects into the app. If you forget to do this, you can always add the project and flowering codes afterward by editing the observations when you get home.

Submitting observations using the iNaturalist website

The easiest way to submit observations is to use the iNaturalist smartphone app in the field. However, observations can also be added on the iNaturalist website when you return home. If you are new to iNaturalist, please have a look at this website tutorial to become oriented.

Begin by opening the May Plant Count project in your web browser.
Click on the red "Add Observation" button at the top right.
Enter the species name of your plant in the "What did you see?" box. Choose from the suggestions provided to you once you begin typing.
Use the checkbox below the name section to indicate if the plant is cultivated rather than wild.
Enter the location of your plant using the "Where were you?" box. Be as exact as possible.
Upload a photo that you took with your phone or camera of a representative plant. Use the "Media" section at the top right to do this. You can add multiple photos, as long as they are of the same plant.
Enter the date of the observation using the "When did you see it?" box. Clicking the calendar icon will make this easier.
Scroll to the bottom of the page to the "Fill out project observation fields" box. Choose the appropriate stage of flowering in the "MPC Flowering Stage" drop down box. Note that this box will only be available if you have joined the project.
Ignore all other boxes, including Notes, Tags, and Annotations.
Click the "Save Observation" button to submit your information.

Submitting observations manually

Thanks for your help! As ‘eyes of science’, you are reporting essential information on how plants respond to changes in climate. We hope you enjoy keeping your finger on nature’s pulse!

May Plant Count

Submitting Observations

iNaturalist Project Results

2022 May Plant Count Report

NATURE ALBERTA