The Saguaro Census

Eck! Are Saguaros under threat? The answer may surprise you.

The Saguaro Census

The summer of 2020 was tough on saguaros. It was the HOTTEST and one of the DRIEST summers on record in Phoenix. There were numerous reports of saguaros losing arms or falling down throughout the Valley. Saguaros rely on monsoon precipitation to recover from water lost during the summer - but without it, they dehydrate and suffer. The stems become thinner, and the ribs become narrow and deep. When this happens, they may collapse under their own weight.

I just found out about a project my friend Jeny is co-organizing, it’s called the SAGUARO CENSUS (I’m in already) 🌵

To look for answers, the @dbgphx and @ecofloraphx are launching a first-ever urban Saguaro Census to document and better understand the health and adaptations of the Valley's saguaro population. The project also aims to research the effects climate change might have on them.

They need OUR help. Starting in May, help them count saguaros in your neighborhood using the iNaturalist app.

Win cool prizes for making observations while contributing to a community science project. Instructions on how to join up are in the images in this post. Lets help these icons of the Sonoran desert.

Download the free iNaturalist app to your phone to get started.