Charge Your Camera or Phone! Dust off your field guides!
The countdown has begun!
BACKYARD
Only two weeks until the international City ^ Nature Challenge!
Join the fun! You’ll probably be surprised by the variety of living organisms to be found in your own yard or neighborhood.
Photograph THEM and share with others who can help you identify THEM; help others ID their findings.
Add to the Growing database of biodiversity in the Baltimore Metro Area.
And learn a lot in the process!
Check this blog often in the coming days. There will be specific instructions about the challenge, guidance on how to use the iNaturalist website, and plenty of practice identifying all sorts of critters and plants previously documented on iNaturalist by local amateurs like you. What better way to welcome springtime than to explore the many natural wonders (which often go unnoticed) all around us!
You don’t want to miss being a part of something this BIG . . .
The Brief History of the CITY NATURE CHALLENGE:
Celebrating Urban Biodiversity!
2016
Contest between Natural History Museum (L.A.) & CA Acad. Of Sciences (S.F.)
~1000 People and 2544 Species
(Los Angeles narrowly wins all three contests.)
2017
16 Cities in U.S., including Washington, D.C.
~4000 People and over 8000 Species
(Houston = 2419 spp., Los Angeles = 1034 people)
2018
68 Cities (38 in U.S. + 30 from 16 other countries)
~17,000 People
Baltimore, Charlottesville, & Richmond participate for first time
(San Francisco wins all three contests.)
In Baltimore, 408 people find 994 species.
2019
159 Cities (62 in U.S. + 97 from all over the world)
~35,000 People and over 31,000 Species
Almost 1 Million observations
Alexandria, Philadelphia, & Wilmington all join
(Cape Town = 4588 spp., San Francisco = 1947 people)
In Baltimore, 458 people find 1268 species.
2020
Fri. April 24 thru Mon. April 27 = Document (Photos)
Tues. April 28 thru Sun. May 3 = Identify!
247 Cities (from 41 countries) have signed up!
