Science needs you!

April is Community Science month, and what better way to celebrate than to participate in the world’s biggest bioblitz, the City Nature Challenge! 

A bioblitz is an event where participants race to document all of the living things within a certain area during a specific period of time. 

During the City Nature Challenge, cities around the world race to find and document nature in their area. Participants get to learn about new plant and animal neighbors and their observations provide data that scientists around the world can access for their research. All you need is a camera and an internet connection. 

The 2023 City Nature Challenge takes place in 2 parts.

 

Observation Period: Friday, April 28 - Monday, May 1, 2023

Communities work together to set new records for documenting biodiversity in their area. In this step, you take photos of nature on your phone and upload it to iNaturalist.

 

Identification Period: Tuesday, May 2 - Friday, May 7, 2023

Think you know your flora and fauna? Help identify and verify images that others have taken during the Observation Period.  Once an ID is verified it goes into a public database for scientists all over the world to use! 

 

The City Nature Challenge is free and easy to join!

  • Download the FREE iNaturalist app on your phone or make an account at iNaturalist.org. The app will help you document wild things in your area and figure out what they might be.
  • Get outside and start observing! Take photos of plants, animals, insects, fungi….any living thing you see!
  • Upload your photos to iNaturalist and learn about what you found.
  • Help identify other’s photos during the Identification Period.

    •  

 

 

 

 

Museum@Home
© 2024 Regents of the University of Michigan