This April, the NC Science Trail is encouraging you to join an international competition through the City Nature Challenge! In its eighth year, this global event encourages people to report observations of wild plants, animals, and fungi directly to an online science platform, iNaturalist. Findings gathered during the days of April 26-29 and uploaded by May 5, 2024, will contribute to the scientific understanding of our local biodiversity and how we coexist with nature. They will also count in an unofficial competition within North Carolina, where every observation can help one of our five regions win for the number of observations, species, and observers.
Events and organizations all over the state will explore how to take part in the North Carolina Bioblitz. You can find an event calendar by visiting the Science Across NC website at https://scienceacrossnc.org/events/bioblitz/bioblitzevents/
This statewide event runs alongside the international City Nature Challenge..
How to Participate:
If you are an individual or small group, follow these steps.
- Find a place to make observations of wild species! Visit a favorite local park, a natural area, or your own backyard April 26-29.
- Take photos of as many species as you can find with the iNaturalist smartphone app or use a camera. You do not need to know how to identify the things you see – the app or website will help you!
- Submit your observations through the iNaturalist website or app, available for Android and Apple! All observations must be uploaded to iNaturalist by May 5 to count toward the NC Bioblitz and City Nature Challenge.
New to iNaturalist? Check out Science across NC’s Quick Guides to iNaturalist for Android and Apple phones! They will walk you through how to use the smartphone apps and website to submit your observations to iNaturalist. Or watch this short video from 2023 to learn how to use the app! https://youtu.be/hRFMmLUEEck
By submitting 20 observations or submitting 10 observations and making 15 identifications, people of all ages, abilities, and interests can earn a custom embroidered badge from Science Across NC – a collaborative effort of organizations invested in getting people outside and engaged in authentic scientific research. To learn more and start the journey towards earning a badge, visit scienceacrossnc.org.
