City Nature Challenge is a great way to activate park sites and get folks involved with Green Tukwila that may not be able participate in physical work, like restoration.
What is the city nature challenge?
In short a global nature observation event using community science! You can help by observing nature, identifying observations, or better yet – both! Look high and low for all nature in the region and share your observations using iNaturalist!
Seattle-Tacoma City Nature Challenge 2023 Dates
April 28 – May 1 – Observe and report nature
April 28 – May 7 – Identify observations on iNaturalist
Who participates?
Last year, 445 cities across the world participated in City Nature Challenge (CNC) to document as many urban plants, animals and fungi as possible over the course of one weekend! Our region is the Seattle-Bellevue-Tacoma-Everett metropolitan area, which includes all of King, Pierce and Snohomish counties. Any observation made anywhere within those counties (or out in adjacent areas of Puget Sound!) will count towards our total in the City Nature Challenge.
How do people participate?
Use the free iNaturalist app to tally results. By taking photos, noting down some basic information and uploading to the Seattle-Tacoma Metropolitan Area CNC project on the iNaturalist platform, your nature observations contribute to the total!
Why participate?
These observations will help build up the baseline of Puget Sound area biodiversity and provide data for our local scientists, land managers, and governments about the areas they study and care for. Connect to and take pride in the biodiversity in our local area.
How can I help people participate?
There are a few ways you can help us highlight the amazing biodiversity we have in our region and position the Seattle metropolitan area to be a leader in the City Nature Challenge.
- Spread the word! Please let your staff/colleagues/students/friends know. Everyone would love to see your observations!
- If you’re already holding an event during April 28- May 1, is there a way you can incorporate participants making iNaturalist observations? Hikes, restoration events, park celebrations – all of those could provide great observation opportunities.
- Help make IDs during the event! If you’re familiar with our local flora and fauna, you can also help by adding identifications to other people’s observations on iNaturalist for the Seattle-Tacoma Metropolitan Area CNC. The more observations, the more species in the tally!
Register for an Orientation on Woodland Park Zoo’s City Nature Challenge Event Page