Community scientists are encouraged to join The Maritime Aquarium in documenting species found across Fairfield and Westchester Counties from Friday, April 28 through Monday, May 1.
“There is nature all around us. Knowing what species are in our city and where they are located helps scientists and land managers study and protect them,” said Senior Education Manager Bridget Cervero. “We look forward to having new and experienced community scientists participate in this important and exciting challenge!”
The City Nature Challenge is an annual BioBlitz competition among cities across the globe that was started in 2016 by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the California Academy of Sciences.
Teams are scored in three categories — total observations made, total number of species observed, and total number of observers. In 2022, the Aquarium ranked in the top 15 percent for number of observers, with 333 community scientists on its team.
Image from Billion Oyster Project announcement on Eventbrite.com
The City Nature Challenge
Community scientists can record their observations on the iNaturalist app, a free app available for download on the App Store and Google Play. Observations can be made indoors and outdoors with the goal of documenting as many naturally occurring plants and wildlife as possible.
As part of the City Nature Challenge weekend, the Aquarium will kick off its public Marine Life Encounter Cruise season on Sunday, April 30 — a great way to spot plankton, fish, crabs, mollusks, and more! Inside the Aquarium, educational activities will teach guests about the City Nature Challenge and the importance of the diverse plants and wildlife we share our community with.
The Maritime Aquarium is partnering with the Brookfield Conservation Commission, The Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary, Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, Greenburgh Nature Center, New Pond Farm, Western Connecticut State University’s Herpetology and Biology Clubs, and Woodcock Nature Center on this initiative.
For more information, click here.
From the aquarium’s web page:
How You Can Participate
MAKE OBSERVATIONS!
- Download iNaturalist app and create an account
- Join the project here
- Take photos of wildlife anywhere in Fairfield and Westchester counties between April 28 through May 1.
- This can be inside your house, in your backyard, out your window or in your neighborhood. The goal is to capture WILDlife, avoid pets, and cultivated plants.
- Upload your photos to iNaturalist – from your mobile device or via your computer
HELP IDENTIFY WHAT WAS SEEN!
- Download iNaturalist app and create an account
- Join the project here
- Identify observations to species level
Last Year’s Results:
