The City Nature Challenge (CNC) is an international effort to get people outside to document their local biodiversity. Over the course of four days, citizen scientists around the world will log as many observations of the natural world as they can. Then experts will help to identify those observations to see how many different species were documented.
CNC takes place in two parts:
April 30 – May 3: Taking pictures of wild plants and animals
May 4 – May 9: Identifying what was found
CNC was started in 2016 by Lila Higgins at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and Alison Young at the California Academy of Sciences as a competition between LA and San Francisco. Since then, it’s grown to include. more than 400 cities, in more than 40 countries, across six continents!
This is the first year that Sarasota and Manatee counties are participating in CNC, through Selby Gardens’ Sarasota Manatee EcoFlora Project. We are partnering with The Nature Conservancy in Orlando to host a friendly competition among several Florida metro areas and we are calling on everyone to participate! While the EcoFlora project usually focuses on plant species, we will be celebrating and documenting plants and animals during CNC. Show us your flora and your fauna!
JOIN THE PROJECT HERE ON iNATURALIST!
Who should participate?
YOU! You don’t need to be a professional photographer, botanist, or naturalist to be a helpful citizen scientist. All you need is a smartphone or GPS-enabled camera, a free iNaturalist account, and a willingness to get out and explore! Our team, and the iNaturalist community, will help you with troubleshooting, photo tips, and species identification. Anyone can participate but only observations made in Sarasota or Manatee counties will contribute to this challenge!
Why should you participate?
There is nature all around us, even in our cities! Let’s get to know the plants and animals living around us in Sarasota and Manatee counties. By documenting what species we have, we will discover what we need to protect. By participating in the City Nature Challenge, you will learn more about nature in your area AND make our cities a better place for all species. And let’s not forget, it’s FUN and EASY to participate!
Upcoming BioBlitzes and Registration Information
SARASOTA COUNTY:
FRIDAY, APRIL 30
9 a.m. to noon
PHILLIPPI ESTATE PARK
(5500 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota)
Hosted by: Sarasota County Parks, Recreation, & Natural Resources
No registration required.
FRIDAY, APRIL 30
9 a.m. to noon
TED SPERLING PARK
SOUTH LIDO PUBLIC BEACH
(2201 Benjamin Franklin Drive, Sarasota)
Hosted by: Sarasota County Parks, Recreation, & Natural Resources
No registration required. Poison Ivy is prevalent here, so dress accordingly.
Closed toed shoes, long pants, and shirt recommended. Meet at the Sarasota
County tent near the playground at the end of Benjamin Franklin Drive.
SATURDAY, MAY 1
9 a.m. to noon
POTTER PARK
(8587 Potter Park Drive, Sarasota)
Hosted by: Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
No registration required.
MANATEE COUNTY
SATURDAY, MAY 1
9 to 11 a.m.
JOHNSON PRESERVE
Hosted by: Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast and
Manatee County Parks & Natural Resources
Registration required through Eventbrite, as space is limited.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/150931190253
MONDAY, MAY 3
9 a.m. to noon
RYE PRESERVE
(905 Rye Wilderness Trail, Parrish)
Hosted by: Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
No registration required. Meet at the pavilion.