What is the City Nature Challenge?
City Nature Challenge (April 25–28, 2025)
The City Nature Challenge is a four-day, citizen science event where participants use the free iNaturalist app to observe and record local plants, animals, fungi, and other organisms in their daily lives. The challenge is designed to inspire a deeper connection with nature, promote citizen science, and help track biodiversity across the city. During the event, volunteers will guide participants in making observations, teaching them how to use the iNaturalist app, and discussing the importance of biodiversity.
''' What is the City Nature Challenge?'''
The City Nature Challenge (CNC) is an exciting, ongoing citizen science project that invites people to engage with the nature right around them. Often referred to as a bioblitz, the CNC encourages city residents to document urban biodiversity, from plants, birds, insects and animals to fungi, bacteria, and more. Framed as a friendly competition between cities, the project aims to see which city can make the most observations, identify the highest number of species, or rally the greatest number of participants.
The CNC is designed to connect people to the nature around them, foster community-building both in person and online, and generate valuable data for scientific research, conservation, and management. By using the free iNaturalist or Seek apps, participants document and share observations of living organisms, signs of life, or evidence of organisms—whether that’s a rare bird, a wildflower in bloom, or even roadkill. It's an opportunity to engage with the environment and contribute to a global effort in documenting biodiversity, all while having fun and participating in a bit of friendly competition!
The City Nature Challenge encourages participants to make a wide range of observations, not just of living organisms, but also of evidence that suggests the presence of life. Here is a comprehensive listing of signs of life that you can document, and excite other people to "See" in nature :
Living Organisms
Plants: Trees, shrubs, flowers, mosses, grasses, etc.
Animals: Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and insects
Fungi: Mushrooms, molds, and yeasts
Microorganisms: Algae, bacteria, and lichen
Dead Organisms
Roadkill: Animals killed by vehicles such as mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, etc.
Carcasses: Remains of animals or plants in the environment
Decomposing Plant Material: Fallen leaves, dead flowers, or other plant parts that are breaking down
Signs of Life
Tracks: Animal or bird footprints left in soil, snow, or mud
Scat: Animal droppings (feces), which can be used to identify the species
Nests: Bird or insect nests made of twigs, leaves, or other materials
Eggs: Bird, reptile, or insect eggs found in the wild
Feathers: Shed feathers from birds
Bones: Animal bones or skeletal remains
Snakeskins: Shed skin from snakes
Shells: Seashells or the shells of other invertebrates
Skeletons: The bones of an animal left in a natural environment
Fur Tufts: Pieces of fur left behind by mammals
Tracks/Footprints: Paw prints or hoof prints left by animals like dogs, deer, or raccoons
Animal Droppings: Other types of droppings from various animals (e.g., raccoon, fox, or bird droppings)
Egg Masses: Insect or aquatic egg masses, such as frog spawn or insect larvae
Webs: Spider webs or other arachnid-related structures
Paw Prints: Marks left by animals like dogs, cats, or wild mammals
Additional Signs
Holes: Burrows, tunnels, or holes made by animals like rodents, insects, or reptiles
Feeding Evidence: Teeth marks on plants, bark, or other materials indicating feeding by animals
Traces of Digestion: Owl pellets (regurgitated pellets containing bones and other undigested materials)
Vocalizations: Sounds from birds, mammals, frogs or insects (can be recorded and uploaded
Volunteer Role:
We encourage participants to use iNaturalist during the event. i.e. download the app, sign in with your own user name and password. Take photos of organisms (any living biodiversity), record sound (like bird calls), and upload their observations to the app. The app automatically records the date, time, GPS location, and photo of each observation, creating valuable citizen science data.
It is important to Note, that the volunteer citizen science participants do not need to be experts or botanists, or know what the names of any organisms of nature are. There just needs to be a natural curiosity, and a longing to connect with nature.
It is exciting to learn about iNaturalist Computer Vision Explorations and how AI will provide suggestions to them to identify species they may encounter, including labelling their observations a species at risk or other important trees and plants. Besides taking part in this friendly four day weekend City Nature Challenge, please continue using iNaturalist outside the event, including in your neighborhoods and local parks anywhere in Saskatoon and region during this four day window of the challenge (or any time).
How to Get Involved:
A cordial invitation is extended to engage with nature and record what they find. Participants can take part from anywhere—whether it’s in your backyard, local park, or (Safely) by the river in Saskatoon and area. And you can take part in free events in the afforestation areas as well!
