Nature Challenge

JOIN the Mendocino County Nature Challenge!

In place of our spring BioBlitz at the Gardens, we invite you—our citizen scientists and nature lovers—to explore your own natural surroundings and take a closer look. We challenge you to capture the biodiversity in your area between April 24 and April 27 using the iNaturalist app. This project is part of the 5th annual City Nature Challenge, a collaboration between people all around the world, connecting to nature in whatever way they can. You can participate (while practicing social distancing) by documenting the plants, animals, fungi, and other organisms around your home and neighborhood. The goal is to learn more about our local biodiversity as we observe the variety of species that call this area home.

GET READY for the project launch on April 24!

1. Download the iNaturalist app and make an account (or sign on if you already have an account).
2. From your desktop use the search function at top left to search and join the "City Nature Challenge 2020: Mendocino County". On a mobile device select "More..."option in the lower right corner, select projects and used the search (magnifying glass icon) function to look up "City Nature Challenge 2020: Mendocino County"  and join. Live elsewhere? This is an international challenge, find your city or area.
3. Take photos of wild plants and animals to make observations. If you know that what you’re photographing is not wild, mark it as captive/cultivated. Please stay close to home, maintain social distance from people and wildlife, respect local land and facility closures, wear a cloth mask in public areas, and practice good hand hygiene. CLICK HERE for helpful hints to get you started on iNaturalist and ways to find nature where you live. 
4. Upload your observations to share with the iNaturalist community. Observations that match the  will be automatically added to the project if you have JOINED City Nature Challenge 2020: Mendocino County!
5. Watch and learn as your observations are identified and verified by experts!

The four-day BioBlitz throughout Mendocino County goes live on April 24. You can continue to upload observations until May 3 (if they were made within the April 24-27 timeframe). Check back on May 4 when results will be announced for each city's total observations, number of species ID'd, and number of people who participated as observers and identifiers.

View mendocinocoastbotanicalgardens's observations »