The City Nature Challenge (CNC) is an annual citizen science event that gets people outside to enjoy nature. Parking at the conservation authority is $5 per vehicle or free with an Explore Card. Parking can be purchased here: https://store.lakeheadca.com/product/explore-card/

You might ask what is the City Nature Challenge?  Think of it as the world’s largest bio blitz. The competition started as a friendly challenge between Los Angeles and San Francisco in 2016. The competition has grown explosively around the world, with 419 cities involved and over 1.2 million observations taken last year. 

For four days, beginning April 29^th and ending on May 2^nd we are challenging the people in our district to identify as many living things as they can using the app iNaturalist. The images you take with your camera or cellphone will be reviewed by scientists and naturalists from the Thunder Bay Field Naturalists, and by nature lovers from around the world. Simply by snapping a picture with your phone, tablet or camera you can use the ai (artificial intelligence) built into iNaturalist to create an observation. It is that easy!

Please keep it wild! Your observations should be of native species. If you happen to take a picture of a garden plant just activate the “captive / cultivated” button on iNaturalist. You can use iNaturalist anywhere you happen to be out in nature. Your observations will appear on the project website below alongside those of fellow nature enthusiasts beginning on April 29^th at 12:01 am on the project website here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2022-thunder-bay-district-on-canada

Your contributions will be counted and they might be “research grade” after review by science lovers. The observations don’t disappear on May 2^nd. All the data collected will count towards our TBFN biodiversity project on iNaturalist found here: https://inaturalist.ca/projects/biodiversity-of-the-thunder-bay-district

City Nature Challenge Events:  

The Lakehead Region Conservation Authority has events planned at the following four conservation sites

April 29^th LRCA Staff @ Cascades Conservation Area from 1 pm to 4 pm.  Making observations & helping citizens to use the app.

April 30^th LRCA Staff @ Mission Marsh Conservation Area from 9 am to 12 noon with TBFN Birders & Wildlife Biologists, Mushkiki Health & Wellness Youth & cultural advisors will be there to help the public using the app.

May 2^nd  LRCA Staff with TBFN Birders & Wildlife Biologists working with classes @ Mission Marsh from 9 am to 12 noon. 

May 2^nd  LRCA Staff at Mills Block Forest from 1 pm to 4 pm. Making observations & helping citizens to use the app.

Earthcare Thunder Bay has set up projects at some of your favourite gardens and parks: The Centennial Botanical Conservatory, Adelaide Butterfly Garden, LPH Greenspace, and Brent Park. These events are taking part in the challenge on all four days. Facebook posts and posters onsite will help explain how to take part. You can view results for Earthcare sites individually and they all feed into the district observations.

For more information, or if you have any questions, contact Gene Kent, TBFN Outreach Coordinator at kentgene@gmail.com or call (807) 355-5679.