NTMN president Scott Hudson making an iNat observation at Bittern Marsh in LLELA. Photo by Daniel Koglin. 

Short message:  The City Nature Challenge is happening again this year on April 29 – May 2!  This event is all about getting the public engaged with nature.  If you’re able, go outside and make some iNaturalist observations, try to host an event, lead some training, or promote the city nature challenge through your platforms. 

Longer message:  City Nature Challenge 2022 is April 29 – May 2!  All iNaturalist observations made within Dallas/Fort Worth (the ten counties that make up the DFW metroplex: Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, and Wise) during this time automatically are added to the City Nature Challenge project

You don’t have to join any project or do any extra steps.  Identification of observations will happen from May 3 – 8.  It will be another global collaboration rather than a competition, but here in Texas, Houston is talking some extreme trash already…  Can DFW let this stand?!?  I think not!  🙂  As a matter of fact, Texas alone has quite a few participating metros. 

If you want to learn a bit more about the City Nature Challenge in general.

If you’re able to host any events — trainings, bioblitzes (virtually or in person), or nature walks, let me know.  We can start collecting these events in a journal post on the project.

Sam Kieschnick reacting to a naturalist’s observation. Photo by Stalin SM. 

So, mark the calendar, tell your friends and the organizations you work with/for, and hopefully you can find some time to spend out in nature.  If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know!