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Take pictures of plants, animals or insects you spot this weekend to be part of the worldwide City Nature Challenge.

Photos courtesy Neill McCallum

Appreciate nature this weekend

By Hannah Scott, Local Journalism Initiative reporter

Published 12:44 PDT, Thu April 23, 2020

Last Updated: 2:13 PDT, Wed May 12, 2021

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This weekend, nature observers all across the world will participate in the City Nature Challenge, a worldwide “bioblitz” that allows members of the public to document living things they see through photographs.

The annual City Nature Challenge is always scheduled close to Earth Day, and happens from April 24 to 27 this year. Each city must register separately through a central organizer.

Richmond’s chapter was initiated last year by science teacher Neill McCallum, who undertook the challenge with his own class as well as those of several other interested teachers.

“It’s outdoor education, and it gives people a better understanding of their local biodiversity,” says McCallum of the challenge. “You’re getting people out there thinking about living things and nature, giving them a reason to go outside.”

McCallum says his students responded well last year because the challenge combines two things they love: using smartphones and taking pictures. Using the app can be a fun way for students—or people of all ages—to engage with what’s around them.

The challenge uses the iNaturalist program and app to track the plants and animals seen in many areas around the world. iNaturalist is supported by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic.

Anyone who downloads the app can take photographs of observations and upload them to the site. Image recognition software will suggest a species to tag. Other users can view recent observations in their area or any area around the world, and even suggest corrections to the original photographer’s species identification.

During the City Nature Challenge, participating cities compete to see who can find the largest variety of different species.

Originally, McCallum and the city of Richmond had planned large events to be held this weekend at the Richmond Nature Park and Iona Beach Regional Park. But when COVID-19 forced the cancellation of these events, they didn’t want to cancel their plans altogether.

“We are still promoting that individuals can participate in the Nature Challenge from within their own homes, yards and other safe areas during the current pandemic,” says McCallum. “It’s still something that can be done. You see so many different things flying by.”

The observations collected by iNaturalist users can help to plot important data: tracking of rare or invasive species, signs of change in species or patterns over periods of time.

Participate in this weekend’s City Nature Challenge by downloading the free iNaturalist app and taking pictures of observations in your backyard or on a physically distanced community walk. Engage with other observers in your area by logging onto the iNaturalist website.