Nature Enthusiasts,
Today is the day to start getting out and documenting the biodiversity across Ada county! How many new species can you add to your list? Invite your friends, family, and neighbors to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather the next few days and help to document the wild plants and animals that call Ada county home. Please remember to avoid the 3 P's (people, pets, and potted plants) and to mark captive/cultivated species as such. The observations period runs from today through Monday (May 1st). Photos taken during the observation period can continue to be uploaded through May 7th. Results will be announced on May 8th. Have fun out there, tread lightly, and be safe!

We are off to a great start! How many species do you think we can find by the end of the day? As of 4:15 pm, we are up to 146 species! With Red-winged blackbird in the lead for most observed species over Mallards and Canada Geese! Can we reach 250 by tomorrow? Great places to look for small critters include in leaf litter and under rocks. Please remember to add at least a basic level identification (plant, animal, etc.) to your observations to help facilitate identifications and don't forget to mark plants that are cultivated/captive as such. Keep it up Ada County!

We are half way through the 2023 City Nature Challenge and what a fantastic first two days! The weather has been phenomenal and the community (that's you) has come out in force! We are on track to shatter last year's total of 546 species. Keep looking high and low for the beautiful, unique, and fascinating wild plants, animals, and fungi that call Ada County home. Thanks so much to those of you helping with identifications behind the scenes! Can we get to 500 species by the end of the day?