The results are in for 2023! Thank you to everyone who participated in the City Nature Challenge in New York City and around the world!

This year, 482 cities across 46 countries participated in the City Nature Challenge and together we've beaten last year's global observation record! Over 66 thousand people across the globe made over 1.87 million observations of over 57 thousand species. The most observed species globally was the Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos) with over 5035 observations. The global organizers at the California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of LA created an awesome infographic with these results and some other interesting finds. Check it out here.

New York City Results

We hope everyone has dried off by now from what was likely the rainiest CNC we've ever had here in NYC. Unfortunately, about a third of our planned public events had to be cancelled due to the weather, but we still had lots of people out making (sometimes very wet) observations of nature! Together, NYC had 14,391 observations of 1555 species made by 505 people. CNC brought in 154 new NYC observers to iNaturalist, 6,265 new "Research Grade" NYC observations, and 63 species new to the iNaturalist database for New York City. Great job, everyone!

The City Nature Challenge is a collaborative celebration of biodiversity and the 482 participating cities were not competing against each other. However, as always, we do have some interesting comparisons to report. Out of the 86 cities that share our climate zone classification (Cfa), New York City is ranked 9th for observations and number of observers. Out of the 42 similarly-sized geographic areas (between 500-999 sq. km), New York City is ranked FIRST for observations and number of observers!

Let's give a shoutout to our top observers, species finders, and identifiers in NYC, and an extra special shout out to @srall, who split her time between two cities this year and is ranked #8 globally for observations in the whole City Nature Challenge!

Top 10 NYC Observers

@mugglelissa, @susanhewitt, @srall, @zitserm, @jesseanne, @zihaowang, @irag, @klodonnell, @lisabrundage, @kellycarrot

Top 10 NYC Species Finders

@zihaowang, @zitserm, @susanhewitt, @srall, @jesseanne, @mugglelissa, @irag, @kellycarrot, @klodonnell, @spuytenduyvilny

Top 10 NYC Identifiers

@nycnatureobserver, @peakaytea, @srall, @sadawolk, @djringer, @spuytenduyvilny, @jo1010, @zahnerphoto, @igor_kuzmin, @xris

Battle of the Boroughs

Three different boroughs won each of our categories this year. The most observations were made in Manhattan, the most species were found in Queens, and the most observers were in the Bronx.

Let's also recognize the top observer and species finder in each borough. They are:
Bronx: @mugglelissa (obs) and @zihaowang (spp)
Brooklyn: @lisabrundage (obs) and @zihaowang (spp)
Manhattan: @susanhewitt (both)
Queens: @zitserm (both)
Staten Island: @srall (both)

And let's give a big thank you to our borough captains for leading the way in their boroughs: @glyptostrob0ides in the Bronx, @xris in Brooklyn, and @mspceco and Danny DiMarino in Manhattan.

Greenspace Race

This year, 9 NYC green spaces joined the Greenspace Race led by @mspceco. Together, 101 observers made 1,447 observations of 471 species.

MANY THANKS

We absolutely could not run a successful CNC:NYC without all of our wonderful partners: ASLA-NY Plant Research Group, American Museum of Natural History, Billion Oyster Project, Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy, Friends of Spuyten Duyvil, Genspace, Green-Wood Cemetery, Greenbelt Conservancy, Lower East Side Ecology Center, Madison Square Park Conservancy, Macaulay Honors College, Manhattan Land Trust, New York Botanical Garden, NYC Parks, NYC Pollinator Working Group, NYCH20, Prospect Park Alliance, Riverside Park Conservancy, Stewards of Ewen Park, Stewards of Henry Hudson Park, The Bee Conservancy, The Friends of Governors Island, Torrey Botanical Society, UrbisEco, and Washington Square Park EcoProjects. Thanks for everything you did to make this year a success, including coming to planning meetings, spreading the word about CNC, and making your own observations and identifications, and many many thanks especially to those of you who hosted or organized CNC related events this year. Even if the events ended up cancelled because of the weather, we so appreciate the time and effort you put into planning them. You all are what makes this event such a success! THANK YOU!

We also would like to thank some great Macaulay Honors College student volunteers who attended events and served as iNaturalist pros to help the participants started on iNaturalist: @dshair, @itsesmetzis03, @yellowtulip, @respectable_absorption, @jacky_, and @julia_aiello. THANK YOU!


The dates have already been set for next year's CNC: April 26, 2024 - April 29, 2024! (this date has been corrected). There won't be much activity until late in Summer 2023, but if you join the CNC:NYC 2024 project page now, you'll get updates when they are posted. Until then, happy observing!

Thanks, NYC, for a great CNC!

Our last ID party is tomorrow, Wednesday May 3 (details below). We're going to try to get through as many observations as we can! While we're doing that, we're going to look for cool observations we can share with the global organizers of CNC. If you can't make it to our ID party, let us know about your observation highlights in the comments below. Here's what they are particularly interested in:

• species that haven’t been recorded in particular areas before
• important finds of rare/endangered/threatened species
• observations that have a great story that go along with them
• really great photos
• other fun finds or personal favorites
• urban contrasts, nature taking over, marginal spaces, etc.

Leave a comment below with a link to the observation!

Here are the details for our last ID party:

City Nature Challenge NYC Virtual ID Party
Date: May 3, 2023
Time: 5:30p-7:30p
Host: Macaulay Honors College
Location: Zoom
Description: Grab a snack and a tasty beverage and hop on our Zoom with @klodonnell to make identifications together! No taxonomic experience necessary - everyone is welcome! The basic format will be a quick intro about how to ID observations and then you'll work on them on your own while on the call. We'll hang out and chat about the cool critters people have found or the funny observations people have made.
Registration: via Eventbrite.

What a difference in the weather! We hope everyone was able to spend some time outside today getting the last of their CNC observations. You have all week to upload them, but we encourage you to get them up ASAP because we have TWO more ID parties coming up Tuesday and Wednesday! Join us for one or both of them!

Virtual ID Party and Bingo
Date: May 2, 2023
Time: 5:30p-7:30p
Host: Billion Oyster Project
Location: Zoom
Description: Join the Billion Oyster Project for an ID party focusing on harbor organisms.
Registration: via Eventbrite.

City Nature Challenge NYC Virtual ID Party
Date: May 3, 2023
Time: 5:30p-7:30p
Host: Macaulay Honors College
Location: Zoom
Description: Grab a snack and a tasty beverage and hop on our Zoom with @klodonnell to make identifications together! No taxonomic experience necessary - everyone is welcome! The basic format will be a quick intro about how to ID observations and then you'll work on them on your own while on the call. We'll hang out and chat about the cool critters people have found or the funny observations people have made.
Registration: via Eventbrite.

I hope everyone who was out in the rain today has finally dried off. It looks like tomorrow we'll be able to have a great last observation day.

Globally, all the cities together have just passed 1 million observations! Will we beat last year's 1.69 million observations?

Battle of the Boroughs update: We now have three boroughs represented! The Bronx has the most observations, Queens has the most species, and Brooklyn has the most observers.

We have one rescheduled event for Monday and the first of three ID parties! Info below and on the main event list tinyurl.com/nyc2023events.

RESCHEDULED: City Nature Challenge Bioblitz: Seward Park
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 5p-6:30p
Host: Lower East Side Ecology Center
Location: Seward Park Library. Register for more info.
Description: Join the Lower East Side Ecology Center to document species in LESEC's very own Seward Park! Bring your smartphone and we recommend downloading iNaturalist ahead of the event. Don't worry if you aren't tech savvy - we'll have plenty of support to show you how to use the app and to help troubleshoot any issues.
Registration: via eventbrite.

City Nature Challenge ID Party with the Torrey Botanical Society
Date: May 1, 2023
Time: 6:30p–8:30p
Host: Torrey Botanical Society and the New York Mycological Society
Location: Zoom
Description: The second part of the City Nature Challenge is the identification phase. The final city totals are not calculated until May 7, so users have until then to identify the thousands of observations made over the weekend! Grab your computer and your favorite drink, and join us for our ID Party on Monday evening. We will talk about identification techniques and tips for plants and fungi, and some identification features available on iNaturalist. Then we will explore the observations made over the weekend, and add identifications. No expertise is necessary—if you can tell a plant apart from a fungus or an animal, you will be able to contribute!
Registration: None needed. This is a direct link to the Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89652328280?pwd=ajkyTnZPRklSTzN2WEgwUnAvS2x5dz09#success

Virtual ID Party and Bingo
Date: May 2, 2023
Time: 5:30p-7:30p
Host: Billion Oyster Project
Location: Zoom
Description: Join the Billion Oyster Project for an ID party focusing on harbor organisms.
Registration: via Eventbrite.

City Nature Challenge NYC Virtual ID Party
Date: May 3, 2023
Time: 5:30p-7:30p
Host: Macaulay Honors College
Location: Zoom
Description: Grab a snack and a tasty beverage and hop on our Zoom with @klodonnell to make identifications together! No taxonomic experience necessary - everyone is welcome! The basic format will be a quick intro about how to ID observations and then you'll work on them on your own while on the call. We'll hang out and chat about the cool critters people have found or the funny observations people have made.
Registration: via Eventbrite.

Today was probably the rainiest single day we've ever had for CNC:NYC, but folks were still out there observing! We added over 2000 new observations today despite the rain and we're now at 906 species!

Have you checked out the global numbers? Across all the CNC cities, we're already over 600K observations of almost 34,000 species! AMAZING!

Battle of the Boroughs update: Manhattan is still in the lead for observations and species, but Brooklyn has taken the lead in number of observers!

The weather should be slightly better tomorrow, but still calling for rain. As of this writing, there are events on Sunday still going on. They are copied below. To get to the main list of events visit: https://tinyurl.com/nyc2023events

SUNDAY CANCELLATIONS & RESCHEDULED EVENTS:

Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy event is cancelled, but visit the Education Center for info about CNC

Billion Oyster Project ORS BioBlitzes @ Brooklyn Bridge Park and Domino Park are cancelled.

LESEC BioBlitz @ Seward Park has been rescheduled for Monday 5pm.

Partnership for Parks - City Nature Challenge at Henry Hudson Park rescheduled for May 6.

Sunday, April 30

BRONX

City Nature Challenge at Ewen Park
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 9a-12p
Host: Stewards of Ewen Park & Partnership for Parks
Location: Ewen Park. Meet at The Dog Run - Enter W 231st St.
Description: Join us outdoors for our first City Nature Festival at Ewen Park for a morning of outdoor activities highlighting simple ways to support our community and our planet. This year Partnerships for Parks and the Stewards of Ewen Park are excited to present a mix of family-friendly drop-in and scheduled activities in collaboration with community partners.
Registration: None needed.

Torrey Botanical Society Field Trip: Bronx Park North
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 11a-2p
Host: Torrey Botanical Society
Location: Bronx Park
Description: Bronx Park is best known for containing the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden, but there is an additional northern portion which is maintained by NYC Parks and open to the public. This area, which is a designated Forever Wild preserve, is one of the few remaining natural streamside landscapes in the city. Some portions are inundated by invasives, but there are also many interesting and beautiful native herbs, trees, and shrubs to be found. We will meet at the park entrance at E 204th Street (40.87057, -73.87618) and make our way along both sides of the river. The trip will be led by Lydia Paradiso. Make sure to wear sturdy, waterproof shoes, and bring lunch/snacks. Extra hand lens will be available to borrow. This field trip will be held during the City Nature Challenge, so we encourage you to bring your smart phones or cameras to document the life we see during our trip, and contribute your observations to the total NYC count!
Registration: via Eventbrite.

City Nature Challenge BioBlitz at Crotona Park
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 11a-12p
Host: Urban Park Rangers
Location: Crotona Park. Meet at Crotona Park East and Charlotte Street.
Description: NYC Parks is participating in the City Nature Challenge and is recruiting you to help. Join the Rangers as they walk the park to observe and collect data for the 2023 City Nature Challenge. This program will focus on identifying all living organisms. Participants are encouraged to download the iNaturalist app to collect data.
Registration: None needed. More info here.

Wildflower ID and Seed Bomb Hike
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 1p-2p
Host: NYC Parks
Location: Broadway and Mosholu Avenue in Van Cortlandt Park
Description: On this hike, you will be given the opportunity to learn how to identify wild flowers while learning how to spread them further into our neighborhoods. and parks The rangers will provide all materials needed to assemble your own seed bomb to use along the hike. We will also collect data for the City Nature Challenge.
Registration: None needed. More info here.

BROOKLYN

City Nature Challenge: Family Fun with Genspace
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 10a-1p
Host: Green-Wood Cemetery & Genspace
Location: Green-Wood Cemetery. Find the event “home base” at Green-Wood’s Historic Chapel. More info at the registration link.
Description: Green-Wood is a great place to get out and explore nature! Join Green-Wood, Genspace educators, and expert naturalist guides for an adventurous morning of family activities that help us better understand our environment. Expert naturalists will be on-site to help participants collect data on birds, insects, fungi, and plants at Green-Wood for the City Nature Challenge. Genspace educators will help kids and their adults explore nature up-close at microscopy activity stations. There will also be an interactive experience about the future of trees at Green-Wood led by Clarinda Mac Low and Carolyn Hall, Genspace creative programs coordinators and the creators of Sunk Shore.
Registration: Recommended, but not required, at this link.

CANCELLED: City Nature Challenge ORS BioBlitz at Brooklyn Bridge Park
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 10a-2p
Host: Billion Oyster Project and the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy
Location: Brooklyn Bridge Park. Meet at the Pier 5.
Description:This event is cancelled due to the weather. However, there will still be public open hours at our Environmental Education Center 1-5pm where in addition to all our normal room exhibits and activities, people can drop by if they wanted to learn more about CNC and get a tutorial. They will give out cute animal buttons to anyone that shows us their successful photo uploads to iNaturalist, kid scavenger hunts for anyone daring to get wet. Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy Environmental Education Center is a 99 Plymouth Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Registration: None needed. Find out more here.

CANCELLED: City Nature Challenge ORS BioBlitz at Domino Park
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 10a-2p
Host: Billion Oyster Project
Location: Domino Park.
Description:This event has been cancelled due to the weather.

City Nature Challenge Bed-Stuy Community Science
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 1p-2:30p
Host: Urban Park Rangers
Location: Herbert Von King Park. Meet at the Lawn Area.
Description: NYC Parks is participating in the City Nature Challenge and is recruiting you to help. Join the Rangers as they walk the park to observe and collect data for the 2023 City Nature Challenge. This program will focus on identifying all living organisms. Participants are encouraged to download the iNaturalist app to collect data.
Registration: None needed. More info here.

MANHATTAN

Manhattan Land Trust and 6BC Botanical Community Garden Tour
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 12p-4p
Host: Manhattan Land Trust
Location: Parque de Tranquilidad, Lower East Side People Care, Albert's Garden, All Peoples Garden (Corner of East Broadway and Rutgers Street outside East Broadway F subway station. Will walk 1 block to Lower East Side People Care Garden at 23 Rutgers Street (between Henry St and Madison St))
Description: Join us for tours and iNat observation making in Lower Manhattan Community Gardens! We will walk approximately 2 miles total between gardens.
Registration: via Google Form.

Tree Wonder Washington Square Park
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 11a-12:30p
Host: Washington Square Park EcoProjects
Location: Washington Square Park. Meet at the northwest corner.
Description: On Sundays, there is a collaborative tree drawing workshop where folks draw the old English Elm. Participants will then make observations in the northwest corner of the park.
Registration: None needed. More info here.

City Nature Challenge Tree ID Hike
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 1p-2:30p
Host: Urban Park Rangers
Location: Central Park. Meet at the entrance at West 100 Street and Central Park West.
Description: NYC Parks is participating in the City Nature Challenge and is recruiting you to help. Join the Rangers as they walk the park to observe and collect data for the 2023 City Nature Challenge. This program will focus on identifying all living organisms. Participants are encouraged to download the iNaturalist app to collect data.
Registration: None needed. More info here.

QUEENS

City Nature Challenge Biodiversity Hike at FMCP
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 1p-2:30p
Host: Urban Park Rangers
Location: Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Meet at Mauro Playground
Description: NYC Parks is participating in the City Nature Challenge and is recruiting you to help. Join the Rangers as they walk the park to observe and collect data for the 2023 City Nature Challenge. This program will focus on identifying all living organisms. Participants are encouraged to download the iNaturalist app to collect data.
Registration: None needed. More info here.

City Nature Challenge Alley Pond Park Hike
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 11a-12:30p
Host: NYC Parks
Location: Alley Pond Park Adventure Course parking lot
Description: For the City Nature Challenge, join NYC Parks staff on a hike around Alley Pond Park to explore the diversity of spring wildflowers. Volunteers will learn how to identify these plants and learn how to make iNaturalist observations of any other signs of nature you find along the way. Please bring water and a snack as well as your smartphone or camera! We will stay on trails and the hike will not be strenuous, but we will be walking for about an hour and a half, so please dress appropriately. If you do not know how to use iNaturalist, arrive 15 minutes early and we will show you how!
Registration: Required at here.

City Nature Challenge: Spring Ephemerals Walk at Forest Park
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 11a-12:30p
Host: NYC Parks
Location: Myrtle Avenue and Park Lane South in Forest Park
Queens
Description: Join NYC Parks staff on a hike around Forest Park to explore the diversity of spring wildflowers. Volunteers will learn how to identify these plants and how to make iNaturalist observations. Volunteers will contribute to ongoing restoration work and learn the importance of species diversity to ecosystem health. Please bring water and a snack, as well as your smartphone or camera! If you do not know how to use iNaturalist, arrive 15 minutes early and we will show you how!
Registration: Required at here. This program is full, but you can sign up for the waiting list.

STATEN ISLAND

City Nature Challenge Biodiversity Naturalist Hike at Brookfield Park
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 1p-2:30p
Host: Urban Park Rangers
Location: Brookfield Park. Meet at Arthur Kill Rd. and Brookfield Avenue.
Description: NYC Parks is participating in the City Nature Challenge and is recruiting you to help. Join the Rangers as they walk the park to observe and collect data for the 2023 City Nature Challenge. This program will focus on identifying all living organisms. Participants are encouraged to download the iNaturalist app to collect data.
Registration: None needed. More info here.

Monday, May 1

MANHATTAN

RESCHEDULED: City Nature Challenge Bioblitz: Seward Park
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 5p-6:30p
Host: Lower East Side Ecology Center
Location: Seward Park Library. Register for more info.
Description: Join the Lower East Side Ecology Center to document species in LESEC's very own Seward Park! Bring your smartphone and we recommend downloading iNaturalist ahead of the event. Don't worry if you aren't tech savvy - we'll have plenty of support to show you how to use the app and to help troubleshoot any issues.
Registration: via eventbrite.

Virutal ID Parties for CNC Identification Period (ends May 8 @ 9am local time)

Virtual ID Party and Bingo
Date: May 2, 2023
Time: 5:30p-7:30p
Host: Billion Oyster Project
Location: Zoom
Description: Join the Billion Oyster Project for an ID party focusing on harbor organisms.
Registration: via Eventbrite.

City Nature Challenge NYC Virtual ID Party
Date: May 3, 2023
Time: 5:30p-7:30p
Host: Macaulay Honors College
Location: Zoom
Description: Grab a snack and a tasty beverage and hop on our Zoom with @klodonnell to make identifications together! No taxonomic experience necessary - everyone is welcome! The basic format will be a quick intro about how to ID observations and then you'll work on them on your own while on the call. We'll hang out and chat about the cool critters people have found or the funny observations people have made.
Registration: via Eventbrite.

Virtual ID Party with the Torrey Botanical Society
Date: TBD
Time: TBD
Host: Torrey Botanical Society
Location: Zoom
Description: Details coming soon!

We're already past 3000 observations on Day 1 of the City Nature Challenge. This is 1000 more observations uploaded than day 1 last year. Great job, observers!

Battle of the Boroughs update: Manhattan is currently at the top for number of observations, species, and observers. Let's see if the rest of the boroughs can pull ahead tomorrow!

Here are the first observations added in each borough:
@irag with Red Deadnettle in Manhattan (our first observation for the CNC:NYC, coming in at 6:25am)
@troy_ahmed with Pin Oak in the Bronx
@angela_panetta with Redbuds in Brooklyn (came in just a minute behind @irag's observation)
@mugglelissa with American Sweetgum in Queens
@asia87 with Northern Yellow Sac Spider in Staten Island

Tomorrow is going to be pretty wet and some of our Saturday events had to be cancelled our rescheduled. See details on the main list of events (https://tinyurl.com/nyc2023events) or copied below.

Please stay safe out there! Happy observing!

SATURDAY CANCELLATIONS & RESCHEDULES:

BOP ORS BioBlitz @ East 90th St. Ferry Terminal is cancelled.

BOP ORS BioBlitz @ Governors Island is cancelled.

BOP ORS BioBlitz @ Erie Basin Park is cancelled.

Governors Island wildlife walk has been rescheduled for Friday 1pm.

LESEC BioBlitz @ Seward Park has been rescheduled for Monday 5pm.

Saturday, April 29

BRONX

City Nature Challenge at Henry Hudson Park
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 9a-12p
Host: Partnership for Parks & Stewards of Henry Hudson Park
Location: Henry Hudson Park. Meet at The Monument - Enter W227 + Independence Ave
Description: Join us outdoors for our first City Nature Festival at Henry Hudson Park for a morning of outdoor activities highlighting simple ways to support our community and our planet. This year Partnerships for Parks and the Stewards of Henry Hudson Park are excited to present a mix of family-friendly drop-in and scheduled activities in collaboration with community partners.
Registration: None needed.

Torrey Botanical Society Field Trip: Hunter Island at Pelham Bay Park
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 10:30a-1p
Host: Torrey Botanical Society
Location: Pelham Bay Park, Orchard Beach parking lot
Description: Hunter Island is one of the most beautiful natural areas in the city. We will see the amazing variety of native wildflowers, migrating birds in the spring, geology, and scenic views on Hunter Island. Make sure you dress properly for the weather and the risk of ticks as deer are abundant in this part of the Bronx. We will occasionally traverse difficult terrains such as rocky shoreline and brushy thickets. The trip will be led by Zihao Wang and last around 2h30 between 10:30am and 1pm, please come prepared with lunch/snacks, water, insect repellent, sun protection as well as hand lens and binoculars.
Registration: via Eventbrite.

City Nature Challenge Bio Blitz at Van Cortlandt Park
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 1p-2p
Host: Urban Park Rangers
Location: Van Cortlandt Park. Meet at the Van Cortlandt Nature Center.
Description: NYC Parks is participating in the City Nature Challenge and is recruiting you to help. Join the Rangers as they walk the park to observe and collect data for the 2023 City Nature Challenge. This program will focus on identifying all living organisms. Participants are encouraged to download the iNaturalist app to collect data.
Registration: None needed. More info here.

BROOKLYN

City Nature Challenge at Prospect Park
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 10a-12p
Host: Prospect Park Alliance
Location: Prospect Park. Meet at the Audubon Center.
Description: Join us for a BioBlitz at Prospect Park!
Registration: None needed. For more info, visit: https://www.prospectpark.org/news-events/events/city-nature-challenge-2023/

CANCELLED: City Nature Challenge ORS BioBlitz at Erie Basin Park
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 10a-2p
Host: Billion Oyster Project
Location: Erie Basin Park. Register for more info.
Description: Unfortunately, this event has been cancelled due to the weather.

MANHATTAN

CANCELLED: City Nature Challenge ORS BioBlitz at Governor's Island
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 10a-2p
Host: Billion Oyster Project
Location: Governor's Island. Register for more info.
Description:Unfortunately, this event has been cancelled due to the weather.

City Nature Challenge ORS BioBlitz at Pier 79, NY WaterWays Ferry Terminal
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 10a-2p
Host: Billion Oyster Project
Location: Pier 79. Register for more info.
Description:The Billion Oyster Project will be hosting events at sites across New York City to assist the public in observing and documenting biodiversity from our oyster research station cages. In order to participate, register for one of BOP's FREE events on Eventbrite (link below). Be sure to download iNaturalist, then meet us in the field any time between 10 am and 2 pm. BOP will have all the supplies you need to observe, handle and document creatures found in the oyster cages.
Registration: via eventbrite.

CANCELLED: City Nature Challenge ORS BioBlitz at E 90th St. Ferry Terminal
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 10a-2p
Host: Billion Oyster Project
Location: E 90th St Ferry Terminal.
Description: Unfortunately, this event has been cancelled.

CANCELLED: City Nature Challenge on Governors Island
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 10a-2p
Host: Friends of Governors Island, The Trust for Governors Island, The Bee Conservancy
Location: Visitors Center at Soissons Landing
Description: Unfortunately, this event has been cancelled due to the high likelihood of rain. The nature walk has been rescheduled for Friday afternoon. See above.

City Nature Challenge Biodiversity Hike at Inwood Hill Park
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 11a-12p
Host: Urban Park Rangers
Location: Inwood Hill Park. Meet at Seaman Avenue and Isham Street.
Description: NYC Parks is participating in the City Nature Challenge and is recruiting you to help. Join the Rangers as they walk the park to observe and collect data for the 2023 City Nature Challenge. This program will focus on identifying all living organisms. Participants are encouraged to download the iNaturalist app to collect data.
Registration: None needed. More info here.

QUEENS

City Nature Challenge 2023 at Ridgewood Reservoir
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 8a-9:30a, 10a-11:30a, 12p-1:30p
Host: NYC H20
Location: Ridgewood Reservoir at Highland Park. 58-2 Vermont Place, Glendale, NY
Description: Ridgewood Reservoir is a 50-acre natural gem on the border of Brooklyn and Queens reportedly home to over 150 species of birds and 170 species of plants. NYC H2O is hosting three guided nature walks at Ridgewood Reservoir on Saturday 4/29 for the City Nature Challenge to make as many species observations as possible! Join us for a tour of birds at 8am, herbs and wildflowers at 10am, and trees at 12pm. Registration for each walk is free via the Eventbrite link.
Registration: via Eventbrite.

Sunday, April 30

BRONX

City Nature Challenge at Ewen Park
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 9a-12p
Host: Stewards of Ewen Park & Partnership for Parks
Location: Ewen Park. Meet at The Dog Run - Enter W 231st St.
Description: Join us outdoors for our first City Nature Festival at Ewen Park for a morning of outdoor activities highlighting simple ways to support our community and our planet. This year Partnerships for Parks and the Stewards of Ewen Park are excited to present a mix of family-friendly drop-in and scheduled activities in collaboration with community partners.
Registration: None needed.

Torrey Botanical Society Field Trip: Bronx Park North
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 11a-2p
Host: Torrey Botanical Society
Location: Bronx Park
Description: Bronx Park is best known for containing the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden, but there is an additional northern portion which is maintained by NYC Parks and open to the public. This area, which is a designated Forever Wild preserve, is one of the few remaining natural streamside landscapes in the city. Some portions are inundated by invasives, but there are also many interesting and beautiful native herbs, trees, and shrubs to be found. We will meet at the park entrance at E 204th Street (40.87057, -73.87618) and make our way along both sides of the river. The trip will be led by Lydia Paradiso. Make sure to wear sturdy, waterproof shoes, and bring lunch/snacks. Extra hand lens will be available to borrow. This field trip will be held during the City Nature Challenge, so we encourage you to bring your smart phones or cameras to document the life we see during our trip, and contribute your observations to the total NYC count!
Registration: via Eventbrite.

City Nature Challenge BioBlitz at Crotona Park
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 11a-12p
Host: Urban Park Rangers
Location: Crotona Park. Meet at Crotona Park East and Charlotte Street.
Description: NYC Parks is participating in the City Nature Challenge and is recruiting you to help. Join the Rangers as they walk the park to observe and collect data for the 2023 City Nature Challenge. This program will focus on identifying all living organisms. Participants are encouraged to download the iNaturalist app to collect data.
Registration: None needed. More info here.

BROOKLYN

City Nature Challenge: Family Fun with Genspace
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 10a-1p
Host: Green-Wood Cemetery & Genspace
Location: Green-Wood Cemetery. Find the event “home base” at Green-Wood’s Historic Chapel. More info at the registration link.
Description: Green-Wood is a great place to get out and explore nature! Join Green-Wood, Genspace educators, and expert naturalist guides for an adventurous morning of family activities that help us better understand our environment. Expert naturalists will be on-site to help participants collect data on birds, insects, fungi, and plants at Green-Wood for the City Nature Challenge. Genspace educators will help kids and their adults explore nature up-close at microscopy activity stations. There will also be an interactive experience about the future of trees at Green-Wood led by Clarinda Mac Low and Carolyn Hall, Genspace creative programs coordinators and the creators of Sunk Shore.
Registration: Recommended, but not required, at this link.

City Nature Challenge ORS BioBlitz at Brooklyn Bridge Park
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 10a-2p
Host: Billion Oyster Project and the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy
Location: Brooklyn Bridge Park. Meet at the Pier 5 entrance, close to the Oddfellows Ice Cream stand.
Description:The Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy Education team will be providing assistance with the app including tutorials and answering questions, as well as organizing scavenger hunts for younger families, and rewarding small pins for those who show proof of successfully adding observations to the iNaturalist project page! Billion Oyster Project will be helping the public to observe and document biodiversity from their oyster research station cages. BOP will do 3-4 demonstrations on the hour and will have all the supplies you need to observe, handle and document creatures found in the oyster cages.
Registration: None needed. Find out more here.

City Nature Challenge ORS BioBlitz at Domino Park
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 10a-2p
Host: Billion Oyster Project
Location: Domino Park. More info at registration link.
Description:The Billion Oyster Project will be hosting events at sites across New York City to assist the public in observing and documenting biodiversity from our oyster research station cages. In order to participate, register for one of BOP's FREE events on Eventbrite (link below). Be sure to download iNaturalist, then meet us in the field any time between 10 am and 2 pm. BOP will have all the supplies you need to observe, handle and document creatures found in the oyster cages.
Registration: via eventbrite.

City Nature Challenge Bed-Stuy Community Science
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 1p-2:30p
Host: Urban Park Rangers
Location: Herbert Von King Park. Meet at the Lawn Area.
Description: NYC Parks is participating in the City Nature Challenge and is recruiting you to help. Join the Rangers as they walk the park to observe and collect data for the 2023 City Nature Challenge. This program will focus on identifying all living organisms. Participants are encouraged to download the iNaturalist app to collect data.
Registration: None needed. More info here.

MANHATTAN

Manhattan Land Trust and 6BC Botanical Community Garden Tour
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 12p-4p
Host: Manhattan Land Trust
Location: Parque de Tranquilidad, Lower East Side People Care, Albert's Garden, All Peoples Garden (Corner of East Broadway and Rutgers Street outside East Broadway F subway station. Will walk 1 block to Lower East Side People Care Garden at 23 Rutgers Street (between Henry St and Madison St))
Description: Join us for tours and iNat observation making in Lower Manhattan Community Gardens! We will walk approximately 2 miles total between gardens.
Registration: via Google Form.

Tree Wonder Washington Square Park
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 11a-12:30p
Host: Washington Square Park EcoProjects
Location: Washington Square Park. Meet at the northwest corner.
Description: On Sundays, there is a collaborative tree drawing workshop where folks draw the old English Elm. Participants will then make observations in the northwest corner of the park.
Registration: None needed. More info here.

City Nature Challenge Tree ID Hike
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 1p-2:30p
Host: Urban Park Rangers
Location: Central Park. Meet at the entrance at West 100 Street and Central Park West.
Description: NYC Parks is participating in the City Nature Challenge and is recruiting you to help. Join the Rangers as they walk the park to observe and collect data for the 2023 City Nature Challenge. This program will focus on identifying all living organisms. Participants are encouraged to download the iNaturalist app to collect data.
Registration: None needed. More info here.

QUEENS

City Nature Challenge Biodiversity Hike at FMCP
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 1p-2:30p
Host: Urban Park Rangers
Location: Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Meet at Mauro Playground
Description: NYC Parks is participating in the City Nature Challenge and is recruiting you to help. Join the Rangers as they walk the park to observe and collect data for the 2023 City Nature Challenge. This program will focus on identifying all living organisms. Participants are encouraged to download the iNaturalist app to collect data.
Registration: None needed. More info here.

STATEN ISLAND

City Nature Challenge Biodiversity Naturalist Hike at Brookfield Park
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 1p-2:30p
Host: Urban Park Rangers
Location: Brookfield Park. Meet at Arthur Kill Rd. and Brookfield Avenue.
Description: NYC Parks is participating in the City Nature Challenge and is recruiting you to help. Join the Rangers as they walk the park to observe and collect data for the 2023 City Nature Challenge. This program will focus on identifying all living organisms. Participants are encouraged to download the iNaturalist app to collect data.
Registration: None needed. More info here.

Monday, May 1

MANHATTAN

RESCHEDULED: City Nature Challenge Bioblitz: Seward Park
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 5p-6:30p
Host: Lower East Side Ecology Center
Location: Seward Park Library. Register for more info.
Description: Join the Lower East Side Ecology Center to document species in LESEC's very own Seward Park! Bring your smartphone and we recommend downloading iNaturalist ahead of the event. Don't worry if you aren't tech savvy - we'll have plenty of support to show you how to use the app and to help troubleshoot any issues.
Registration: via eventbrite.

Virutal ID Parties for CNC Identification Period (ends May 8 @ 9am local time)

Virtual ID Party and Bingo
Date: May 2, 2023
Time: 5:30p-7:30p
Host: Billion Oyster Project
Location: Zoom
Description: Join the Billion Oyster Project for an ID party focusing on harbor organisms.
Registration: via Eventbrite.

City Nature Challenge NYC Virtual ID Party
Date: May 3, 2023
Time: 5:30p-7:30p
Host: Macaulay Honors College
Location: Zoom
Description: Grab a snack and a tasty beverage and hop on our Zoom with @klodonnell to make identifications together! No taxonomic experience necessary - everyone is welcome! The basic format will be a quick intro about how to ID observations and then you'll work on them on your own while on the call. We'll hang out and chat about the cool critters people have found or the funny observations people have made.
Registration: via Eventbrite.

Virtual ID Party with the Torrey Botanical Society
Date: TBD
Time: TBD
Host: Torrey Botanical Society
Location: Zoom
Description: Details coming soon!

This post is going to be the single list for all NYC CNC events. From now on, I'll update this post if anything changes, so you can bookmark the link to this post and always be able to see our most current event list. If you want to shortened link to share, use: https://tinyurl.com/nyc2023events

These events are all FREE and open to the public, but some do have limited space and require registration ahead of time. The registration links are provided below. Thank you to all of our great partner organizations for hosting these events! Let's go NYC!

If you're looking for some tips on getting started, we recorded our 4/19 webinar and posted it to YouTube here.

SUNDAY CANCELLATIONS & RESCHEDULED EVENTS:

Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy event is cancelled, but visit the Education Center for info about CNC

Billion Oyster Project ORS BioBlitzes @ Brooklyn Bridge Park and Domino Park are cancelled.

LESEC BioBlitz @ Seward Park has been rescheduled for Monday 5pm.

Partnership for Parks - City Nature Challenge at Henry Hudson Park rescheduled for May 6.

UPDATE 4/20/23: Virtual ID party for Monday added
UPDATE 4/29/23: A few new Sunday NYC Parks events added.
UPDATE 4/27/23: Virtual ID parties added on 5/2 and 5/3.
UPDATE 4/26/23: Added details and registration links for NYC H20 Ridgewood Reservoir event (4/29), Manhattan Land Trust Community Garden event (4/30) and Torrey Botanical events at Pelham Bay Park (4/29) and Bronx Park (4/30). Time correction for Prospect Park event (4/29).

Friday, April 28

We have one event scheduled below for today, so here are two observation ideas for inspiration:

1. Make five observations on your lunch break, share them to iNat, and then post them to social media with #5onFri and #citynaturechallenge to see what everyone else found at lunch.

2. April 28 is Arbor Day. Observe your favorite trees!

RESCHEDULED: City Nature Challenge on Governors Island - Wildlife Walk
Date: April 28, 2023
Time: 1p-2p
Host: Friends of Governors Island, The Trust for Governors Island, The Bee Conservancy
Location: Visitors Center at Soissons Landing
Description: This walk was originally scheduled for Saturday. If you already registered, see your email from Eventbrite. Leo Frampton, gardener at the Trust for Governors Island and Dr. Amy Berkhov, insect ecologist at City College, will lead a tour through Hammock Grove, the urban forest central to the Island.
Registration: via Eventbrite.

Saturday, April 29

BRONX

RESCHEDULED for after CNC: City Nature Challenge at Henry Hudson Park
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 9a-12p
Host: Partnership for Parks & Stewards of Henry Hudson Park
Location: Henry Hudson Park. Meet at The Monument - Enter W227 + Independence Ave
Description: Due to strong winds, this event has been rescheduled for May 6.

Torrey Botanical Society Field Trip: Hunter Island at Pelham Bay Park
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 10:30a-1p
Host: Torrey Botanical Society
Location: Pelham Bay Park, Orchard Beach parking lot
Description: Hunter Island is one of the most beautiful natural areas in the city. We will see the amazing variety of native wildflowers, migrating birds in the spring, geology, and scenic views on Hunter Island. Make sure you dress properly for the weather and the risk of ticks as deer are abundant in this part of the Bronx. We will occasionally traverse difficult terrains such as rocky shoreline and brushy thickets. The trip will be led by Zihao Wang and last around 2h30 between 10:30am and 1pm, please come prepared with lunch/snacks, water, insect repellent, sun protection as well as hand lens and binoculars.
Registration: via Eventbrite.

City Nature Challenge Bio Blitz at Van Cortlandt Park
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 1p-2p
Host: Urban Park Rangers
Location: Van Cortlandt Park. Meet at the Van Cortlandt Nature Center.
Description: NYC Parks is participating in the City Nature Challenge and is recruiting you to help. Join the Rangers as they walk the park to observe and collect data for the 2023 City Nature Challenge. This program will focus on identifying all living organisms. Participants are encouraged to download the iNaturalist app to collect data.
Registration: None needed. More info here.

BROOKLYN

City Nature Challenge at Prospect Park
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 10a-12p
Host: Prospect Park Alliance
Location: Prospect Park. Meet at the Audubon Center.
Description: Join us for a BioBlitz at Prospect Park!
Registration: None needed. For more info, visit: https://www.prospectpark.org/news-events/events/city-nature-challenge-2023/

CANCELLED: City Nature Challenge ORS BioBlitz at Erie Basin Park
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 10a-2p
Host: Billion Oyster Project
Location: Erie Basin Park. Register for more info.
Description: Unfortunately, this event has been cancelled due to the weather.

MANHATTAN

CANCELLED: City Nature Challenge ORS BioBlitz at Governor's Island
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 10a-2p
Host: Billion Oyster Project
Location: Governor's Island. Register for more info.
Description:Unfortunately, this event has been cancelled due to the weather.

City Nature Challenge ORS BioBlitz at Pier 79, NY WaterWays Ferry Terminal
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 10a-2p
Host: Billion Oyster Project
Location: Pier 79. Register for more info.
Description:The Billion Oyster Project will be hosting events at sites across New York City to assist the public in observing and documenting biodiversity from our oyster research station cages. In order to participate, register for one of BOP's FREE events on Eventbrite (link below). Be sure to download iNaturalist, then meet us in the field any time between 10 am and 2 pm. BOP will have all the supplies you need to observe, handle and document creatures found in the oyster cages.
Registration: via eventbrite.

CANCELLED: City Nature Challenge ORS BioBlitz at E 90th St. Ferry Terminal
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 10a-2p
Host: Billion Oyster Project
Location: E 90th St Ferry Terminal.
Description: Unfortunately, this event has been cancelled.

CANCELLED: City Nature Challenge on Governors Island
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 10a-2p
Host: Friends of Governors Island, The Trust for Governors Island, The Bee Conservancy
Location: Visitors Center at Soissons Landing
Description: Unfortunately, this event has been cancelled due to the high likelihood of rain. The nature walk has been rescheduled for Friday afternoon. See above.

City Nature Challenge Biodiversity Hike at Inwood Hill Park
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 11a-12p
Host: Urban Park Rangers
Location: Inwood Hill Park. Meet at Seaman Avenue and Isham Street.
Description: NYC Parks is participating in the City Nature Challenge and is recruiting you to help. Join the Rangers as they walk the park to observe and collect data for the 2023 City Nature Challenge. This program will focus on identifying all living organisms. Participants are encouraged to download the iNaturalist app to collect data.
Registration: None needed. More info here.

QUEENS

City Nature Challenge 2023 at Ridgewood Reservoir
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 8a-9:30a, 10a-11:30a, 12p-1:30p
Host: NYC H20
Location: Ridgewood Reservoir at Highland Park. 58-2 Vermont Place, Glendale, NY
Description: Ridgewood Reservoir is a 50-acre natural gem on the border of Brooklyn and Queens reportedly home to over 150 species of birds and 170 species of plants. NYC H2O is hosting three guided nature walks at Ridgewood Reservoir on Saturday 4/29 for the City Nature Challenge to make as many species observations as possible! Join us for a tour of birds at 8am, herbs and wildflowers at 10am, and trees at 12pm. Registration for each walk is free via the Eventbrite link.
Registration: via Eventbrite.

Sunday, April 30

BRONX

City Nature Challenge at Ewen Park
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 9a-12p
Host: Stewards of Ewen Park & Partnership for Parks
Location: Ewen Park. Meet at The Dog Run - Enter W 231st St.
Description: Join us outdoors for our first City Nature Festival at Ewen Park for a morning of outdoor activities highlighting simple ways to support our community and our planet. This year Partnerships for Parks and the Stewards of Ewen Park are excited to present a mix of family-friendly drop-in and scheduled activities in collaboration with community partners.
Registration: None needed.

Torrey Botanical Society Field Trip: Bronx Park North
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 11a-2p
Host: Torrey Botanical Society
Location: Bronx Park
Description: Bronx Park is best known for containing the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden, but there is an additional northern portion which is maintained by NYC Parks and open to the public. This area, which is a designated Forever Wild preserve, is one of the few remaining natural streamside landscapes in the city. Some portions are inundated by invasives, but there are also many interesting and beautiful native herbs, trees, and shrubs to be found. We will meet at the park entrance at E 204th Street (40.87057, -73.87618) and make our way along both sides of the river. The trip will be led by Lydia Paradiso. Make sure to wear sturdy, waterproof shoes, and bring lunch/snacks. Extra hand lens will be available to borrow. This field trip will be held during the City Nature Challenge, so we encourage you to bring your smart phones or cameras to document the life we see during our trip, and contribute your observations to the total NYC count!
Registration: via Eventbrite.

City Nature Challenge BioBlitz at Crotona Park
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 11a-12p
Host: Urban Park Rangers
Location: Crotona Park. Meet at Crotona Park East and Charlotte Street.
Description: NYC Parks is participating in the City Nature Challenge and is recruiting you to help. Join the Rangers as they walk the park to observe and collect data for the 2023 City Nature Challenge. This program will focus on identifying all living organisms. Participants are encouraged to download the iNaturalist app to collect data.
Registration: None needed. More info here.

Wildflower ID and Seed Bomb Hike
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 1p-2p
Host: NYC Parks
Location: Broadway and Mosholu Avenue in Van Cortlandt Park
Description: On this hike, you will be given the opportunity to learn how to identify wild flowers while learning how to spread them further into our neighborhoods. and parks The rangers will provide all materials needed to assemble your own seed bomb to use along the hike. We will also collect data for the City Nature Challenge.
Registration: None needed. More info here.

BROOKLYN

City Nature Challenge: Family Fun with Genspace
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 10a-1p
Host: Green-Wood Cemetery & Genspace
Location: Green-Wood Cemetery. Find the event “home base” at Green-Wood’s Historic Chapel. More info at the registration link.
Description: Green-Wood is a great place to get out and explore nature! Join Green-Wood, Genspace educators, and expert naturalist guides for an adventurous morning of family activities that help us better understand our environment. Expert naturalists will be on-site to help participants collect data on birds, insects, fungi, and plants at Green-Wood for the City Nature Challenge. Genspace educators will help kids and their adults explore nature up-close at microscopy activity stations. There will also be an interactive experience about the future of trees at Green-Wood led by Clarinda Mac Low and Carolyn Hall, Genspace creative programs coordinators and the creators of Sunk Shore.
Registration: Recommended, but not required, at this link.

CANCELLED: City Nature Challenge ORS BioBlitz at Brooklyn Bridge Park
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 10a-2p
Host: Billion Oyster Project and the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy
Location: Brooklyn Bridge Park. Meet at the Pier 5.
Description:This event is cancelled due to the weather. However, there will still be public open hours at our Environmental Education Center 1-5pm where in addition to all our normal room exhibits and activities, people can drop by if they wanted to learn more about CNC and get a tutorial. They will give out cute animal buttons to anyone that shows us their successful photo uploads to iNaturalist, kid scavenger hunts for anyone daring to get wet. Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy Environmental Education Center is a 99 Plymouth Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Registration: None needed. Find out more here.

CANCELLED: City Nature Challenge ORS BioBlitz at Domino Park
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 10a-2p
Host: Billion Oyster Project
Location: Domino Park.
Description:This event has been cancelled due to the weather.

City Nature Challenge Bed-Stuy Community Science
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 1p-2:30p
Host: Urban Park Rangers
Location: Herbert Von King Park. Meet at the Lawn Area.
Description: NYC Parks is participating in the City Nature Challenge and is recruiting you to help. Join the Rangers as they walk the park to observe and collect data for the 2023 City Nature Challenge. This program will focus on identifying all living organisms. Participants are encouraged to download the iNaturalist app to collect data.
Registration: None needed. More info here.

MANHATTAN

Manhattan Land Trust and 6BC Botanical Community Garden Tour
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 12p-4p
Host: Manhattan Land Trust
Location: Parque de Tranquilidad, Lower East Side People Care, Albert's Garden, All Peoples Garden (Corner of East Broadway and Rutgers Street outside East Broadway F subway station. Will walk 1 block to Lower East Side People Care Garden at 23 Rutgers Street (between Henry St and Madison St))
Description: Join us for tours and iNat observation making in Lower Manhattan Community Gardens! We will walk approximately 2 miles total between gardens.
Registration: via Google Form.

Tree Wonder Washington Square Park
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 11a-12:30p
Host: Washington Square Park EcoProjects
Location: Washington Square Park. Meet at the northwest corner.
Description: On Sundays, there is a collaborative tree drawing workshop where folks draw the old English Elm. Participants will then make observations in the northwest corner of the park.
Registration: None needed. More info here.

City Nature Challenge Tree ID Hike
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 1p-2:30p
Host: Urban Park Rangers
Location: Central Park. Meet at the entrance at West 100 Street and Central Park West.
Description: NYC Parks is participating in the City Nature Challenge and is recruiting you to help. Join the Rangers as they walk the park to observe and collect data for the 2023 City Nature Challenge. This program will focus on identifying all living organisms. Participants are encouraged to download the iNaturalist app to collect data.
Registration: None needed. More info here.

QUEENS

City Nature Challenge Biodiversity Hike at FMCP
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 1p-2:30p
Host: Urban Park Rangers
Location: Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Meet at Mauro Playground
Description: NYC Parks is participating in the City Nature Challenge and is recruiting you to help. Join the Rangers as they walk the park to observe and collect data for the 2023 City Nature Challenge. This program will focus on identifying all living organisms. Participants are encouraged to download the iNaturalist app to collect data.
Registration: None needed. More info here.

City Nature Challenge Alley Pond Park Hike
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 11a-12:30p
Host: NYC Parks
Location: Alley Pond Park Adventure Course parking lot
Description: For the City Nature Challenge, join NYC Parks staff on a hike around Alley Pond Park to explore the diversity of spring wildflowers. Volunteers will learn how to identify these plants and learn how to make iNaturalist observations of any other signs of nature you find along the way. Please bring water and a snack as well as your smartphone or camera! We will stay on trails and the hike will not be strenuous, but we will be walking for about an hour and a half, so please dress appropriately. If you do not know how to use iNaturalist, arrive 15 minutes early and we will show you how!
Registration: Required at here.

City Nature Challenge: Spring Ephemerals Walk at Forest Park
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 11a-12:30p
Host: NYC Parks
Location: Myrtle Avenue and Park Lane South in Forest Park
Queens
Description: Join NYC Parks staff on a hike around Forest Park to explore the diversity of spring wildflowers. Volunteers will learn how to identify these plants and how to make iNaturalist observations. Volunteers will contribute to ongoing restoration work and learn the importance of species diversity to ecosystem health. Please bring water and a snack, as well as your smartphone or camera! If you do not know how to use iNaturalist, arrive 15 minutes early and we will show you how!
Registration: Required at here. This program is full, but you can sign up for the waiting list.

STATEN ISLAND

City Nature Challenge Biodiversity Naturalist Hike at Brookfield Park
Date: April 30, 2023
Time: 1p-2:30p
Host: Urban Park Rangers
Location: Brookfield Park. Meet at Arthur Kill Rd. and Brookfield Avenue.
Description: NYC Parks is participating in the City Nature Challenge and is recruiting you to help. Join the Rangers as they walk the park to observe and collect data for the 2023 City Nature Challenge. This program will focus on identifying all living organisms. Participants are encouraged to download the iNaturalist app to collect data.
Registration: None needed. More info here.

Monday, May 1

MANHATTAN

RESCHEDULED: City Nature Challenge Bioblitz: Seward Park
Date: April 29, 2023
Time: 5p-6:30p
Host: Lower East Side Ecology Center
Location: Seward Park Library. Register for more info.
Description: Join the Lower East Side Ecology Center to document species in LESEC's very own Seward Park! Bring your smartphone and we recommend downloading iNaturalist ahead of the event. Don't worry if you aren't tech savvy - we'll have plenty of support to show you how to use the app and to help troubleshoot any issues.
Registration: via eventbrite.

Virutal ID Parties for CNC Identification Period (ends May 8 @ 9am local time)

City Nature Challenge ID Party with the Torrey Botanical Society
Date: May 1, 2023
Time: 6:30p–8:30p
Host: Torrey Botanical Society and the New York Mycological Society
Location: Zoom
Description: The second part of the City Nature Challenge is the identification phase. The final city totals are not calculated until May 7, so users have until then to identify the thousands of observations made over the weekend! Grab your computer and your favorite drink, and join us for our ID Party on Monday evening. We will talk about identification techniques and tips for plants and fungi, and some identification features available on iNaturalist. Then we will explore the observations made over the weekend, and add identifications. No expertise is necessary—if you can tell a plant apart from a fungus or an animal, you will be able to contribute!
Registration:None needed. This is a direct link to the Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89652328280?pwd=ajkyTnZPRklSTzN2WEgwUnAvS2x5dz09#success

Virtual ID Party and Bingo
Date: May 2, 2023
Time: 5:30p-7:30p
Host: Billion Oyster Project
Location: Zoom
Description: Join the Billion Oyster Project for an ID party focusing on harbor organisms.
Registration: via Eventbrite.

City Nature Challenge NYC Virtual ID Party
Date: May 3, 2023
Time: 5:30p-7:30p
Host: Macaulay Honors College
Location: Zoom
Description: Grab a snack and a tasty beverage and hop on our Zoom with @klodonnell to make identifications together! No taxonomic experience necessary - everyone is welcome! The basic format will be a quick intro about how to ID observations and then you'll work on them on your own while on the call. We'll hang out and chat about the cool critters people have found or the funny observations people have made.
Registration: via Eventbrite.

The CNC is a month away and we have some great events lined up before it starts so you can be ready for the challenge!

UPDATED 4/13 - Added events for Earth Day on 4/22

April 1, 2023 - GreenThumb GrowTogether Conference - iNaturalist Workshop
Time: 2:45p-4:15p (iNaturalist workshop), 8a-4:30p (whole conference)
Location: CUNY Graduate Center (365 5th Avenue, NY, NY)
Description: Chris Kreussling (NY Pollinator Working Group) and Tohmi Barrett (NYC EcoFlora Project) are presenting a workshop entitled "Using iNaturalist to Empower Collective Stewardship, “Re-spect” Weeds, and Build Better Gardens." They "will discuss the importance of local, non-cultivated plants, how to identify them, how they can be incorporated into our gardens, and why we must re-spect (look again at) weeds as potentially important, remnant species worthy of protection and nurturement."
Register via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/39th-annual-greenthumb-growtogether-conference-tickets-479383487917

April 19, 2023 - City Nature Challenge: NYC Virtual iNaturalist Training
Time: 6p-7p
Location: Zoom
Description: Join us to learn the ins and outs of using iNaturalist and making observations that others can identify.
Register via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mcf7s-wWRsmb0S5_VwlKvQ

April 22, 2023 - Celebrate Earth Day in the Greenbelt
Time: 10a-3p
Location: Willowbrook Park, 1 Eton Place, Staten Island, NY
Description: Join NYC Parks and the Greenbelt Conservancy, in a day dedicated to celebrating our planet through ecological education and sustainability! This free, family-friendly outdoor event will include a variety of fun public programs which will include guided hikes, stewardship projects, Environmental Education workshops, information and activities from local organizations, and more!
Registration: coming soon!

April 22, 2023 - Earth Day at the Audubon Center
Time: 11a-1p (whole event runs from 10a-1p)
Location: Audubon Center in Prospect Park (Boat House)
Description: Learn how to become a community scientist by using the iNaturalist app. Flatbush Gardener, Chris Kreussling, will help participants download the free app and explain how this tool can help you get ready for the 2023 City Nature Challenge.
Registration: Not needed. More info here: https://www.prospectpark.org/news-events/events/earth-day-at-the-audubon-center/

Earlier this month, we lost a great New York City naturalist, César Castillo, who passed away on March 1. He was a lover of NYC nature, especially the birds, and a dedicated and generous educator. He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with his wife, children, and all of his family and friends at this time.

César (@cesarcastillo) contributed a great many observations during the City Nature Challenge in New York City. He was our top species finder in 2022. Beyond CNC, he has the third highest overall species count (1897) and 11th highest observation count (10,025) for all of New York City. We appreciate all César did for promoting the love of nature in NYC.

We thought it would be a nice tribute to César to dedicate one or more of your favorite bird observations during CNC to his memory. Use "In memory of César Castillo" in the Notes field of your observation(s).

NYC EcoFlora project has a post honoring César here.

There is a GoFundMe page that you can contribute to support his family if you are able.

The City Nature Challenge: New York City takes place in Lenapehoking, the ancestral, unceded lands of the Lenape people. Lenapehoking includes parts of what are now known as New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. We want to acknowledge and pay respect to Lenape elders, past and present. This land has great significance to the Lenape people who were forced to leave it by European colonists, and we must recognize this fact as we explore the nature of what is now called New York City. The Lenape were the original stewards of this land and its many different habitats. There are only a few spaces left that resemble what this area was like before colonization and we encourage you to be respectful in these spaces and all places in the city. We ask that you be thoughtful when you are out on this land and realize that settler colonialism has deeply changed this landscape from what it once was. We hope that your nature observations in Lenapehoking inspire you to seek out more information about the Lenape people and culture, both past and present. Here are some places to start:

The Lenape Center website features a list of works highlighting Lenape culture.

"Home in Lenapehoking" - An interview of Joe Baker and Hadrien Coumans, co-founders of The Lenape Center, in Urban Omnibus.