UMass Amherst Libraries Bring City Nature Challenge to Western Massachusetts
The UMass Amherst Libraries are pleased to coordinate efforts for Western Massachusetts’s participation in the tenth annual City Nature Challenge (CNC), beginning Friday, April 25, 12:01 a.m. The global event calls on current and aspiring community scientists, nature and science fans, and people of all ages and educational backgrounds to observe and submit photographic or audio evidence of wild plants, animals, and fungi using the free mobile app, iNaturalist, from April 25 through April 28. Identification of photographed species will be crowdsourced through the online iNaturalist community from April 29 through May 4, with results announced on May 5.
According to the CNC website, the Challenge was started in 2016 by citizen science teams at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco “as a fun way to capitalize on their home cities’ friendly rivalry and hold a citizen science event around urban biodiversity.” Additionally, the wildlife information gathered during the Challenge “gives scientists, educators, urban planners, and policymakers insight into the biodiversity of urban locales throughout the world.” Last year, more than one million observations were made.
This year marks the sixth year that Western Massachusetts is officially participating. Melanie Radik, librarian in the Science and Engineering Library, and Lynn Harper, retired MassWildlife conservation planner, are spearheading organization efforts with an information guide and the following free workshops for all interested participants:
Intro to iNaturalist: When You Want to Know “What’s that Flower/Bird/Bug (and More!)”
Friday, April 25, 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
W. E. B. Du Bois Library, Lower Level, Calipari Room
Intro to iNaturalist and Nature Walk at North Amherst Public Library
Saturday, April 26, 10-11:30 a.m.
North Amherst Public Library, Meeting Room
Saturday, April 26, 2-4 p.m.
Palmer Wildlife Management Area, Palmer, MA
Sunday, April 27, 1-3 p.m.
Poplar Mountain Conservation Area, Erving, MA
Monday, April 28, 10 a.m.-Noon
Notchview; The Trustees of Reservations, Windsor, MA
Name That Species with iNaturalist
Monday, April 28, 4-5 p.m.
Science and Engineering Library, Learning Studio
Name That Species with iNaturalist
Monday, April 29, 4-5 p.m.
Online
More Information and Education Toolkit
Visit citynaturechallenge.org
iNaturalist
Signing up is easy and free. Visit inaturalist.org from your browser or download iNaturalist from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Social Media
#CityNatureChallenge
Instagram: @citnatchallenge