By The team at iNaturalist Canada

The results are in for the 2023 City Nature Challenge, the largest worldwide bioblitz to track wildlife around the globe.

Every year since 2019 the Canadian cities taking part have been increasing with 43 taking part this year from all provinces and one territory. Species observations are collected using the iNaturalist app and this year’s collective effort helped reach a huge milestone of 10 million observations since iNaturalist.ca was launched back in 2015.

How did Canada do with 482 cities around the world all jockeying for top spot in this friendly, yet collaborative, competition to build a living record of biodiversity? Considering that snow finally melted in most parts of Canada just weeks ago, six cities impressively made it in the top 100, competing with places like San Francisco, United States, Cape Town, South Africa and Sydney, Australia.

But the real success is that 1.8 million observations were recorded globally, encompassing more than 57,000 species, 2,570 of which are rare, threatened or endangered. All in just four days!

Here in Canada, we collectively recorded 74,972 observations covering 4,433 species. Nearly three quarters of the species diversity (number of different species) consisted of plants (half) and insects (one quarter). Plants still accounted for roughly half of total observations but there were more observations of birds than insects – meaning people took more observations of birds, but many of them were the same species, whereas observations of insects were more often of different species. This isn’t all that surprising since there are roughly 17,000 different species of plants and 44,000 species of insects in Canada. Plus, plants are generally easier to get a photo of and there are lots of different species around, but for birds, there aren’t as many species yet people will likely see and photograph many of the same birds.

Are you curious about what species was the most observed during the City Nature Challenge? Check out the Canada-wide project to find out, along with what other species were recorded, and all 43 city results.

Along with the most common species, 833 observations were made of 103 different species at risk during the time period of the City Nature Challenge. This included several locations of the endangered Chorus Frog which can only be heard calling at this time of year and otherwise nearly impossible to find. Also among the tally is the endangered Butternut tree, two species of rattlesnake, the Piping Plover, Blanding’s Turtle and many more. If you want to learn more, there’s a whole iNaturalist project you can view that tracks our species at risk in Canada.

Data collected during the City Nature Challenge feeds into iNaturalist Canada, which is used by researchers, conservation organizations and the general public to help learn about and protect the species we share our cities with. The Committee on the Status on Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) are increasingly incorporating iNaturalist data when assessing species at risk, who coincidentally happened to have their semi-annual meeting in Regina (one of the participating cities) during the CNC. Many of the committee members are also avid iNaturalist contributors, both in terms of recording as well as identifying other people’s observations, and managed to lend a hand to Regina’s tally!

All of this is only made possible by indispensable, dedicated organizers and participants in each city, and there’s already continued interest in next year’s City Nature Challenge.

Beyond the valuable information recorded, the City Nature Challenge gives people the opportunity to notice and connect with what’s living around us. In doing so we can realize just how many species we share our neighbourhoods with and help increase our desire to conserve them. It doesn’t have to stop with the end of the City Nature Challenge. We can continue all year long to take time to appreciate biodiversity, and while you’re at it, might as well snap a photo and add another observation to iNaturalist.ca. For added motivation, feel free to join CWF’s Observation Nation project and sign up to our contest for weekly prizes along with a final grand prize at the end of the summer.

By The team at iNaturalist Canada

As we start this New Year, we wanted to thank you for being involved with iNaturalist Canada.

It goes without saying that we all enjoy discovering what nature has to offer, but because of how you engage with iNaturalist Canadaand take the time to add the details and intricacies of your experience, you are all singlehandedly helping conservation science and making this platform better and better.

And as we continue to improve the user experience with resources like the “How to Take Identifiable Photos” series, we are seeing that the proportion of Canadian observations that are verifiable has been increasing over time; an impressive 92 per cent. With the large volume of observations, the iNaturalist Canada community hasn’t been able to get to confirming the identifications so only 64 per cent of all observations have made it up to research grade. Any help in identifying you can offer over the winter helps improve the iNaturalist Canada data and its use!

If you haven’t checked it out yet, have a look at the iNaturalist Canada Year in Review to see a summary of the great success over the year along with the community’s favourite observations. And be sure to click through to see your personal stats for the year. With a Canadian total of 9,565,214 observations, 2023 will be the year we break 10 Million! But before jumping into the New Year, check out some of the ground-breaking discoveries that took place in 2022 across Canada:

• Munro's Globemallow was thought to be Extirpated from Canada. This observation is the first confirmed occurrence in 100 years!
• A new population, and second Canadian iNaturalist Canada posting of Mountain Crab-eye, was discovered in British Columbia. There are only eight known locations in Canada where this plant lives.
• The first occurrence of Bear Sedge in Ontario and one of only seven observations in Canada was found this year.
• Several records of Floating Marsh Pennywort were discovered for the first time in Ontario. This species was first found in Canada in 2021 in British Columbia with several other occurrences discovered there this year. It’s a southern / tropical species that is spreading northward likely aided by climate warming and is considered somewhat invasive.

Hopefully you are still able to capture some observations this winter. Thanks again for being a part of this awesome community!

Happy New Year

It’s happening now.

By Ducks Unlimited Canada

Canada’s grasslands, lakes, wetlands and forests are erupting with activity as millions of migrating birds embark on their incredible journeys south.

While migration season is prime time for bird lovers and outdoor enthusiasts to indulge in nature, it’s also filled with opportunity to help conservation. Citizen science projects using iNaturalist Canada, like Ducks Unlimited Canada’s (DUC) Migration Tracker, rely on iNaturalist users to join and contribute , and in doing so, help grow the data available for scientists who study biodiversity and ecosystems—research that helps identify trends and informs conservation priorities.

Incredible journeys

For some of us, a trip to the southern United States or Mexico satisfies our urge to escape winter. But many migratory bird species are driven by instinct to take it further—much further. So, as you observe migratory birds like these this fall, know that you’re bidding them farewell for what may be a long and challenging journey:

• Ruby-throated Hummingbird – commonly winters in Central America
• Indigo Bunting – commonly winters in the Yucatan Peninsula
• Purple Martin – commonly winters in the Amazon River basin
• Whimbrel – commonly winters along the coasts of Chile and Brazil
• Blue-winged Teal – commonly winters in Central America

While many of us won’t have the opportunity to see Arctic Terns because of their offshore migration routes, these birds hold the record for the world’s furthest bird migration, starting at their Arctic breeding grounds and wintering as far south as the Antarctic.

How to get involved

Whether you like treasure-hunting for rare species or photographing any bird that flits by, your observations are valuable to citizen science projects like this—and it’s easy to contribute.

1. Join the DUC Migration Tracker project. That way, every bird observation you make between Sept 1 and Nov 30, 2022 will automatically be added to the project.
2. Photograph birds any way you like. Pictures from your phone are fine, but zoom in as much as possible and stay in focus!
3. Upload your observation using iNaturalist.ca or the iNaturalist app. Include species information if you know it or keep it general to allow the iNaturalist community to help with identification suggestions.

Once you’ve started, keep an eye on the project journal and Ducks Unlimited Canada’s social media accounts to see if one of your photos is chosen as a featured observation!

But what about the bloopers?

Even the most beautiful bird can get caught in an awkward moment. This fall, rather than delete those less-than-majestic captures, DUC invites you to celebrate them (and share in having a good laugh)! Send your outtakes to DUC using this submission form and your name will be entered for a chance to win a limited-edition DUC Gear™ YETI water bottle!

Contribuez à documenter l’un des plus grands spectacles de la nature

Par Ducks Unlimited Canada

C’est maintenant que ça se passe.

Les prairies, les lacs, les terres humides et les forêts du Canada regorgent d’activité alors que des millions d’oiseaux migrateurs entreprennent leur incroyable voyage vers le Sud.

La saison de migration est le moment idéal pour les amateurs d’oiseaux et de plein air, et elle offre également de nombreuses opportunités de contribuer à la conservation de la nature. Les projets de science citoyenne comme celui de Canards Illimités Canada (CIC) Outil de suivi des migrations comptent sur la contribution des utilisateurs d’iNaturalist Canada pour accroître les données disponibles pour les scientifiques qui étudient la biodiversité et les écosystèmes en vue de cerner les tendances et de définir les priorités en matière de conservation.

Voyages incroyables

Pour certains d’entre nous, une escapade dans le sud des États-Unis ou au Mexique satisfait notre besoin d’échapper à l’hiver. Mais de nombreuses espèces d’oiseaux migrateurs sont poussées par instinct à aller plus loin, beaucoup plus loin. Ainsi, pendant que vous observez des oiseaux migrateurs cet automne, sachez qu’ils s’apprêtent à entamer un voyage possiblement long et difficile :

• Colibri à gorge rubis – hiverne généralement en Amérique centrale
• Passerin indigo – hiverne généralement dans la péninsule du Yucatan
• Hirondelle noire – hiverne généralement dans le bassin du fleuve Amazone
• Courlis corlieu – hiverne généralement le long des côtes du Chili et du Brésil
• Sarcelle à ailes bleues – hiverne généralement en Amérique centrale

Bien que beaucoup d’entre nous n’aient jamais l’occasion d’observer des sternes arctiques, car leurs voies migratoires se situent au large des côtes, ces oiseaux détiennent le record mondial de distance migratoire : leurs aires de reproduction sont en effet situées dans l’Arctique, alors qu’ils hivernent aussi loin que le sud de l’Antarctique.

Comment s’impliquer

Que vous aimiez partir en quête d’espèces rares ou photographier tous les oiseaux qui passent, vos observations sont précieuses pour les projets de science citoyenne comme celui-ci, et il est facile d’y contribuer.

1. Participez au projet de suivi des migrations de CIC. Ainsi, toute observation d’oiseau que vous effectuez entre le 1er septembre et le 30 novembre 2022 sera automatiquement ajoutée au projet.
2. Photographiez des oiseaux comme vous le souhaitez. Les photos prises avec votre téléphone sont correctes, mais zoomez autant que possible et faites la mise au point!
3. Téléversez vos observations sur le site iNaturalist.ca ou à l’aide de l’application iNaturalist. Incluez des informations au sujet de ces espèces si vous les connaissez ou laissez la communauté iNaturalist vous aider en suggérant des identifications.

Une fois que vous avez commencé à participer à ce projet, surveillez son journal et les comptes de médias sociaux de Canards Illimités Canada pour voir si l’une de vos photos est choisie en tant qu’observation vedette!

Mais qu’en est-il des bêtisiers?

Même le plus beau des oiseaux peut se faire prendre dans un moment gênant. Cet automne, plutôt que de supprimer ces clichés sous-optimaux, CIC vous invite à leur rendre hommage (et à les partager pour rire un bon coup)! Envoyez vos photos à CIC à l’aide de ce formulaire de soumission et votre nom sera inscrit pour le tirage au sort d’une bouteille DUC Gear™ YETI en édition limitée!

By Robert Courteau, founder of Think Fungi

"Join FungiQuest", by "Think Fungi Inc."

Fungi serve an invaluable role in our ecosystem. They provide humans and a huge variety of insects and animals with top notch nutrition, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. They are the decomposers of our ecosystem and they provide us with medicine. They raise our bread, turn grain into beer, grapes into wine and age our cheese and sausages. In the last ten years we have even begun to use fungi to replace leather, replace meat, filter our waterways and consume petroleum and plastic. All this, and we only know around 150,000 of the estimated 3,000,000 species of fungi.

New species are being discovered all the time, like the Squamanita species found this summer by citizen scientists in the Scottish highlands. In fact, new species of fungi are discovered almost weekly. And now, you can get in on the action.

The Great North American FungiQuest runs from September 15 to October 15, 2022 with the goal of observing and identifying as many species of fungi as possible across North America to develop a better understanding of the still-little-understood abundance of mushrooms, molds, yeasts, toadstools and more on our continent. Having achieved the first goal of 50,000 observations (by day eight!), the new goal is to record 150,000 observations! Have a look here to see where the tally is at in iNaturalist alone!

Taking part is simple, and can be done almost anywhere. Simply take a photo of any fungi you see and upload it to iNaturalist Canada. There is no specific project in iNaturalist Canada, so feel free to use any existing project or none at all.

A few brief observation tips for fungi-hunters: A good observation requires more than one photo. The best observations include photos from the top, side and bottom of the fungi, as well as images of the environment it’s growing in.

"Taking fungi photos", by "Think Fungi Inc."

FungiQuest is also looking for data on the so-called “Friends of Fungi,” which include slime molds and lichen. These organisms are irregularly included as fungi for scientific research and are frequently understudied. Therefore, they are included in the FungiQuest challenge as well, so please send in as many observations of them as you can!

FungiQuest includes various contests and observational challenges. We’re offering awards for the most correct identifications, the most observations and more, with prizes that include foraging courses and grow kits! The goal is to provide as much incentive to people, clubs and schools to participate in this citizen science project!

Mycological clubs across North America have already been promoting this large event, which has already become the largest fungi bioblitz in history. It’s a great reason to encourage members to get out and contribute back to science, plus it’s so easy to encourage newcomers to get involved.

Think Fungi has been managing the BioBlitz and was instrumental in getting all the other clubs on board. The North American Mycological Association (NAMA) even handed over control of their for the event’s first week, which no doubt contributed greatly to the event hitting the 50,000 goal in just eight days. Get in contact with your local mycological club for more information on whether they are hosting any observation rallies for FungiQuest.

To stay informed about the event, be sure to join the Think Fungi Community, where updates will be posted. Think Fungi will also be hosting an online mushroom hunt and some other social media contests throughout the FungiQuest event, so be sure to check out their Instagram account for a chance to win prizes!

You can help protect species at risk using iNaturalist Canada

By Caitlin Brant

The Value of Citizen Science

Eyes on the ground are vitally important to understanding the health, abundance and habitat of wildlife species. Crucially, it also helps with the protection of Canada’s species at risk. There are simply not enough researchers to monitor our vast country, this is why citizen scientists are vitally important to the conservation of wildlife in Canada. By snapping a photo or recording a sound and uploading the observation to iNaturalist, you are helping protect Canada’s wildlife.

What are “Species at Risk?”

Sadly, there are over 800 species assessed to be at risk by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and this number grows each year. This independent group assesses the status of a species and recommends to the government those they see as needing protection under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). One of the sources used is the data found in iNaturalist! The government then considers a variety of factors to decide if a species will be listed or have its status changed. Here’s a basic overview of the assessment, listing and recovery process in Canada:

Getting Started

A good place to start getting to know our species at risk is by joining the Species at Risk in Canada project and taking a look through the list of species in the project. You can browse the map of more than 160,000 observations to see what’s been seen nearby and click on the species name to get to the taxa page with more info (like the time of year when it’s most often observed, distribution map, and look-alikes). You can also find in-depth information on the Government of Canada’s species at risk Public Registry, where you have the option to search by province, species or status. There are a variety of specialist iNaturalist projects so try searching for species that live in your area, or you are interested in learning more about. For example, the Canadian Wildlife Federation has specialists that work with turtles, bats, Monarchs and more!

Because of the nature of species at risk, iNaturalist Canada was recently updated to automatically obscure any species at risk that are under threat of human exploitation, including poaching and persecution. However, it is beneficial for the location to be made public for other species as it helps with protection and management planning. When joining projects on iNaturalist, you may see a pop up asking if you would like to allow the project administrators to see the true coordinates of your observation, with the goal of protection or research. It is recommended to always double check the project goals and see who the administrators are, before agreeing to this. You can do this by going onto the project page and clicking on ‘Read more >’ in the project ‘About’ section or within the members list to see the project admins. You can tap on their name or profile picture to learn more about them or to ask a question about the project.

Take Your iNat Skills to the Next Level

Are you ready for a new challenge? Why not use your wildlife skills to help species at risk and provide critical data for threatened species!

Now that you’ve found out more about, or are already familiar with, local species at risk, visit their habitat and try to get an observation. Can you get 20 observations of species at risk this year to mark the 20th anniversary of the Species at Risk Act?

Photography not really your thing? Challenge yourself to identify 200 species at risk in 2022. Do you know the difference between Monarch and Viceroy butterflies? How about a Barn Swallow and a Cliff Swallow? Hint: Viceroy’s have an extra black line across the lower wings and Cliff Swallows have a cream coloured rump and collar. Whatever your interest, why not try your hand at identifying observations on iNaturalist Canada. We need your help - use your knowledge to help protect Canada’s wildlife! You can filter your search by location, taxa, time of year and more to really get into your area of expertise.

The more we share our knowledge, the better chance we have of protecting these vital species. Let’s turn the tide and help conserve species at risk in Canada. Tell us your favourite species at risk or share some links of your favourite iNaturalist endangered species observations below!

Vous pouvez contribuer à la protection des espèces en péril en utilisant iNaturalist Canada

Par Caitlin Brant

La science citoyenne : d’une énorme valeur

Les observations sur le terrain sont essentielles à notre compréhension de la santé, de l’abondance et des habitats des espèces sauvages. Elles contribuent aussi d’une manière décisive à la protection des espèces en péril du Canada. Il n’y a tout simplement pas suffisamment de chercheurs pour surveiller l’intégralité de notre vaste pays, raison pour laquelle les citoyens scientifiques sont d’une énorme importance à la conservation de la faune du Canada. En prenant une photo ou en enregistrant un son et téléchargeant cette observation dans iNaturalist, vous contribuez à la protection de la faune du Canada.

Qu’est-ce qu’une espèce en péril?

Malheureusement, le Comité sur la situation des espèces en péril au Canada (COSEPAC) estime qu’il y a plus de 800 espèces en péril au Canada et ce chiffre augmente tous les ans. Ce groupe indépendant évalue la situation des espèces et recommande au gouvernement les espèces qui ont besoin de protection en vertu de la Loi sur les espèces en péril. iNaturalist figure parmi les sources de données utilisées par le comité. Le gouvernement tient ensuite compte de divers facteurs pour décider si une espèce sera inscrite à la liste ou si sa situation doit changer. Voici un aperçu du processus d’évaluation, d’inscription et de rétablissement au Canada :

Par où commencer?

Pour commencer, il est bon d’apprendre à connaître les espèces en péril en vous joignant au projet sur les espèces en péril au Canada et en lisant la liste des espèces incluses dans le projet. Vous pouvez consulter la carte des quelque 160 000 observations pour connaître ce qui a été aperçu près de chez vous et cliquer sur le nom de l’espèce pour vous rendre à la page du taxon et obtenir de plus amples renseignements (comme le temps de l’année durant lequel l’espèce est la plus souvent observée, la carte de répartition et les espèces d’apparences semblables). Vous trouverez aussi des renseignements détaillés sur le Registre public des espèces en péril du gouvernement du Canada qui vous offre l’option de faire des recherches par province, espèce ou situation. De nombreux spécialistes dirigent des projets dans iNaturalist; donc, essayez de chercher les espèces qui se trouvent dans votre région ou sur lesquelles vous aimeriez en connaître davantage. Par exemple, la Fédération canadienne de la faune a des experts qui travaillent avec les tortues, les chauves-souris, les monarques (en anglais seulement) et plus encore!

En raison de la nature des espèces en péril, iNaturalist Canada a récemment été mise à jour pour masquer automatiquement toutes les espèces en péril à risque d’être exploitées par les humains, y compris d’être victimes de braconnage ou de persécution. Bien que cette mesure soit nécessaire pour certaines espèces, il est plus utile que l’emplacement des espèces qui ne sont pas menacées de braconnage soit visible à des fins de conservation, de protection et de planification de la gestion de l’espèce. En vous joignant à des projets dans iNaturalist, il se pourrait que vous receviez un message vous demandant si vous souhaitez que les administrateurs du projet puissent voir les coordonnées réelles de votre observation à des fins de protection ou de recherche. On vous recommande de toujours vérifier les objectifs du projet et l’identité des administrateurs avant d’accepter. Pour ce faire, cliquez sur « Lire plus » dans la section « À propos » du projet ou consultez la liste des membres pour connaître les administrateurs du projet. Vous pouvez cliquer sur leur nom ou photo de profil pour mieux les connaître ou leur poser une question.

Perfectionnez vos compétences dans iNat

Êtes-vous prêt à relever un nouveau défi? Pourquoi ne pas utiliser vos compétences dans la nature pour aider les espèces en péril et fournir de précieuses données sur les espèces menacées!

Maintenant que vous connaissez ou que vous en savez plus sur les espèces en péril près de chez vous, visitez leur habitat et essayez de les observer. Pouvez-vous obtenir 20 observations d’espèces en péril cette année pour souligner le 20e anniversaire de la Loi sur les espèces en péril?

La photographie n’est pas votre truc? Lancez-vous le défi d’identifier 200 espèces en péril en 2022. Connaissez-vous la différence entre un papillon monarque et un vice-roi? Entre une hirondelle rustique et une hirondelle à front blanc? Voici un indice : le vice-roi a une bande noire supplémentaire sur les ailes inférieures et l’hirondelle à front blanc a un croupion et une collerette de couleur crème. Peu importe ce qui vous intéresse, pourquoi ne pas essayer d’identifier des observations dans iNaturalist Canada. Nous avons besoin de votre aide – utilisez vos connaissances pour contribuer à la protection de la faune du Canada! Vous pouvez filtrer votre recherche par lieu, taxon, date et plus encore pour vraiment vous concentrer sur votre domaine de spécialité.

Plus vous partagez vos connaissances, plus nous avons de chances de protéger ces espèces essentielles. Inversons la tendance et contribuons tous à la conservation des espèces en péril du Canada. Parlez-nous de votre espèce en péril préférée ou partagez des liens ci-dessous vers des observations dans iNaturalist de votre espèce en voie de disparition préférée.

By iNaturalist.org

If you made 1,000 observations a day, every day, it would take you 274 years to generate 100 million observations.

This milestone shows what people can do by working together. The iNaturalist dataset is something we’ve all made together, but it’s larger than any one of us. We hope everyone is as proud of this accomplishment as we are. Together, the iNaturalist community has created a unique window into life on Earth and hundreds of thousands of species with whom we share the planet. Thank you!

We know that even more potential for iNaturalist lies ahead. To fulfill our mission of connecting people to nature and advancing science and conservation, we’re working on a strategy to reach 100 million naturalists by 2030. This requires investing in technology improvements, so we’re now searching for two new software engineers to join the iNat team. Please spread the word to help us find great candidates.

100M observations across time

The graph below is a slightly different perspective of how these 100M observations have accumulated over time. The spiral begins in early 2015 when we reached our first million. Each band on the spiral represents another 1M observations (here's links to earlier posts about the 5M, 6M, 25M and 50M milestones). Each revolution represents a year. You can see the major patterns in the graph: the number of observations growing over time and the bands becoming closer together, the seasonal cycle where the spiral is thinner in the northern hemisphere winter, and the City Nature Challenge annual bioblitz bulge in April.

100M observations across species

Just as these observations aren’t evenly distributed across time, they are not evenly distributed across species. If we sort observations by species in descending order, we can count how many species it takes to cross 1M observations. A group with the top 5 most observed species cross the 1M threshold alone (Group 1), as does a group with the next 8 species (Group 2).

Note that with each descending group more and more species are needed to cross 1M observations. For example, group 50 consists of 378 species each represented by 724 to 836 observations. Group 72 consists of 10,854 species represented by 77 to 111 observations. Because our computer vision model includes species for which we have around 100 observations, this is the point where species become too rare to be included in the model yet. The last group consists of 65% (243,544) of all the species observed on iNaturalist, each represented by only a few (1-15) observations. In other words, the top 5 species on iNaturalist have about as many observations as the bottom 243,544 species.

100M observations across space

These observations are also not distributed evenly in space. In some places, such as the area around Austin, Texas, the density of observations is high with about 88 observations per square kilometer. This means that a 60 km radius circle with an area of 11,310 km2 contains 1M observations.

In other parts of the world, the density is much lower, meaning that circles encompassing 1M observations are much larger. The map shows 100 example circles each of which contains 1M observations. All together, these circles encompass 100M observations. Many circles across much of North America, Europe, and places like Taiwan and Cape Town are small, reflecting high densities like those found near Austin, Texas. But in other places like west Africa, western Australia, and eastern Russia the circles are very large, reflecting the low density of observations (as low as 0.02 observations per km2 in eastern Russia). Note: The circles aren’t projected perfectly in the figure so they might not exactly encompass 1M observations as drawn.

While every observation on iNaturalist represents a meaningful contribution, these seasons, species, and parts of the world with underrepresented numbers of observations are opportunities for the iNaturalist community to make outsized contributions towards bringing the natural world into focus through the iNaturalist dataset.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this milestone! We look forward to the next 100 million observations.

By Caitlin Brant

Congratulations to everyone who participated in this year’s City Nature Challenge (CNC)!

From April 29 to May 2, 2022, 40 cities across Canada and over 400 around the world competed in a friendly competition to upload the most wildlife observations in their city. A huge thank you to all who participated including the invaluable help of almost 2,000 people across the country who took time to identify what was uploaded throughout the weekend.

Between 2021 and 2022, the Canadian City Nature Challenge gained 15 new municipalities, including Montréal and Yellowknife. This year the challenge produced over 76,000 observations, up from 49,000 in 2021. More than 4,500 species were observed, which is over 1,000 more species than in 2021!

In addition, a number of Species at Risk were observed during the CNC, including Butternut, Blanding’s Turtle, Barn Swallow, Bank Swallow, Western Chorus Frog and Quillback Rockfish.

Of the 76,894 observations, an incredible 96% of these had photos or sound along with their location so that they can be verified and used in scientific study. Of these usable ones, 40,726 were what’s known as research grade, meaning that the species identification has been confirmed by other iNaturalist users. You can find out more about this year’s Canadian event, including what was observed, on the 2022 project page.

The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) helped to establish City Nature Challenge Canada and supports local city organizers. The City Nature Challenge started out in 2016 as a competition between the cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles and has grown into an international event. The global challenge is organized by the California Academy of Sciences and the Los Angeles of Natural History Museum.

If you're looking to get your city involved for next year, check out CityNatureChallenge.ca to see what it’s all about. You can register directly here.

Superbe photo de sternes pierregarins (Sterna hirundo) avec la ville de Toronto au loin, prise par l’utilisatrice d’iNat huronia lors du Défi nature urbaine 2022 (CC-BY-NC).

Sympathique poisson loup à ocelles (ou loup ocellé, (Anarrhichthys ocellatus) photographié par Kathleen R. à Nanaimo en C.-B. lors du Défi nature urbaine 2022 (CC-BY-NC).

By Caitlin Brant

Want to take your iNat skills to the next level? The Canadian Wildlife Federation has created new guides on how to take identifiable photos.

These will help you photograph key features that will help get your observations identified and help you become an even better identifier. We know that it can be hard to photograph wildlife, from a soaring bird to a skittish beaver, so just try your best and remember, practice makes perfect! All of our guides can be found in our resources section.

Birds

Birds are one of the most accessible groups of animals for the everyday explorer. They can be found in backyards, in wooded areas, in fields and on the coast. There are several species of birds that overwinter in Canada, such as Blue Jays and Northern Cardinals, so keep your eyes peeled for their brightly coloured feathers. Birds have many identifiable features so it’s no wonder they often get identified within minutes of uploading an observation.

Try to zoom in to get an in-focus photo of the body and beak shapes as well as any colour patterns. It can sometimes be hard to do this without a digital camera so keep in mind you can always upload a sound recording to iNaturalist too. Bird songs are almost always distinctive to the species.

Mammals

It is difficult to put identifiable features of mammals into one category due to their enormous differences in size and features. Whether you are photographing a Deer Mouse or a Brown Bear (at a distance!), try to get a photo of the head and body shape. Tracks in mud or snow can also be uploaded to iNaturalist.

Several mammals have distinctive footprints and other tracks, such as scat or slide tracks. Be sure to add in a scale next to any tracks to help others identify the species, such as a boot, glove, or ruler.

Plants

Plants are one of the easiest groups to take photos of, because they can’t run away from you! You can take your time and photograph multiple parts of the plant to add to a single observation. In the absence of flowers or berries, leaves are one of the most identifiable features. Branch and bark patterns can also help identifiers narrow down your observation to a genus or species.

Try taking a photograph of the surrounding habitat to help others get a sense of the location. Some trees and shrubs can even be identified in winter!

Turtles

Did you know there are eight species of native freshwater turtles in Canada? Many of these can be identified by markings on the throat or behind their ears, including the yellow-throated Blanding’s Turtle and invasive Red-eared Slider. The shell size, shape and colouring can also help others identify your turtle observation. For example, larger Common Snapping Turtle’s often have moss and algae growing on their shells because they spend so much time underwater.

Respecting the Land

Whatever techniques and tips you use to capture that perfect shot, please always remember to be respectful of wildlife and the habitat they’re found in:

• Stay on trails as much as possible to avoid trampling plants.
• Leave the area the way you found it (or in better condition by removing any trash you may come across) – gently replace logs if you’ve looked underneath, don’t pick the plants, leave rocks and stones behind as they’re part of the habitat too.
• Observe wildlife from a safe distance (for both you and them) – avoid handling small critters and allow larger animals a safe buffer.

You can download any of these how to guides on the iNaturalist Canada resources page. Stay tuned for more how to’s on arachnids, as well as moths and butterflies! What do you enjoy photographing? Do you have any ideas for what wildlife group we should create a ‘how to’ on next? Tell us below in the comments!

By David DeRocco, CWF Events and Marketing Manager

Canada is set to take on the world April 29 through May 2!

No, it’s not World Cup soccer – it’s the 2022 City Nature Challenge! And unlike the World Cup, you don’t have to have mad soccer skills to actually contribute. All you need is a camera or mobile device and access to iNaturalist.ca.

The City Nature Challenge is a friendly annual international challenge to see which city can record and upload the most observations of wildlife species using the free iNaturalist platform. From the tiniest bug to the tallest tree, from belugas to birds to beavers, participants are encouraged to take pictures of all the flora and fauna they can find. By doing so, they’re contributing to an international database used to track biodiversity around the world. It’s a great way to turn a simple walk in the woods into truly impactful “citizen science” activity.

Who's Participating?

This year 42 Canadian cities are registered as part of the City Nature Challenge Canada collective, as participants across the country band together to compete against hundreds of cities in over 40 countries around the world. From as far west as Nanaimo to as far north as Yellowknife to as far east as St. John’s, City Nature Challenge participants will be contributing to Canada’s total observations.

Last year City Nature Challenge participants made over 1.2 million observations world-wide, finding over 45,000 different species of wildlife. In Canada, over 30,000 observations were made – not bad for a country that’s still covered in snow in some parts during the month of April!

How to Participate?

It's easy to participate as part of Team Canada. Simply log into the platform at iNaturalist.ca (make sure you check your account settings are set to .ca rather than .org to ensure you’re part of the Canadian platform. To do so, edit your settings).

Head to the City Nature Canada 2022 project to see if your city is taking part in the City Nature Challenge. Any observations you make in a participating city and upload through the iNaturalist app or at iNaturalist.ca from April 29 through May 2 will be instantly added to the total. If your city is not participating, you can still make observations. If you have any expertise with individual species, you can also log in to verify species observations made by other people. You’ll become part of an active iNaturalist community dedicated to tracking biodiversity all year long.

Check back in on the CityNatureCanada 2022 project on May 9 to see which city is crowned the CNC champion of Canada. And visit the global project for the collective results and how we stacked up against the world.

The City Nature Challenge is just the first major event on a year-long calendar of activities where iNaturalist can play an important role in connecting Canadians to nature. Open your account today, and get familiar with the app. There are many instructional videos in English and French that can help you become a master at using iNaturalist. Who knows – you could find a rare species, an invasive species, or a species you didn’t even know was native to your area. That’s the fun of using iNaturalist. So join the team representing Canada during the City Nature Challenge. Let’s show the world that Canada’s wildlife is as abundant as ever.

To learn more, visit the City Nature Challenge Canada

By Kelly Fretwell, Hakai Institute, reprinted with permission

Did you know that many invasions by non-native species are first observed by members of the public?

For much of the past year we’ve been encouraging you to use iNaturalist to record your animal, plant, fungi, and “what-is-that?!” observations when exploring our beautiful parks. By doing so you have helped the BC Parks iNaturalist Project celebrate and document the incredible biodiversity in our province, all the while learning about the species around you and creating an interactive record of your outdoor explorations. The project’s 2019 roving summer bioblitz field crew and over 2,500 other nature enthusiasts collected more than 100,000 floral, faunal, and fungal observations, providing us with an abundance of amazing biodiversity finds from across the province.

While we wish we could encourage you to get out into B.C.’s parks and collect as many observations as you can once again this spring and summer, parks have been closed to keep visitors, staff, and parks themselves safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic (as of April 8th all parks are fully closed until further notice and camping has been suspended until May 31 — check the BC Parks website for updates).

But good news! You can still put your curiosity, photos, and knowledge to good use with this project, all from the comfort of your couch (or kitchen table, bed, home office — wherever you and your computer are working from these days).

Here are five ways to be an Armchair Naturalist:

1. Exercise your curiosity

Check out the BC Parks iNaturalist Project page to browse species observations made in the parks so far. Find your favourite park on the project leaderboard to learn which species call it home. Send us the coolest creatures you come across!

2. Share your knowledge

Do you have an affinity for amphibians? A mind for molluscs? Identify observations to help others learn more about their nature finds! This helps others improve their ID skills and it makes the project’s data more accurate.

3. Take a trip down memory lane

You likely have an abundance of nature photos languishing on your hard drive, unseen by anyone but you. Reminisce about past trips while adding those photos to iNaturalist! There is no age cut-off for observations, and historic data provide valuable context. This nature enthusiast has even scanned decades worth of photographic slides.

4. Go for bingo

Download the BC Parks Foundation's themed PARKS bingo cards and scour your photo library for matching observations. When you get bingo, send us a photo of your completed card and matching observations!

5. Hone your skills

If you're lucky enough to have a backyard or to live in a more remote place where it's easy and safe to get out into nature (remember to maintain at least a 2 metres/6 feet away from others), go practice your iNaturalist skills so you’re ready to go when parks re-open. Add your efforts to iNaturalist Canada’s Observations from Isolation project, or join the 5 Mile Radius Canadian Challenge. Be sure to note cultivated plants as such when adding observations!

New to iNaturalist? Here are some resources to get started:

• Download the BC Parks Foundation’s How-To Guide
• Watch this Citizen Science Tools Webinar, hosted by the Howe Sound Biosphere Reserve Initiative
• Check out iNaturalist's very comprehensive help menu.

And finally, subscribe to the BC Parks Foundation's newsletter to stay up-to-date with any news or changes regarding this project and other Foundation work.

Happy armchair iNatting!