Adults and 50-Plus

Observe and Identify Wildlife Using a Free App — The Library Will Show You How

Calling all budding naturalists! In 2021, the City Nature Challenge (CNC) will embrace the healing power of nature and celebrate tens of thousands of people all around the world, searching for and documenting their local biodiversity, from April 30 to May 3. When you submit photos of wildlife through the iNaturalist app, you contribute to important ecological studies that help scientist better understand our local plants and animals.

It's easy and free to participate:

1. Download the app. Download the free iNaturalist app to your mobile device, available for both Android and iPhone. You will have to create a free profile to begin.
2. Take photos of wildlife. Participants should venture out take pictures of plants or animals in the wild. It can be any sort of wildlife—fungi, slime mold, animal tracks or shells—found in the DC area. Note where you took the photo.
3. Share your observations. Upload your photos from nature to the iNaturalist app. Individuals from around the world will help label observations.

The library is hosting these free events:

Become a Community Scientist this Earth Day: Join the City Nature Challenge!
Jackie Raiford, Montgomery Parks Naturalist, will share how easy it is to participate, including how to use the iNaturalist app to submit your observations. Anyone can participate – even from your own backyard – and YOU can become a community scientist! Please have your smart phone with the free iNaturalist app pre-downloaded. Tuesday, April 20, 6:00 p.m. Register.

Burke Centre Library pollinator garden iNaturalist project
Learn how you can be a part of the Burke Centre Library pollinator garden iNaturalist project. Presented by Ana Ka'ahanui, VA Master Naturalist and Co-Founder of Capital Nature on Tuesday, April 27, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. Register.