City Nature Challenge (CNC) is a four-day bioblitz that began in 2016 as a competition between Los Angeles and San Francisco. A decade later, it has grown into an international event, engaging people of all ages and backgrounds to find and document wildlife in their own cities.

During the weekend-long challenge, participants go outside, take photos or record sounds of wild plants and animals, and use online identification platforms such as iNaturalist to upload their wildlife observations. These individual observations help promote local conservation efforts.

This year, Kestrel Land Trust is partnering with other local organizations, including Connecticut River Conservancy and UMass Amherst, to bring CNC to Western Mass. We invite you to join us in documenting the diverse flora and fauna that make our Valley so unique!

Kestrel is hosting a City Nature Challenge walk, about 1.5 miles long on an easy-moderate trail. An iNaturalist training session will be included. Group size is limited to 24 people and registration is required.

Saturday, April 25, 11:00 AM – 1 PM at Gloutak Woods in Holyoke REGISTER HERE (transportation available)

You Can Also Take the City Nature Challenge on Your Own! Here’s how:

To participate on your own or with family and friends. simply follow these steps:

Download the free iNaturalist app on your phone. Android. Apple.
Make an iNaturalist account and join the Western Mass iNaturalist Project (includes Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties).
April 24 – 27: Go outside and make observations on iNaturalist. Looking for a place to go? Check out Kestrel’s Nature Retreats.
April 28 – May 10: Upload your observations at home or in the field. As long as you are in one of the four Western Mass counties listed above, your observation will automatically be added to our project.

Questions? Email ari@kestreltrust.org

Timeline:

Observation period: April 24 – 27
Uploading and identification period: April 28 – May 10
Results announced: May 13