Help show the world how biodiverse the Pittsburgh Region is by making as many observations of as many species as possible April 27-30 as part of the international City Nature Challenge 2018.

Which city on Earth has the most nature and the most engaged residents? More than 75 cities on six continents are asking residents of and visitors to these urban areas to explore nature all around them and document the species they find.

You can also help with IDs for other people's observations to increase the region’s species count, come to a bioblitz, or even hold your own event!

The groups in Allegheny County participating in this Challenge include: the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Allegheny Land Trust, the National Aviary, the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania and the Animal Rescue League Shelter and Wildlife Center.

To participate, Click Here to join the project and create a free account and then follow the instructions.  There are apps available to make it easier to record observations and attach photos.

Results will be announced May 7, so be sure to upload your observations by then!

Building on the success of the first City Nature Challenge in 2016 between San Francisco and Los Angeles, and the 2017 City Nature Challenge across 16 U.S. cities, the event founders, the California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, have expanded the event around the world.

Last year over 126,000 observations were logged in 5 days by over 4,000 citizen scientists, representing more than 8,500 species in the United States! That works out to one observation about every 3 seconds of the City Nature Challenge!

What will we find this year, when we look all over the world?

Check back at the Pittsburgh City Nature Challenge for events happening in the Pittsburgh region during the City Nature Challenge - join with others to make iNaturalist observations and to help ID!

[Posted: March 15, 2018]

3/19/2018