City Nature Challenge: Western Mass
Science and Engineering Librarian
When
2024
April 26 - April 29: Collect Observations
April 30 - May 5: ID Species
City Nature Challenge 2023 Video
Upcoming Workshops and Nature Walks at the UMass Libraries and Western Mass
Watch this space for more nature walk opportunities as we get closer to the City Nature Challenge!
- iNaturalist: When you want to know "What's that flower/bird/bug (and more!)"Friday, April 26, 2024
11:15 am - 12:00 pm instruction
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm nature walk
This workshop begins in the Calipari classroom in Du Bois. We'll get to know the iNaturalist app, how it works, and what the web interface looks like. Then we'll step outside and put it into practice with our individual devices. Please bring a smartphone or tablet with iNaturalist already installed.
To sign up, follow the link (coming soon) to the event page and register with your name and email.
- iNaturalist: When you want to know "What's that flower/bird/bug (and more!)" - VIRTUALFriday, April 26, 2024
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
This workshop takes place entirely online over Zoom. We'll get to know the iNaturalist app, how it works, and what the web interface looks like. This will include an observation taken live on the smartphone app and uploading previously taken photos through the web interface.
To sign up, follow the link (coming soon) to the event page and register with your name and email. You will be sent the Zoom link.
- "Name That Species" with iNaturalistTuesday, April 30, 2024
10:00 am - 11:00 am
This workshop takes place in the Learning Studio of the Science and Engineering Library. We'll get to know the built-in iNaturalist tools for species identification, as well as the rich online and print resources available at UMass for field guides and species ID tools. Similar guides may be available at your local library. You'll leave the workshop having contributed to at least one species ID.
To sign up, follow the link (coming soon) to the event page and register with your name and email.
- "Name That Species" with iNaturalist - VIRTUALTuesday, April 30, 2024
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
This workshop takes place entirely online over Zoom. We'll get to know the built-in iNaturalist tools for species identification, as well as the rich online and print resources available at UMass for field guides and species ID tools. Similar guides may be available at your local library. You'll leave the workshop having contributed to at least one species ID.
I strongly recommend a two-screen setup to have Zoom open in one screen and your own iNaturalist account open in the other with the web interface, but it is not required.
To sign up, follow the link (coming soon) to the event page and register with your name and email. You will be sent the Zoom link.
Who
Everyone!
Observers: If you are in western Massachusetts April 26 - April 29 and can add observations to iNaturalist please do!
IDers: If you want to contribute species IDs to observations in western Massachusetts, you can do that from anywhere from April 30 - May 5! Go to the City Nature Challenge 2024: Western Mass iNaturalist page (forthcoming) starting April 26, click on Observations, and then the Identify button to start IDing observations contributed to the Western Mass project.
What
The City Nature Challenge is a friendly competition* among cities across the globe to see which city can find and document the most wildlife (plants, animals, fungi, microbes - anything wild!) over a four-day period.
*In these challenging times the focus of the event has shifted from competition to community building. Let's all get out there and see what we can find!
Where
Western Mass, Massachusetts, USA: Franklin, Hampshire, Hampden, and Berkshire Counties
See the Where Can I Find Wildlife? page for a more detailed and interactive map.
Why
There is nature all around us—even in our cities. Last year’s challenge saw over 1,870,000 observations made by more than 66,000 people around the globe. By making wildlife observations, you are contributing data to scientists and your community, which helps the study and protection of local species. Previous years' participants have documented species in their areas that were completely surprising, species they did not know were there.
City Nature Challenge 2023 Infographic of Results
Plus, it's true always but especially in this stressful time as we come out of the pandemic, nature is good for you! Taking a walk in the fresh air, getting some (but not too much!) sun, letting your senses engage with nature, and letting your mind focus on something other than worry are all good for your health. Exercise is good for you, sunshine gets you necessary vitamin D, using your eyes and ears to focus on a variety of things rather than just your screen is scientifically proven to be good for them, and taking breaks to de-stress is more important than ever.
Brought to You By...
Western Mass participation in the 2024 City Nature Challenge is co-hosted by Melanie Radik and Lynn Harper.
We are sponsored by the UMass Amherst Libraries.
The overall City Nature Challenge was dreamed up and is coordinated by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the California Academy of Sciences. The very first Challenge in 2016 was just between LA and San Francisco.
- Last Updated: Feb 29, 2024 3:02 PM
- URL: https://guides.library.umass.edu/CNC
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