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 2024 Video
Upcoming Workshops and Nature Walks at the UMass Libraries and Western Mass
Join us for workshops at UMass on using iNaturalist and nature walks for taking observations throughout Western Mass all four days of the City Nature Challenge!
- Julian's Bower Nature WalkPark and meet at the 711 Wendell Road parking area - trail access is a little further down Wendell Road.
Shutesbury, MA
Friday, April 26, 2024
9:00 am - 11:00 am
Join Mike Jones and Lynn Harper at the gorgeous Julian's Bower nature preserve for a two hour nature walk to kick of the 2024 City Nature Challenge in Western Mass!
Mike Jones is the Massachusetts State Herpetologist, working in the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program of MassWildlife, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife.
Lynn Harper is a retired conservation planner for the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program of MassWildlife.
Please email Lynn, harperlynn@msn.com if you plan to attend.
- iNaturalist: When you want to know "What's that flower/bird/bug (and more!)"UMass Amherst campus
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 above 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!)" - VIRTUALZoom
Friday, 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 above to the event page and register with your name and email. You will be sent the Zoom link.
- Hitchcock Center for the Environment Nature WalkPark and meet at the Hitchcock Center for the Environment at Hampshire College
845 West St.
Amherst, MA
Friday, April 26, 2024
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Join Melanie Radik, a co-organizer of the Western Mass City Nature Challenge, for an hour or so exploration of the woods and fields of the Hitchcock Center. This walk is geared towards those who are new to iNaturalist and the City Nature Challenge. If possible, please bring a smartphone or tablet with iNaturalist already installed.
No need to register but try to get there on time so we don't miss each other! I'll have the iNaturalist / City Nature Challenge sign.
- Palmer Wildlife Management Area Nature WalkPark and meet at the WMA parling lot on Old Warren Road a short distance west of St. John St.
Palmer, MA
Saturday, April 27, 2024
9:00 am - 11:00 am
Join Lynn Harper, retired conservation planner for the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program of MassWildlife, for a two hour nature walk through the lovely Palmer Wildlife Management Area.
Please keep in mind that as Wildlife Management Areas are intentionally left wild, visitors will find natural landscapes rather than maintained trails - perfect for taking wildlife observations for the City Nature Challenge!
Please email Lynn, harperlynn@msn.com, if you plan to attend.
- Devil's Washbowl Nature HikeTrailhead for the Devil's Washbowl (more info on registration)
Warwick, MA
Saturday, April 27, 2024
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Rain Date: Sunday, April 28th 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Join Karro Frost, Conservation Botanist with the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program at Arthur Iversen Conservation Area in Warwick. We’ll be exploring all the area has to offer. Mossy forests, vernal pools, and a beautiful washbowl falls.
Space is limited to 20 participants. Before the event, please download the iNaturalist app onto your smartphone or tablet.
To register, please e-mail May Grzybowski at grzybowski@mountgrace.org
Note: The Arthur Iversen Conservation Area is only accessible from the north via Athol Road as the bridge to the south on Gale Road is closed.
- Montague Plains Wildlife Management Area Nature WalkEnter the wildlife management area from Turners Falls Road on Plains Road and park at the first powerline crossing. Plains Road may be difficult to access if there's been a lot of rain; in that case, email Lynn Harper at harperlynn@msn.com for an alternate parking spot.
Montague, MA
Sunday, April 28, 2024
9:00 am - 11:00 am
Join Tom Murray, photographer and author of the field guide Insects of New England and New York and Lynn Harper, retired conservation planner for the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program of MassWildlife, for a two hour nature walk through the lovely Palmer Wildlife Management Area.
Please keep in mind that as Wildlife Management Areas are intentionally left wild, visitors will find natural landscapes rather than maintained trails - perfect for taking wildlife observations for the City Nature Challenge!
Please email Lynn, harperlynn@msn.com if you plan to attend.
- Notchview Nature WalkPark and meet at the visitors center off Rt. 9.
Windsor, MA
Sunday, April 28, 2024
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Join Lynn Harper, retired conservation planner for the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program of MassWildlife, for a two hour nature walk around the delightful Notchview conservation area this afternoon! It will be spring ephemeral season, so keep an eye out for wildflowers because they're only in bloom for a short time. Notchview sits above 2,000 feet and the season will be a bit behind lower areas of Western Mass.
Please email Lynn, harperlynn@msn.com, if you plan to attend.
- Chesterfield Gorge Reservation Nature WalkChesterfield Gorge entrance off River Road in West Chesterfield
location in Google Maps
Monday, April 29, 2024
10:00 am
Enter through the dramatic Chesterfield Gorge rock formation to explore an extensive conservation area with Julie Richberg, Lead Ecologist for Inland Natural Resources at The Trustees of Reservations; Isabel Bronson, TerraCorps Land Stewardship Coordinator with The Trustees; and Lynn Harper, retired conservation planner for the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program of MassWildlife.
In addition to the stunning river view, the area is home to bears, bobcats, wild turkeys and forest of hemlock, ash, and oak.
Please email Lynn, harperlynn@msn.com, if you plan to attend.
- "Name That Species" with iNaturalistUMass Amherst campus
Lederle lowrise building
Science and Engineering Library
Learning Studio
Tuesday, 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 above to the event page and register with your name and email.
- "Name That Species" with iNaturalist - VIRTUALZoom
Tuesday, 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 above 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.
