It’s easy to run into a crab or a sandpiper in the coastal region of North Carolina – visitors and local folks are often witnesses to the marvels of nature that make up the state’s delicate ecosystems. Each organism from a frog to a fern is critical to the habitat and because of their importance, the North Carolina Aquariums are leading the Coastal North Carolina team in the NC Bioblitz—part of the City Nature Challenge (CNC) April 24-27. Science Across NC created the NC Bioblitz to encourage participation in the CNC in the state. The NC Aquariums are a division of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Started in 2016 as a competition between San Francisco and Los Angeles, the CNC has grown into an international event, inspiring people around the world to find and document wildlife in their cities.
Run by the Community Science teams at the California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the CNC is an annual four-day bioblitz at the end of April, where cities all work toward a common goal.
Now that the bioblitz has grown, the different regions of North Carolina work together to increase observations of nature, identification of species, and engagement in the event.
“City Nature Challenge is a great way to work collectively on a global scale to better understand the world around us,” said Katie Kingston, environmental educator, NCAFF and CNC division liaison. “By joining us as a community scientist, anyone can collect and observe valuable information on wildlife.”
Join the NC Bioblitz
To join in the excitement, nature enthusiasts, whether a novice or expert, can follow four easy steps:
- Download the free iNaturalist app and create an account.
- Take photos of plants and animals you find.
- Upload your observations to share with the iNaturalist community. To be counted for the CNC, be sure to upload observations recorded on or between April 24-27.
- Learn more as your finds get identified!
Earn the NC Bioblitz Badge!
Bioblitzers can earn a custom embroidered badge by participating in the NC Bioblitz! Here are the steps to earn and claim a badge:
- Make observations! Two options:
- Make 20 observations of any wild species in North Carolina April 24-27 and upload them to iNaturalist by May 10.
- Make 10 observations and make 15 identifications. (Learn how to make identifications here!) Observations must be made April 24-27, but all observations and identifications may be done in iNaturalist any time April 25-May 10.
- Report your participation and claim your badge!
NC Aquariums environmental educators from NCA Fort Fisher, NCA Pine Knoll Shores, NCA Roanoke Island and Jennette’s Pier will kick things off during the four days hoping to register more community scientists and to usher everyone outdoors to take photos. Follow us on any of the three Aquariums' and the Pier's social media for tips and tricks that will boost your observation count.
More than 400 cities around the world are joining together to document nature during the bioblitz which joins Coastal NC with the Charlotte-Metro area, Raleigh, and other regions around the state. For more information, visit City Nature Challenge.