At the Norman Bird Sanctuary, we are always looking for new ways to connect people with nature. For the first time, we are taking part in the 2025 City Nature Challenge (CNC) and we invite you to join us. Running from April 25 – 28, the City Nature Challenge is a unique opportunity for individuals of all ages to contribute to community science while deepening their appreciation for local wildlife.
What is the City Nature Challenge (CNC)?
The City Nature Challenge is an annual, global event in which people all over the world document biodiversity in their communities, observing wildlife and their distribution in a specific geographic area. Using iNaturalist, a free mobile app and website that tracks flora and fauna, participants capture and upload photos of plants, fungi, and much more over a period of four days in late April. This collective documentation supports scientists and conservationists in tracking major biodiversity trends, such as species population sizes and distributions.
Originally launched in 2016 as a friendly competition between Los Angeles and San Francisco and sponsored by the California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of LA County, the CNC has evolved into a massive global movement, engaging thousands of participants in hundreds of cities, making it the largest community science bioblitz in the world!
How does the CNC Support the Norman Bird Sanctuary mission?
For the Norman Bird Sanctuary and our community, the CNC presents an exciting way to showcase the incredible diversity of life within our borders, and through the perspective of community members. This opportunity strengthens our mission to “spark people’s curiosity to explore, steward, and find peace and joy in nature.” It encourages people to explore, ask questions, and recognize how species – no matter how small – play a role in different ecosystems. While simultaneously gaining knowledge about species identification, people also actively contribute real data for future environmental research conducted at the Norman Bird Sanctuary.
How Can You Participate?
Join the Norman Bird Sanctuary and participate in one of the most exciting citizen science events to come to Rhode Island. Follow these steps to participate and get the most out of your CNC experience:
- Download the iNaturalist app to your mobile device
- Register for a CNC project on iNaturalist (see registration information at the bottom)
- Mark your calendar, grab your phone or camera, and join us in documenting the rich biodiversity of the Norman Bird Sanctuary from April 25 – April 28. Visit the Norman Bird Sanctuary on Saturday, April 26 for free admission to our trails.
- Take photos of whatever species you see and are curious about.
- Upload any photos and audio files as observations on your iNaturalist account anytime between April 25 and May 4 at 12:00 p.m.
We are excited to see what species and special discoveries we can uncover together!
Quick Links:
- Register for Norman Bird Sanctuary’s CNC Project: City Nature Challenge 2025: Norman Bird Sanctuary · iNaturalist
- Register for the Statewide Rhode Island CNC Project: City Nature Challenge 2025: Providence Area · iNaturalist
- Register for Saturday, April 26 Free Trail Admission: Norman Bird Sanctuary 2025 City Nature Challenge
