City Nature Challenge

Join the challenge! We need your help.

There is nature all around us, even in our cities! Knowing what species are in our city and where they are helps us study and protect them, but the ONLY way to do that is by all of us – scientists, land managers, and the community – working together to find and document the nature in our area.

By participating in the City Nature Challenge, not only do you learn more about your local nature, but you can also make your city a better place – for you and other species!

Whitehorse needs you, our community, to help us document our flora and fauna so that we can work to ensure it is protected.

How do you get involved?

To get involved all you have to do is download the iNaturalist app, and from 26 - 29 April 2024 find wild plants and animals in your local park or reserve, take a picture and upload it to the app. That's all. Super easy. 

Events in Whitehorse

Come and join our City Nature Challenge events within Whitehorse hosted by Whitehorse Council and our passionate community groups! We'll help you get the hang of using iNaturalist and spotting what should be recorded.

But I'm not an expert on plants and animals!

That's okay! You don't need to be. iNaturalist has a helpful function where it suggests visually similar species, and if you're really stuck putting in 'bird' or 'insect' is good enough. We have experts who can identify species based on the photos and basic information you provide. This is a great feature as you will also be able to learn new species as you go!

Take this opportunity to connect with nature while helping scientists study and protect native plants and animals!

Keep an eye out here for fun upcoming City Nature Challenge events, and in the mean time, download the iNaturalist app and try it out!

Australian Painted Lady Butterfly

City Nature Challenge events in Whitehorse

Join one of our City Nature Challenge community events, spots are limited so make sure you book

Events are all free, for all ages, and are run by our passionate Community Groups and Environment and Education team

 

City Nature Challenge logo

Introduction to iNaturalist Webinar

Watch the webinar recording from the City Nature Challenge 2021 for using the iNaturalist app.

Coordinated by Stonnington and Boroondara Councils, presented by Dr Luis Mata from Melbourne University.

green bird logo

iNaturalist Video Tutorials 

Watch tutorial videos from iNaturalist on the many different functions of the app

Thumbnail - Brushtail Possum

City Nature Challenge 2023

For the 2023 City Nature Challenge we achieved 1,923 observations of 543 species between 55 observers.

Thank you to everyone who took a picture, your efforts allow scientists to better support the biodiversity of our area.