Tri-City Nature Challenge 2023
Port Moody, Coquitlam, and Port Coquitlam are collaborating with stewardship groups to host free events and activities as part of the City Nature Challenge (April 28 to May May 1, 2023), a friendly global competition that encourages people to find and document wild animals and plants in their cities.
City Nature Challenge began in 2016 in California and has grown into an international event. It’s organized on a global scale by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the California Academy of Sciences. Here in the Tri-City area, we’re calling this bioblitz the Tri-City Nature Challenge!
The Tri-Cities will compete with other communities around the world to gather the most observations about nature, find the most species, and engage the most people from April 28 to May 1. Participants document their findings using iNaturalist, a project of National Geographic and the California Academy of Sciences. iNaturalist is a third-party app and the City of Port Moody makes no claims about the security or privacy of its use. Visit inaturalist.org/pages/privacy to view the iNaturalist privacy policy.
Join us at an event or go out and document nature in your neighborhood. To have your observations counted for the Tri-Cities in this year’s Nature Challenge:
- go to www.inaturalist.org or download the free iNaturalist app from the App Store or Google Play and create an account;
- under Projects, search for and join “City Nature Challenge 2023: Tri-Cities, British Columbia”; and
- from April 28 to May 1, click Observe on the app or Add Observations on the website to add observations of any wild living or dead organism you see in the Tri-Cities – including plants, animals, birds, fungi, etc. (or evidence of them, such as shells, feathers, or scat).
Observations may include descriptions, uploaded photos, or photo or audio recordings through the app. Photos should be clear and full-frame. Visit the CNC FAQ page at www.citynaturechallenge.org for detailed instructions and tips for making eligible observations.
Port Moody events and activities are listed below. All are free (please note that some require pre-registration) and open to all Tri-City residents. Visit coquitlam.ca/naturechallenge and portcoquitlam.ca/naturechallenge to find out what’s happening elsewhere in the Tri-Cities. While iNaturalist is used to contribute findings to the global City Nature Challenge, you do not need to sign up for iNaturalist to participate in local events or activities.
Events and activities
| Tri-City Nature Challenge: Guided Nature Walk (Adults & Seniors) |
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When: Tuesday, April 25, 2023 – 10:00am to 11:30am Registration required: Register here. |
| Tri-City Nature Challenge: Bats & Other Creatures at the Rotary Loop Trail (All Ages) |
| When: Friday, April 28, 2023 – 7:30pm to 9:30pm Where: Westhill Park (203 Westhill Pl), meet at Rotary Loop Trail What: Take a stroll through the Rotary Loop Trail and help us document the plants and animals that live in the area using the iNaturalist app. After our walk on the trail, join local bat experts and help us detect bats nearby. Bring a chair, blanket, and warm drink for the bat detection and talk. You can download the iNaturalist app for iPhone or Android in advance of this event. *This event may be rescheduled to Saturday, April 29 if unfavorable weather is forecast for Friday. Registration required: Register here. |
| Tri-City City Nature Challenge: Shorebirds & Songbirds of the Shoreline Trail (All Ages) |
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When: Saturday, April 29, 2023 – 8:00am to 9:00am Registration required: Register here. |
| Tri-City Nature Challenge: Fish & Friends of Noons Creek (All Ages, Youth Focused) |
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When: Saturday, April 29, 2023 – 9:00am to 11:00am Registration required: Register here. |
| Tri-City Nature Challenge: Heron Walk (All Ages) |
| When: Saturday, April 29, 2023 – 1:00pm to 3:00pm Where: Meet at the Port Moody Rec Complex (300 Ioco Road) by the tennis courts What: Come learn about Port Moody’s resident Great Blue Heron colony with Burke Mountain Naturalists and help document the species around the colony using the iNaturalist app. Please dress for the weather with appropriate footwear for dirt and gravel trails. This walk will proceed as scheduled rain or shine. You can download the iNaturalist app for iPhone or Android in advance of this event. Registration required: Register here. |
| Tri-City Nature Challenge: Climate Resilient Landscaping Project (Youth 11-18) |
| When: Sunday, April 30, 2023 – 11:00am to 1:00pm Where: Pioneer Memorial Park (275 Knowle St) What:The City of Port Moody Environment & Parks invite youth to participate in the installation of a new climate-resilient garden space in Pioneer Memorial Park. Start by using the iNaturalist app to identify and learn about existing plant species in the Park, and then get your hands dirty planting species that are climate-resilient and pollinator-friendly. Gardening gloves and hand trowels provided. Please dress for the weather with appropriate clothing and footwear for gardening. You can download the iNaturalist app for iPhone or Android in advance of this event. Registration required: Register here. |
| Tri-City Nature Challenge: Tri-Cities Bear Aware (All Ages) |
| When: Sunday, April 30, 2023 – 9:00am to 12:00pm Where: meet at PCT Stage at Rocky Point Park (2800 Murray St) What: Stop by the Tri-Cities Bear Aware booth at the PCT Performance Stage at Rocky Point Park. Learn all about bears and coexisting with wildlife. Document the natural food sources of bears around the park using an app called iNaturalist. This walk will proceed as scheduled rain or shine. You can download the iNaturalist app for iPhone or Android in advance of this event. No registration required. |
| Tri-City Nature Challenge: Fish & Friends of Mossom Creek (All Ages) |
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When: Sunday, April 30, 2023 – 1:00pm to 3:00pm Registration required: Register here. |
Registration required: Register here.
