Lichens and tiger beetles and beeches – oh my! Share your sightings for the City Nature Challenge.

Clockwise from top left, northern cardinal on a backyard fence, bloodroot in bloom, midland painted turtles basking in the sun, large fungus on a fallen tree. Photos courtesy of Amy MacPherson. Our city has remarkable biodiversity – a true richness of plant and animal life. Whether you’re an avid nature lover or just a casual observer, here’s a chance to explore your city, be part of a nation-wide challenge and mark Earth Day 2025.  For Earth Day (Tuesday April 22), Ottawa is participating in the City Nature Challenge, taking place April 25 to 28. The Challenge is an international event and led in Canada by the Canadian Wildlife Federation. Its aim is to record wildlife sightings over the four days, with Canadian cities in a friendly competition to see which one can record the most. In the process, it encourages everyone who can to get outdoors and appreciate the abundant nature all around us. Participating in the Challenge is simple – head outside anywhere within Ottawa city limits and take photos or sound recordings of any wild species – plant, animal and fungus – or evidence of them, such as feathers, eggshells or animal tracks. Then upload your record to the free iNaturalist app. If you’re submitting observations from home, you can hide your precise location while still registering the city you are in. The app tallies sightings in real-time. It doesn’t matter if the sightings are native like Canada geese, non-native like the European or brown hare, or even invasive like buckthorn. iNaturalist will even help you identify what’s in the photo. Keep in mind that cultivated species, like those tomato plants you may have started, and pets do not count. Your sightings go well beyond helping Ottawa boost its Challenge ranking – they contribute to wildlife conservation by helping scientists track species at risk, locate wildlife hot spots and uncover invasive species. You can get the whole family involved by creating one account that adults and children can all upload to. To help boost participation, share your photos on social media and challenge friends to participate, using the hashtag #CityNatureCanada. There are several in-person Earth Day events across the city, which are free and open to all. Ever participated in a ‘bioblitz’? Here’s your chance. It’s a search for species within a limited area in a limited timeframe that results in a snapshot of as many living things as possible. No expertise required.

• Saturday April 26 the Canadian Wildlife Federation and National Capital Commission (NCC) are hosting a bioblitz at Jack Pine Trail in the western Greenbelt:
  • Naturalists will be onsite to help with the Challenge and lead walks on the trails
  • Ottawa Field Naturalist Club members will be onsite to share information and answer questions
  • Other fun activities include a scavenger hunt for families
• Saturday, April 26 City staff will be at the following locations, 10 am to 2 pm, to help residents with their observations:
  • Rideau River pathways, at Springhurst Park near Hurdman Station
  • Brewer Park, by the pond
  • Cardinal Creek Community Park, 1825 Trim Road

If you’re looking for other natural areas to explore, here are some conservation areas around town. Fun facts from the 2024 City Nature Challenge:

• The most reported species in Canada was the mallard duck, followed by the Canada goose
• Ottawa’s most reported species was the yellow trout lily, followed by the red-winged blackbird
• The warm spring weather resulted in sightings of early butterflies, bees and turtles

The top 10 Canadian cities were:

1. Vancouver
2. Montreal
3. Calgary
4. Cape Breton Regional Municipality
5. Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area
6. Victoria
7. Ottawa
8. Halifax
9. London
10. Abbotsford

Warm up for the weekend Challenge by attending a talk on Earth Day, Tuesday April 22. The City’s Nick Stow, Program Manager, Natural Systems, will be speaking at a free forum hosted by Friends of the Stittsville Wetlands

• Event: Wetlands: Mother Nature’s Kidneys
• Location: St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 2 Mulkins Street, Stittsville
• Online: The forum will also be live-streamed
• Time: Doors open at 6:30 pm; presentations at 7 pm; event concludes at 9 pm

No need to wait until Earth Day to get the spirit. Acquaint yourself with the iNaturalist app today and start discovering lichens and tiger beetles and beeches (oh my!). Interested in regular updates on the work of our Natural Systems group? Sign up for our Climate Change newsletter.