April 24-27
.png)
City Nature Challenge
This year, Corvallis will join cities around the world in a collaborative effort to share nature observations in the 2026 City Nature Challenge. Join us to document our local biodiversity using iNaturalist. Run by the California Academy of Sciences, the City Nature Challenge is an international effort for people to find and document plants and wildlife in cities. It's an annual four-day global bioblitz, where cities collaborate to see what can be accomplished when we all work toward a common goal.
​
WHY?
-
FUN!! It's like Pokemon but with real creatures!
-
Connect with Nature, and help others connect with nature!​
-
HELPING SCIENTISTS
-
Scientists use iNaturalist data to monitor changes in species distribution over time, providing crucial information on how species adapt to urban environments.​
-
The data collected helps researchers understand and protect biodiversity.
-
Through citizen science, the platform provides data on species that might otherwise go unnoticed, expanding knowledge of urban, suburban, and sometimes rare flora and fauna.
Get Involved!
Free Events!
​
Join one of the FREE public events with your favorite nature loving organizations! You never know what you may discover!
​Finley National Wildlife Refuge Bioblitz:
Friday, April 24 (1-4pm)
Visit Headquarters to meet US Fish and Wildlife Staff to start your City Nature Challenge! Binoculars and Discovery Backpacks are available to help you search for species! ​
Join the Greenbelt Land Trust to bioblitz Bald Hill!
Friday, April 24 (4-7pm)
All abilities welcome, iNaturalist demonstrations available. Explore parts of Bald Hill typically not open to the public. Register via this link. Meeting location will be emailed after you register.
​Starker Arts Park Bioblitz with the Corvallis Environmental Center and the Mary's River Watershed Council, April 25 (10-noon)
All ages and abilities welcome. Help us bioblitz Starker Arts Park and the wetlands surrounding Sunset Park! We will be set up by the path leading to the Amphitheater. Learn about beavers and recent restoration efforts to restore native species to Starker Arts Park!
​
Chintimini Wildlife Center, 311 NW Lewisburg Avenue, April 25 (1-4pm)
Wildlife baby shower and Bioblitz! Visit the baby animals AND bioblitz the lovely grounds of Chintimini Wildlife Center!
​
The Domain Wetlands Nature Walk with the Arnold Park Neighborhood Association, Saturday, April 25th, meet at 2pm at the Arnold Park Gazebo.
Connect with neighbors, walk and identify plants along the multiuse path from Harrison Blvd to Duniway Avenue.
​​
Crystal Lake Bioblitz with Corvallis Parks & Rec and Special, Saturday, April 25 (3-5pm), Meet Guest Ecologist Anna Ramthun at the trailhead to the river trail, just beyond the yellow gate.
​
Hesthaven Nature Center Property, Mid-Willamette Bird Alliance, Sunday, April 25th (2-4pm)
Love birds?! Meet members from the incredible Mid-Willamette Bird Alliance and bioblitz their beautiful property near Oak Creek. Parking is limited to 6 vehicles, so carpooling is advised. Located within walking distance to the Oak Creek entrance to McDonald Forest where there is more parking.
​​
Get Involved!
Observe and identify wild plants and animals, and take part in one of the largest global community science events. Here is how you can join in the fun!
​​
1. Fill out this City Nature Challenge Participation form if you would like to:
-
Host a City Nature Challenge: Corvallis event
-
Create a City Nature Challenge Team
-
Share your skills as an nature observer or iNaturalist Verifier.
​
2. Download the iNaturalist App to make your observations. Observations for the Corvallis City Nature Challenge can be made anywhere within the boundaries of Benton County from April 24-27.
3. Join the City Nature Challenge: Corvallis iNaturalist Project to add your observations to our challenge.
​
4. Observe as many species as you can anywhere in Benton County from April 24 - April 27th! Join one or more of the free events being put on by our favorite nature loving organizations!​
Learn More
Watch "Here the Wild Things Are" to see how other cities around the world participate in the City Nature Challenge!
_pdf.png)