Welcome to City Nature Challenge 2023 for Duval County! City Nature Challenge is a friendly competition between cities around the world. It started in 2016 between San Francisco and Los Angeles to see who could get the community to observe more wildlife using iNaturalist. Since then, more and more cities have started to participate. Jacksonville hosted the challenge starting in 2022 and plans to expand their community science programs with this incredible and engaging challenge. For four days (April 28 – May 1), we encourage you to use iNaturalist to take pictures of all the wildlife you can see (remember only look and snap, don’t touch!).

Conservation scientists and researchers around the world use the pictures from iNaturalist to study different species, update distribution ranges, and determine population health. Help us help conservationists protect and study wildlife around the world from your backyard!

Join the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens this year for a host of engaging activities and events. They are planning an after hours event at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens on Saturday, April 29, 2023, hosting several BioBlitz events at city parks around Jacksonville, and working with other organizations around Jacksonville, including your St. Johns Riverkeeper and Tree Hill Nature Center!

BioBlitz Events with the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

Friday, April 28

William Sheffield Regional Park: 2-5 p.m.

Saturday, April 29

Bird Walk at Riverview Park: 8-11 a.m.

Tillie K. Fowler Regional Park: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Castaway Island Preserve: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Stinson Park: 1-4 p.m.

Sunday, April 30

Ed Austin Regional Park: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Lonnie C. Miller Regional Park: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. (St. Johns Riverkeeper education staff will be at this event!)

Palmetto Leaves Regional Park: 1-4 p.m.

Monday, May 1

Boone Park: 10-11 a.m. (St. Johns Riverkeeper education staff will be at this event!)

Fort Family Regional Park: 2-5 p.m.

After Hours Event at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

As part of the City Nature Challenge, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is hosting an after hours event in the Zoo parking lot on Saturday, April 29 from 6-9 p.m. Bring your family and friends out to take a tour through some wild areas, as Wildlife Ambassadors guide you to the best places to see wildlife up close. You will look for plants and wildlife near the gardens, in the nature trail and see some incredible species that most overlook! This event is free, but you must RSVP.