Urban Wildlife Gets Springtime Scrutiny at the City Nature Challenge

The 2022 City Nature Challenge was a huge success for our urban wildlife!  From April 29-May 2, hundreds of community scientists of all skill levels joined together to take a springtime census of the plants and animals here in the Anacostia Watershed. Using our trusty tool iNaturalist, the Anacostia Watershed Society and our partners held events at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, Fort Dupont park, and Guilford Woods for the observers who wanted to venture beyond their own neighborhoods to participate. 

Among the highlights of the weekend were:

• 79 different bird species, including migratory species just stopping through on the way to their more northern climes
• 10 different mammals, including a Silver haired bat
• 12 different arachnids, including 4 tick species

We would like to thank our partners Capital Nature, Audubon Naturalist Society, DC Audubon, and Save Guilford Woods for helping to organize the events. And we'd like to extend a special thanks to Jared Urchek for stepping up to be a last-minute substitution for the mushroom walk!

If you are interested in participating in the next wildlife census, in six months we will be hosting our fall Bioblitz once again.