You can be a volunteer naturalist and contribute to a growing database of Park wildlife! From birds and insects to fish and trees, your participation will help the Park document local biodiversity, track migratory species and monitor invasive species. This information will help us better understand how Hudson River Park acts as vital habitat for a variety of species. Any observations made using the app will be automatically uploaded to the Park’s database.
As a corollary to this program, each month, we will be hosting a weeklong Backyard BioBlitz: friendly competitions to see who can observe the most organisms over the course of a week. We encourage you to get outside and safely enjoy the Park, either by yourself or with your family/household, while practicing proper social protection for yourselves and others.
Be sure to follow our Diversity Digests after each Backyard BioBlitz. Park staff will summarize everyone’s findings for the week, discuss key species, highlight great photos and congratulate users who made the most observations.
How to participate
1. Download the iNaturalist app on your phone or use the website on your home computer
2. Create an iNaturalist account (you must be 13 years of age or older to create an account)
3. While safely distancing in the Park, use the app to make observations OR take pictures and upload them to the iNaturalist website using your home computer
4. Check out the Bioblitz page to see everyone’s progress
5. Tune in to the Diversity Digest on Wednesday the 15th at 2:00 PM
Backyard BioBlitz 2020 Dates:
August 12 to August 18
Diversity Digest Wednesday August 19 at 2:00 PM, Facebook Live
September 9 to September 15
Diversity Digest Wednesday September 16 at 2:00 PM, Facebook Live
October 7 to October 13
Diversity Digest Wednesday October 14 at 2:00 PM, Facebook Live
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