City Nature Challenge
Help us record New York City's flora and fauna during this year’s City Nature Challenge from April 25 - May 4, 2025! The City Nature Challenge is an international effort for community scientists and nature enthusiasts to come together and help find and document urban biodiversity. Over 400 cities across the world collaborate in this annual event with the goal of making the most observations of nature, finding the most species, and engaging the most people.
Join the City Nature Challenge by participating in one of our upcoming City Nature Challenge events! Want to participate on your own? Visit the City Nature Challenge's website to learn more. Track New York City's progress during the challenge and find out about more events citywide on the 2024 NYC City Nature Challenge website.
Trees and Plants
Explore our forest floor, take a peek into our gardens, and uncover the beauty of our parks as you learn about how we grow and care for our trees and support the rich biodiversity of our city with native plants.
Wildlife in New York City
Our parks are home to an amazing abundance of wildlife, from chipmunks and hawks to coyotes and salamanders! Learn about their life here in New York City, how we care for them, and how to coexist with them.
City Nature Challenge Events
Friday, April 25, 2025
City Nature Challenge: Spring Ephemerals Walk at Alley Pond Park
at Adventure Course Parking Lot (in Alley Pond Park), Queens
5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m.
Volunteers will learn how to identify these plants and learn how to make iNaturalist observations of any other signs of nature you find along the way.
Free!
Saturday, April 26, 2025
City Nature Challenge Bird Blitz
at Seaman Avenue and Isham Street (in Inwood Hill Park), Manhattan
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join the Rangers as we walk the park to observe and collect data for the City Nature Challenge, a friendly competition taking place April 25-28
Free!
City Nature Challenge: Naturalist Hike
at Martling Avenue and Brooks Pond Place (in Clove Lakes Park), Staten Island
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join the Rangers as we walk the park to observe and collect data for the City Nature Challenge, a friendly competition taking place April 25 - April 28.
Free!
City Nature Challenge: Spring Ephemerals Walk at Alley Pond Park
at Adventure Course Parking Lot (in Alley Pond Park), Queens
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Volunteers will learn how to identify these plants and learn how to make iNaturalist observations of any other signs of nature you find along the way.
Free!
City Nature Challenge Bio Blitz
at Entrance - West 231st Street and Riverdale Avenue (in Ewen Park), Bronx
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Join the Rangers as we walk the park to observe and collect data for the City Nature Challenge, a friendly competition taking place April 25-28
Free!
City Nature Challenge: Biodiversity Hike
at Entrance - Baisley Blvd. & 157th Street (in Baisley Pond Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Join the Rangers as we walk the park to observe and collect data for the City Nature Challenge, a friendly competition taking place April 25 -April 28
Free!
Sunday, April 27, 2025
City Nature Challenge: Spring Ephemerals Walk at Forest Park
at Myrtle Avenue and Park Lane South (in Forest Park), Queens
9:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m.
Volunteers will learn how to identify these plants and learn how to make iNaturalist observations of any other signs of nature you find along the way.
Free!
City Nature Challenge Bird Blitz
at Picnic House (in Prospect Park), Brooklyn 

10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
Join the Rangers as we walk the park to observe and collect data for the City Nature Challenge, a friendly competition taking place April 25-28
Free!
City Nature Challenge: Ecology Park Bio Blitz and Cleanup
at Bergen Avenue b/w Avenue T & Cove Lane
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Join NYC Parks staff in sprucing up Ecology Park followed by a tour of the unique ecosystems
Free!
Event
City Nature Challenge Bio Blitz
at Playground for All Children (in Pelham Bay Park), Bronx
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Join the Rangers as we walk the park to observe and collect data for the City Nature Challenge, a friendly competition taking place April 25-28
Free!
City Nature Challenge Wildflower ID
at Winchester Boulevard, under Grand Central Parkway (in Alley Pond Park), Queens
1:00 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Join the Rangers as we walk the park to observe and collect data for the City Nature Challenge, a friendly competition taking place April 25-28
Free!