400 Cities Join Global Wildlife Hunt with Smartphones

Your backyard might hold more scientific discoveries than you think, and this month, cities across the globe are proving it.

More than 400 cities are participating in the City Nature Challenge from April 24 to 27, 2026, turning ordinary residents into scientific contributors. Armed with nothing more than smartphones and the free iNaturalist app, people of all ages can photograph birds, bugs, plants, and fungi in their neighborhoods and upload their findings to a growing database of urban biodiversity.

Discovery Place Science in Charlotte, North Carolina, is among the institutions joining this year's event. The challenge welcomes everyone from expert naturalists to casual observers, making scientific research accessible to anyone who can snap a photo.

"The 2026 City Nature Challenge is a wonderful way to enjoy nature, and learning to identify the creatures around you transforms the way you see the world," said Elliot Provance, Senior Director of Collections at Discovery Place. "What once looked like a blur of green becomes a rich, diverse ecosystem full of detail and discovery."

Every observation counts, whether spotted in a backyard garden or city park. These collective snapshots help scientists understand urban wildlife patterns and track how nature adapts to city living.

The challenge started in 2016 as a friendly competition between Los Angeles and San Francisco. What began as two cities comparing their urban biodiversity has grown into an international movement connecting communities worldwide through their shared natural spaces.

The Ripple Effect

The beauty of this challenge extends beyond the weekend event itself. Each photograph contributes to a permanent scientific record that researchers use year-round to study everything from migration patterns to climate change impacts. Participants often report that the experience changes how they view their everyday surroundings, noticing details they previously overlooked.

This collective effort democratizes scientific research, proving that valuable contributions don't require advanced degrees or expensive equipment. A child photographing a butterfly in their backyard generates data just as meaningful as a trained biologist's observations.

This April, looking closely at the world around you could help scientists solve real mysteries about urban nature.