City Nature Challenge 2024 Results

From the California Academy of Sciences:

City Nature Challenge records 2.4 million wildlife observations from more than 83,000 participants in a single weekend

Data from community scientists across the globe informs species conservation, enhances understanding of global biodiversity

Now in its ninth year, the annual City Nature Challenge (CNC) global bioblitz has concluded, yielding more than 2,400,000 wildlife observations for another record-breaking year. Over the four-day event, held between April 26-29, more than 83,000 people across six continents used the free mobile app iNaturalist to participate however they could—including attending community wildlife surveys and observing species in their own homes—to document the wondrous diversity of wild plants, animals, and fungi that share our planet. From observations of critically endangered and elusive species to sightings outside of known species ranges, information collected during the City Nature Challenge underscores the value of community science to track real-time changes in our planet’s biodiversity—especially in urban areas.

Read the full press release

Local observation makes the news! The California Academy of Sciences included this incredible iNaturalist observation of a Bobcat by John Hartgerink at Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center in their press release.

Baton Rouge Region Results

April 26-29, 2024

17,511
Observations Made

#33 in the world out of 690 cities
#14 in the USA out of 134 cities

2,703
Species Documented

#19 in the world out of 690 cities
#10 in the USA out of 134 cities

382
People Participated

#52 in the world out of 690 cities
#31 in the USA out of 134 cities

View the iNaturalist observations that participants made for the Baton Rouge Region

Louisiana Results

#1 Baton Rouge Region

#2 Southwest Louisiana Region

#3 New Orleans Region

Baton Rouge City Nature Challenge 2024 Fun Finds

Selected by the Louisiana Master Naturalists of Greater Baton Rouge

Most Observed Species in the Baton Rouge Region

Overall

Fall Webworm Moth Caterpillars
Blue Dasher Dragonfly
Virginia Creeper
Eastern Poison Ivy
Southern Dewberry

Mammals
(28 species observed)

Eastern Gray Squirrel
Common Raccoon
Swamp Rabbit
White-tailed Deer
Virginia Opossum

Amphibians
(19 species observed)

Cope’s Gray Treefrog
Green Treefrog
Squirrel Treefrog
Green/Bronze Frog
Gulf Coast Toad

Reptiles
(33 species observed)

Green Anole
Banded Watersnake
Pond Slider
Broad-headed Skink
Western Ribbon Snake

Butterflies
(43 species observed)

Pearl Crescent
Black Swallowtail
Common Buckeye
Little Wood Satyr
Dun Skipper

Moths
(319 species observed)

Fall Webworm Moth
Buck Moth
Waterlily Leafcutter Moth
Moonseed Moth
Forest Tent Caterpillar Moth

Other Arthropods
(745 species observed)

Blue Dasher
Great Blue Skimmer
Western Honey Bee
Eastern Pondhawk
Common Pill Woodlouse

Birds
(118 species observed)

Northern Cardinal
Northern Mockingbird
Carolina Wren
Eastern Bluebird
Red-winged Blackbird

Plants (1,069 species observed)

Trees

American Sweetgum
Water Oak
Chinese Tallow
Southern Magnolia
Red Maple

Vines

Virginia Creeper
Eastern Poison Ivy
Muscadine
Peppervine
Japanese Climbing Fern

Other Plants

Southern Dewberry
Bristle Thistle
Largeflower Pink-Sorrel
Chinese Privet
Mock Strawberry

Fungi & Lichens
(156 species observed)

Latte Bracket
Christmas Lichen
Trametes cubensis bracket fungi
Crowded Parchment
Hairy Oyster Mushroom

Fish
(15 species observed)

Western Mosquitofish
Sailfin Molly
Bluegill
Eastern Mosquitofish
Western Blacktail Shiner

Local Leaderboard

Thank you to our participants, volunteers, partners and identifiers!

Most Observations

Brandon Johnson
Katrina Hashagen
Daniel Patterson
Carson Lambert
Alice Miller
Katherine Gividen
Erin Bryan
Janie Braud
Jody Shugart
Cindy Thompson

Pictured: #1 Brandon Johnson, far left, next to #8 Janie Braud, and #2 Katrina Hashagen with nature pals Alok & Janine Kharey and Amber King at the BREC BioBlitz at Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center.

Most Species

Daniel Patterson
Katrina Hashagen
Brandon Johnson
Jody Shugart
Alice Miller
Erin Bryan
Carson Lambert
Katherine Gividen
Amber King
Janie Braud

Most Identifications

Katrina Hashagen
Daniel Patterson
Lisa Appelbaum
Janie Braud
Amber King
Ken Bosso
Sean Golden
Roger Butner
Brad Moon
Krista Adams

Observation Distribution

We had observations made in all 12 parishes of our region! Here are the 20 spots that had the most observations logged:

Observation Hot Spots

1. BREC Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center

2. LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden

3. Big Branch Marsh NWR & Lacombe area

4. LSU Hilltop Arboretum

5. Baton Rouge Audubon Society Amite River Wildlife Sanctuary

6. Tickfaw State Park & River

7. Tunica Hills WMA

8. BREC Highland Road Park & Observatory

9. Dawson Creek Trail & Perkins Road Park

10. Waddill Wildlife Refuge

11. Northlake Nature Center, Pelican Park & Fontainebleau State Park area

12. Joyce WMA

13. BREC Forest Community Park

14. Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge

15. BREC Hooper Road Park

16. North Park, Denham Springs

17. BREC Bayou Manchac Park

18. BREC Frenchtown Conservation Area

19. Downtown BR & Capitol Lake

20. Bogue Chitto State Park

Observation Quality

Verifiable Observations
Observations with photo or audio evidence and the organism is wild (meaning not captive or cultivated.)

97.7%

We improved 4.7% on this important statistic, though our standing is still low, #375 in the world.

Research Grade
Verifiable observations that were able to be identified and can be used for scientific research.

48%

We dropped 4% on this statistic - something to work on! We placed #229 in the world for this statistic. This often means the organism in the photo was not clear enough to identify it.