It was an exciting weekend as nature enthusiasts from all over Omaha joined Henry Doorly Zoo and the Omaha community for the 2018 City Nature Challenge – a worldwide citizen science project. A big thanks to everyone who joined us at Heron Haven to participate in the event. We hope you had as much fun as we did immersing ourselves in the tranquility of nature and using the iNaturalist app to record so many species of plants and animals that call Heron Haven home.
The most rewarding part was seeing participants of all ages and experience levels interacting and learning together in a shared love for the natural world. Over one hundred kids, teens, and adults took part – as well as a team of master naturalists, entomologists from Nebraska Extension, Heron Haven board members, and our own team members too. There was a quiet energy – respectful of the beautiful surroundings – as people quietly passed on the trails, sharing their findings, and pointing out new discoveries to one another. One group stopped under an old cottonwood to watch a woodpecker at work, and occasionally, the silence was broken by the excited squeal of a child catching a bullfrog or spying a long line of turtles sunning on a log. For the kids especially, it was a unique opportunity to get their hands muddy, dip their nets in the wetland muck, and discover tiny critters they may have never seen before – all in the middle of the city.
In the end, participants from across Omaha recorded over 1800 observations of 381 different species during the four-day City Nature challenge. We couldn’t be prouder to be a part of it. And the fun isn’t over either – you can continue to use the iNaturalist app to record the plants, animals, and any other living organisms you spot wherever you go. It’s a great way to interact with other nature enthusiasts and learn about the living world around us.
