The challenge is on, and the Omaha-Metro area needs your help. Our own Henry Doorly Zoo is spear-heading the local effort to earn Omaha the title of “world’s most biodiverse city” in the 2018 City Nature Challenge. Over 60 cities across the globe are competing to see who can record the most living species within their urban spaces.
As part of the challenge, we’re planning a special event with our neighbors at Heron Haven – on Saturday, April 28th, from 10am to 12pm. Come join us for a chance to be immersed in the beauty of nature – and even contribute to science – right in the heart of our own city.
Join Us at Heron Haven
We’re excited to partner with our friends at Heron Haven – a wetland sanctuary and nature education center – located right across from our store. Heron Haven is truly a hidden gem. There, you’ll get the chance to spot all kinds of amazing plants and animals while enjoying the quiet of nature. We’ll have enthusiasts from our own store, Master Naturalists, and experts from Nebraska Extension stationed throughout the sanctuary – with extra binoculars and tips for what to look for. You’ll spot bullfrogs and birds along the wetland boardwalk, find aquatic insects with a dip net, explore walking trails through the woods, and visit a small prairie garden too.
With your participation in the challenge, you’ll even have the chance to win one of four $50 gift cards to our store – so you can stock up on supplies for your own nature-friendly garden. Be sure to stop by our Plant ID Quiz too to win free seeds from one of our favorite pollinator-supporting flowers.
Be a Citizen Scientist
More than just a competition among cities, the City Nature Challenge is an opportunity to contribute to important scientific research too. In last year’s event, over 124,000 species were recorded just in the U.S – including everything from plants to animals to fungi and more. That’s a lot of data that researchers can use to better understand and protect the biodiversity in our urban spaces. And for us participants, it’s a reminder of the incredible life around us and our ability to support our urban ecosystems.
Let’s Get Started
The best part too is that you don’t have to be an expert naturalist to join the challenge. Simply download the free iNaturalist app. It’s a popular app among nature-enthusiasts that makes recording nature sightings easy – we’ll show you how to use it to upload photos of all your observations. Stop by and join us for the City Nature Challenge at Heron Haven, so we can find out just how biodiverse our city really is – and help Henry Doorly Zoo and the Omaha-Metro earn the winning title for 2018.
