2019 City Nature Challenge
The challenge is on, and the Omaha-Metro area needs your help. Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium is spear-heading the local effort to earn Omaha the title of “world’s most biodiverse city” in the 2019 City Nature Challenge. Over 60 cities across the globe are competing to record the greatest number of living species – and help scientists understand and protect the biodiversity within their urban spaces.
Join Us at Heron Haven
As part of the challenge, we’re excited to partner with our friends at Heron Haven – a wetland sanctuary and nature education center – located right across from our store. There, you’ll have a chance to be immersed in the beauty of nature – right here in our city. You’ll spot bullfrogs and birds along the wetland boardwalk, find aquatic insects with a dip net, explore walking trails through the woods, and maybe even see a family of turtles sunning on a log.
Joining us for the challenge are numerous experts on plants, birds, and insects from across the city to help you spot and identify something new. They include representatives from:
- Heron Haven
- Creighton University, Department of Biology,
- University of Nebraska Omaha, Department of Biology
- College of Saint Mary, Department of Biology
- Nebraska Master Naturalists
- Audubon Nebraska
- Pheasants Forever
- Papio-Missouri River Natural Resource District.
The Chance to Win
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 some of our favorite pollinator-supporting flowers.
Let’s Get Started
You don’t have to be an expert naturalist to join the challenge. Simply download the free iNaturalist app, and 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 Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium and the Omaha-Metro earn the winning title for 2019.
