This is your chance to join fellow nature lovers across the capital region for the 2026 City Nature Challenge and help document local biodiversity while contributing to a worldwide conservation effort.
Over four-days, April 24-27, photograph and document local biodiversity in the capital region using the free iNaturalist website or app and help to build a record of the nature that surrounds us. More than 900 cities around the world will be participating in the City Nature Challenge this year. By joining in, you will help build a record of the nature that surrounds us, which is used by local governments and scientists to protect biodiversity.
Join the Greater Victoria 2026 City Nature Challenge project to be eligible to win an exciting prize:
- Most species observations overall: $30 gift card to Satinflower Nurseries
- Most observations overall: $30 gift card to the Aunty Collective
- More than 20 different species observations total (random draw): Guidebook to walks and hikes of Vancouver Island ($20 value)
- More than 10 observations of different birds (random draw): $20 gift card to the Wild Birds Unlimited Store
- More than 10 observations of different invertebrate species (random draw): Bug Magnifier from Lee Valley Tools ($20 value)
Participating in City Nature Challenge in the capital region is easy:
- Create an account using the free iNaturalist app (available at AppStore or Google Play) or website.
- Become a member of the Greater Victoria City Nature Challenge project. Members will receive project updates and have the chance to win great prizes.
- Join the hunt! Search for local nature in your backyard, neighbourhood, or favourite park or beach between April 24 and 27. Observations of WILD plants, animals, fungi, insects, tracks, or even scat are all welcome. Please do not make observations of captive or cultivated species like garden plants, street trees, or pets.
- Use a digital camera or smart phone to capture your sightings and upload to iNaturalist. Any iNaturalist observation made within the capital region between April 24-27 will count towards the Challenge.
- iNaturalist’s image recognition features will help you to identify your findings and build your biodiversity knowledge, and the online iNaturalist community will add extra support.
Don't miss any of the City Nature Challenge events! Partners across the capital region are offering free events to encourage people to join this fun competition. These events will have experts on hand to help you use iNaturalist and learn more about local species. Click on the links for more information, and check back as new events are continually added:
| Date and Time | Event | Partners |
|---|---|---|
| April 24, 11 am- 2 pm | Bioblitz and Garry Oak Learning Meadow tours at Fisgard Lighthouse/ Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site | Parks Canada |
| April 25, 10 am –12 pm | Outerbridge Park Tour and Bird Walk RSVP required | District of Saanich and the Rocky Point Bird Observatory |
April 25, 10 am-3 pm | Have a Go Day Earth Day event at Power to Be | Power to Be and CRD Regional Parks |
| April 25 (11 am-3 pm) | Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary’s EcoQuest and guided lichen walk | Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary |
| April 26, 2026, 10 am- 1 pm | Oak Haven Park ecological restoration and wildflower walk RSVP required | Habitat Acquisition Trust, District of Central Saanich and Friends of Oak Haven Park |
| April 26, 11 am -2 pm | Guided bioblitz on the Gorge Waterway, with a focus on insects | Gorge Waterway Action Society |
April 26 1:30-3 pm | “Gotta snap ‘em all”: Guided nature walk using iNaturalist at Elk Lake | CRD Regional Parks |
Thank you to our partners who are participating in the Greater Victoria 2026 City Nature Challenge. Our partners include District of Saanich, District of Central Saanich, Friends of Oak Haven Park, Garry Oak Meadow Preservation Society,Gorge Waterway Action Society, Habitat Acquisition Trust, Nature Victoria, Rocky Point Bird Observatory, Royal Roads University, Peninsula Streams Society, Parks Canada, Power to Be, Satinflower Nurseries, Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary, and more.
If you need more information about using iNaturalist, please review these additional resources:
