Have you ever gone for a walk in the park and saw a pretty flower or cool bug and you wondered what it is? Join the BLPA for a guided nature walk using the iNaturalist app and get to know the nature around you!
DATE: Sunday, September 11, 2022 TIME: 11:00 am to 12:00 pm PLACE: Burnaby Lake Nature House, 4519 Piper Avenue
What is iNaturalist?
It is one of the world’s most popular nature apps.
It helps you identify the plants and animals around you.
It connects you to a community off over a million citizen scientists and naturalists who can help you learn more about nature!
By recording and sharing your observations, you’ll create research quality data for scientists working to better understand and protect nature.
What’s more – you can register to participate in upcoming projects which can often have special events and prizes, like the Regional Parks Snap & Share happening in October.
Your BLPA Guide will review how to make an observation using the app and offer tips and tricks to get the best identification for your nature encounters and keep track of them.
After the introduction, we will go out into the park so you can use the app right away.
The Burnaby Lake Park Association is attending this year’s Burnaby Blooms and offering you an opportunity to learn how to use iNaturalist during this year’s City Nature Challenge (CNC), April 29-May 8, 2022.
What is the CNC? It’s an annual citizen science event that gets people outside to enjoy nature in their city as well as create a living record of urban wildlife. Participants are asked to get outside and take photos of wildlife (this includes both plants and animals!) using the free iNaturalist app or iNaturalist.ca. More than 400 cities took part in 2021 from around the world, 25 of which were right here in Canada.
While the City of Burnaby is not officially participating in the CNC this year, the BLPA wants to introduce the community to how fun an easy it is to use the iNaturalist app and website – simply snap a photo, share what you have seen and learn about the nature around you!
Join the BLPA at Burnaby Blooms for a workshop a guided walk to use the app:
DATE: Saturday, May 7
TIME: 2:30 – 3:30 pm. (2:30-3:00 – workshop, 3:00-3:30 walk to use the app
LOCATION: Deer Lake Park – see map below for meeting location
COST: $5 – The City of Burnaby will accept Drop in fee on-site!
To get the most out of the workshop, please download the iNaturalist app ahead of time and set up your account.
You can put your iNaturalist app to use year-round, tracking biodiversity wherever and whenever you’re in the mood to observe nature. Many nature groups host projects like the CNC through the year. The BLPA will have a project this fall that you can join.
Go to iNaturalist.ca or download the iNaturalist app on your smartphone and set up an account.
If you’re new to iNaturalist, check out these tutorials on how iNaturalist works:
Visit Burnaby Lake Regional Park to discover and connect with nature, contribute your observations to citizen science, and learn about the natural world around you.
Two easy steps to participate:
1. Go to iNaturalist.ca or download the iNaturalist app on your smartphone and set up an account.
2. Take photos in any Metro Vancouver regional park or greenway from May 15-June 13 and upload them to iNaturalist.
This spring, explore Metro Vancouver’s regional parks and greenways. Pay attention to plants and wildlife you haven’t noticed before. Then simply snap photos of what you discover and share your photos on iNaturalist.
iNaturalist is a great way to build your nature knowledge and get feedback on your observations. What’s more, you’ll be joining a global community of citizen scientists and contributing to biodiversity science. It’s a fun outdoor activity for everyone, on your own or with your family bubble.
All registered participants will be entered into weekly draws:
Monday May 24: Family membership to Museum of Anthropology (2 adults and up to 4 children under 18)
Monday May 31: Family membership to Beaty Biodiversity Museum (2 adults and up to 4 children under 18)
Monday June 7: Family membership to Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association and commemorative book
Monday June 14: Gift certificate for 2 adults for any 1.5 hour-long virtual or in-person tour with Talaysay Tours
Individual with the most observations: OWL Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society 40-minute owl pellet program with a bag of 10 owl pellets, plus a $60 gift card from Book Warehouse
Individual with the most species observed: $120 gift certificate for Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, plus a $60 gift card from Book Warehouse
Please note: To be eligible for prizes you’ll need to register for this project using this form. Register any time up to June 13.
If you’re new to iNaturalist:
We’re hosting a FREE “Introduction to iNaturalist” webinar on Tuesday, May 11th, 6:30-7:30pm. Presented by John Reynolds, SFU professor and iNaturalist expert. For the Zoom webinar link, click here.
You can also check out these tutorials on how iNaturalist works:
The Pacific Parklands Foundation was founded in 2000 to protect and preserve Metro Vancouver’s regional parks. We understand that healthy parks help build healthy, happy people and strong communities. Please join us!
