Hi guys. I am new to the site. I recently attended a bioblitz at Lobos Creek in The Presidio of San Francisco. It was such a great experience with amazing volunteer naturalists. I did a quick write up and wanted to share. I wanted to know if anyone else participated in any of the global city nature challenges and, if so, what was your favorite observation? Did anyone start out on iNaturalist from a bioblitz and go on to use the app to log observations in everyday life? I found it very easy to get started and am looking forward to using it around my neighborhood parks to log local plants. https://www.foglinesf.com/p/naturalist-for-a-day-bioblitz-at-lobos-creek-2026
Welcome to iNat! Enjoyed reading the write-up as thatās exactly what we hope bioblitzes will do to foster interest in the environment around us.
Iām a person who has always loved science who found somewhere to dump all those photos that nobody would be interested in on FB and IG. INat is the place I can happily be a bird nerd ( or budding bug/spider nerd) and be surrounded by like-minded people.
We miss so much in our local environments. Even in our gardens. We are forever adding new natives to our garden and are being rewarded with new critters. But documentation of existing plants, even the weeds living in the cracks of the footpath, to me is important because the natural world is changing. If it isnāt documented it didnāt happen.
Glad you have found the forum too!
I liked your write up. Glad you found iNat and the forum, and yes, it is easy to become hooked - so welcome!!!
I had not heard of iNat until my county participated in the City Nature Challenge (CNC) last year, 2025. I come at things from the photography side in addition to a love of nature. I thought it would be.a fun weekend āassignmentā for myself. It was and I was hooked. Hooked enough that I am now an iNat Ambassador, and co-hosted a bioblitz as a part of this years CNC.
There are organisms to see everywhere!!! I find myself looking more carefully and noticing way more. And, of course taking pics and posting on iNat.
Welcome. I look forward to seeing many more observations from you, especially since I am a fellow Northern California person.
Welcome aboard, @salishani! I really enjoyed your write-up.
Unfortunately, Iām missing out on the CNC this year (chronic pain flare from rapid weather change), but I did all four days last year, and had a blast. Itās a great excuse to pick a spot on the map and say āHey, Iāve never been thereā.
I actually found iNat through a different sort of bioblitz: every year, the Dragonfly Society of the Americas and Odonata Central sponsor an event for dragonfly enthusiasts. My enthusiasm snowballed from there. While I have more observations of dragonflies and damselflies than anything else, Iām also building a fairly respectable list of other species. My favorite observations from last year are a toss-up between this life lister Alkali Buttercup and this seriously territorial male Broad-tailed Hummingbird.
Thatās amazing that you co-hosted a bioblitz! I am excited about the abundance of nature around me in Northern California.
Thank you! I am also excited about doing some birding. I loved learning from the volunteers who could ID birds by their vocalizations.
I have heard of Odonata Central! How fun to spot dragonflies. I hope to add some to my observations one day.