City-backed BioBlitz turns everyday walks into useful science
The City of Charlottetown and Nature P.E.I. are launching a month-long community BioBlitz, inviting Islanders to document the plants, animals, fungi and insects they encounter and upload those observations to the iNaturalist app. The project aims to celebrate local biodiversity while building a record that scientists and conservation groups can use well beyond Prince Edward Island.
Organizers say participation is simple: take a clear photo or short audio recording, submit it through iNaturalist and let the platform’s identification tools and community reviewers help confirm what you found. The app compiles each entry into a growing database of species observations that supports conservation decisions.
“We encourage folks to get outside — it could be in your own yard, in public parks, around the city — and document whatever wild plants, insects, animals you see,” said Rowan Neale, a nature education and restoration co-ordinator with the City of Charlottetown.
Local observations with global reach
City staff say the information does not sit idle. The P.E.I. Invasive Species Council relies on iNaturalist data to track non-native species across the province, and the City uses local submissions to help plan and schedule nature repair projects. Those observations are also shared more widely: iNaturalist’s global database contributes to efforts that monitor pollinator health and seasonal bird movements.
“This is a global app, and so there’s plenty of different conservation organizations that use this data,” Neale said. “The more we know, the more we can take strategic action to actually help these species and ecosystems.”
That feedback loop — residents spot what’s around them, experts help identify it and agencies apply the information — is central to the BioBlitz. By encouraging people to notice what’s growing between sidewalk cracks or calling from a treetop, organizers hope to build both a richer dataset and a stronger local connection to nature.
How to take part
- Download iNaturalist on your mobile device or use the website.
- Photograph or record audio of any wild organism you see — from insects to trees.
- Upload your observation; the app and its community help with identification.
- Repeat throughout the month-long BioBlitz — entries are welcome year-round.
There is no need for formal training. Organizers emphasize that curiosity is enough to get started. While the official BioBlitz spans the next month, iNaturalist accepts observations at any time, allowing residents to continue contributing after the event wraps up.
What your observation contributes
| What you record | Where it goes |
|---|---|
| Plants, animals, fungi, insects | iNaturalist’s shared database used by scientists and conservation groups |
| Photos and audio | Tools for identification, mapping and long-term biodiversity tracking |
For Charlottetown residents, the BioBlitz offers a low-barrier way to support local stewardship. Each verified entry helps clarify which species are thriving, which are under pressure and where restoration work can have the most impact. Whether you add a few backyard snapshots or dozens of finds from around the city, those points on the map add up to a clearer picture of island life.
iNaturalist’s year-round utility means the BioBlitz can serve as a starting point. As seasons shift, ongoing uploads can help show when pollinators appear, how bird movements change and where invasive species take hold. City officials and partners say those patterns inform the timing and placement of future nature repair projects across Charlottetown.
