Anyone can be a citizen scientist!

Citizen science, also known as community or participatory science, provides valuable information about the state of our region's ecosystems, animals, and plant life.

Capital Nature supports citizen science through the Washington DC Area Citizen Science Network, and by helping organize the City Nature Challenge. We also lead smaller-scale citizen science observations in neighborhoods and local parks, and help budding observers learn about the iNaturalist and Merlin apps. Each month Capital Nature co-hosts iNat Nite to learn about local species and sharpen attendees' identification skills.

Featured Citizen Science Project: Bird Counts

Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker at Algonkian Regional Park

Photo: Matt Felperin

The annual Christmas Bird Count is the longest running citizen science project in the country. Locally, the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia and the DC Audubon Society host observation walks for this popular count as well as the Great Backyard Bird Count in February. The annual eBird Global Big Day and World Migratory Bird Day will soon be scheduled for 2024!

Would you like to know more about citizen science?

Learn about interesting citizen science projects around the world on iNaturalist, SciStarter and NASA's Globe Observer.
Join the Washington DC Area Citizen Science Network google group.
Check out regional citizen science events, including birding, in Capital Nature's regional calendar.
Or contact Capital Nature with questions.

City Nature Challenge at Park Rx Day April 2018 (Photo: Ana Ka'ahanui)

City Nature Challenge 2018 - DC Capitol Grounds Tree Tour (Photo: Ana Ka'ahanui)

Christmas Bird Count in Northern Virginia (Photo: Ana Ka'ahanui)