Van Cortlandt Park Biodiversity Projects Dagbok

Hello everyone!

We've sailed past 40,000 observations in Van Cortlandt Park, a huge thanks to you all!

Now, we're excited to introduce our new "Van Cortlandt Nature Network," an umbrella project on iNaturalist, a great way to track various subproject initiatives that may be of interest.

https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/van-cortlandt-park-nature-network

What's New:

Dive Deeper: Discover sub-projects covering everything from birds to fungi to introduced species.
Easy Access: Just explore; no need to join each project.
Stay Updated: Watch for new projects popping up under the umbrella page.

Your Input Matters:

Share Ideas: Have a project suggestion? Drop a comment.
Ask Us: Questions about the projects? We're here to help.

Looking Ahead:

City Nature Challenge: Get ready for the challenge in April. Help us lead in the Greenspace Race with your observations! First park to 5k observation wins! Join that project here:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2024-green-space-race-van-cortlandt-park

No need to join any project - just using INAT within Van Cortlandt Park automatically goes to each one. Joining the project though is a great way to explore the stats and compete on the leaderboards.

Thank you for your contributions and enthusiasm. Let’s keep exploring together!

Hello, nature enthusiasts!

We need your help. This year, our goal is to be the first park in New York City to log 5,000 observations in the City Nature Challenge Bioblitz (April 26th-29th). We believe the Bronx can lead this charge, showcasing the rich biodiversity and community spirit of our borough.

To jumpstart our efforts, we invite you to join us at the VCPA Garden at 10 AM this Saturday (4/27) for a group iNaturalist session. It's a fantastic opportunity to meet fellow nature lovers, learn more about local species, and contribute to a great cause. You can make observations in Van Cortlandt park anytime over the Bioblitz weekend and have it count toward the race.

Here’s what you can do:

Join our project: City Nature Challenge 2024: Green Space Race at Van Cortlandt Park.
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2024-green-space-race-van-cortlandt-park

Make observations: Every plant, insect, and animal you document helps our park and our borough shine.

Share your experiences: Spread the word and encourage friends to participate.

Your observations not only help our park gain recognition but also contribute valuable data for conservation efforts. Let's come together to explore, learn, and lead. Show your Bronx pride and help us reach our 5,000-observation goal!

See you in the park,
The Van Cortlandt Park Alliance Team

Let's keep the observations going!

VCP is leading the greenspace observations here:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2024-nyc-green-space-race

The Bronx is leading with observations in the Battle of the Boroughs. But Queens is leading with species!
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2024-nyc-battle-of-the-boroughs

Have another great day out there! If you are around the Northwest forest today, a group will be out with VCPA, meeting at the Garden site by the stables at 10am.

Looking forward to seeing your observations!