About
Why was the LA BioBlitz Challenge renamed to LA Nature Quest?
“BioBlitz” is a term from the National Park Service that describes fast-paced biodiversity surveys where scientists and volunteers work together to count species. While the energy and efficiency are true to the spirit of the event, the word “blitz” can feel harsh or aggressive to some. We chose LA Nature Quest as a friendlier, more inviting name that better reflects the spirit of adventure, curiosity, discovery, connection with nature, and fun.
What is the LA Nature Quest?
LA Nature Quest builds on four successful years of the LA BioBlitz Challenge, expanding our mission to protect the wildlife of Los Angeles. This program in the City of Los Angeles engages participants in fun, interactive activities to observe, photograph and map animals, insects and plants around their homes, neighborhoods, parks, hiking trails and other natural areas using the iNaturalist app to enhance their awareness and connection to the city’s biodiversity.
Who is sponsoring the program?
Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) is partnering with L.A. Sanitation & Environment (Department of Public Works), L.A. Recreation & Parks, L.A. Department of Water and Power (LADWP), and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County to support the city’s current and future strategies and indices for protecting urban biodiversity in the City of Los Angeles consistent with the international Convention on Biological Diversity.
Why is the program important?
The goal is to enumerate the city’s existing native biodiversity (indicator species), monitor the spread of invasive species, reduce the white colored cold spots (no data) on the observation heat map, increase the health and wellness benefits residents obtain from ecosystems provided by biodiversity, and promote an understanding of urban biodiversity’s connection to the ecosystem.
Where is the LA Nature Quest being held?
Participants can make observations and take photographs of animals, insects and plants anywhere in the City of Los Angeles. Please be mindful to not disturb or touch any of the wildlife and ensure your safety.
What is the cost of participating in the program?
There is no cost to participate in the program, only the opportunity to learn about our interconnectedness with wildlife and the environment.
Participation
How can I join the LA Nature Quest?
Start by downloading the iNaturalist app from Google Play or the App Store and create an account. Watch the video tutorial to learn how to record your first observation. Familiarize yourself with the indicator species and invasive species we would like you to photograph, and look for them around the city. Visit white colored cold spots (no data) on the observation heat map and record your observations to help researchers understand which species live there.
What if I want to use just a digital camera?
You can upload pictures from your digital camera using the iNaturalist Upload feature, you can then drop a map pin to indicate where you made the observation.
Can I participate in the challenge if I do not have a camera or mobile device?
Yes, you can participate by requesting a print-out of the LA Nature Quest game card at any LAPL location. Just check off the species you observed on the card or write down the species you saw if it is not on the list. When you complete all the quests, fill out the online completion form.
If I don’t have a camera, can I upload a sketch or drawing of my observation to iNaturalist?
iNaturalist is designed around photographic or audio evidence to support observations. While sketches (especially field drawings made at the time of the observation) can sometimes be included as evidence, they are rarely sufficient to achieve Research Grade status, and many are labeled as Casual observations. For best results, you’re encouraged to use a camera or audio recorder. If you want to share your observations with words or sketches, you can also include descriptions in the “Notes” section of your iNaturalist submission.
Timeline
When is the LA Nature Quest being held?
Observations can begin on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 12:00 a.m. PDT. The quest ends on Friday, October 31, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.
The important dates are:
Saturday, November 8, 2025 is the last day to submit your observations onto iNaturalist and complete an online completion form.
We will announce the winner of the opportunity drawing on November 10. Winners will be notified by phone and/or email.
When will the results be available?
The results will be published on the LA Nature Quest webpage in mid-November.
Observations
What kinds of observations should I make during the LA Nature Quest?
Make observations and share pictures of any wild (non-cultivated or non-captive) animals, insects, and plants. We need your help to observe, photograph, and upload at least 10 observations to iNaturalist, including three or more of the indicator species, one or more invasive species, and at least one observation in a data cold spot. Do your best to take good pictures of the species you observe!
What if I am not sure the picture I took is one of the indicator species? How do my observations get identified?
You don’t have to know what species it is – you just need to take a clear photo. Here are the ways you can get your observations identified:
iNaturalist’s built-in Computer Vision/Artificial Intelligence will provide suggestions about what it thinks you took a picture of.
Once you upload your picture, it can be seen by the entire iNaturalist community. The community can agree with the ID you made or clarify the ID to specify the species level or correct a mis-identification.
iNaturalist says it is for ages 13+, but I am under 13. Can I still participate?
You can invite your parents or guardian to download the iNaturalist app to participate in the challenge with you. You can also upload and share your pictures using the anonymous observation form on LAPL’s Neighborhood Science website. Be sure to select the project “LA Nature Quest 2025” on the form and move the map pin to indicate where the observation was made.
I am using a school-provided device and I am not allowed to download any apps. How can I participate?
You can pick up or request to have a game card printed out of the LA Nature Quest game card at any LAPL location or upload and share your photos using the anonymous observation form on LAPL’s
What are some tips for taking photos?
Focus on one species in each photo: As much as possible, try to have the one species you are interested in as the focus of your photo, and center your species in the frame.
Use the option to have multiple photos in one observation: On iNaturalist, you can have more than one photograph for each observation you make, allowing you to photograph different parts or angles of a species. For example, one photograph of an entire bush of a plant, taken from far away, won’t be very useful in identifying that species of tree, but combining that “full shot” photo with other photos that show close-ups of the leaves, the stems and any flowers or fruits, will allow that plant to be identified.
Discard blurry photographs and use the option to retake photos when making observations. If the species moved or there is low light, wait for the species to be still or turn on your flash to retake the photo. On iNaturalist, the app will show you the photo you took and ask you if you want to retry or if you are okay with the photo. You can also opt to take photos on your phone and upload the best ones to the iNaturalist app after the fact.
Get close when possible and be safe: For small species in particular, getting a nice close-up shot is important for identification. While it can be difficult to take a good close-up shot using the camera of a smartphone, these days there are inexpensive clip-on macro or telephoto lenses you can use with your phone to take great, focused pictures of species that are small or far away.
Prizes
How do I submit my LA Nature Quest game card with observations for the prize drawing?
You do not need to turn in your game card. Once you complete the observations and submit them via iNaturalist or an anonymous observation form on LAPL’s Neighborhood Science webpage, you can fill out an online completion form.
How many opportunities can I get for the prize drawing?
You earn one opportunity for the drawing by making and sharing at least 10 observations with three being indicator species and one being an invasive species. You can earn one extra chance for any observation made in a white colored cold spot (no data) on the observation heat map.
When and where will the prize drawing take place?
The drawing will take place in-house on November 10, 2025. Winners will be notified by email and/or phone.
Research
Why should I look for these indicator species?
Indicator species serve as a measure of the environmental conditions that exist in a given locale. They are used to monitor changes in our environment or how well an impaired environment is being managed or restored. When indicator species are present, it typically means there is a high-quality habitat.
Why should I look for these invasive species?
Invasive species are not native to Los Angeles. Brought here through human activity, they threaten the local biodiversity that sustains Angelenos. Tracking where these plants occur is essential to monitor their spread and reduce their harmful effects on our ecosystems—including worsening natural disasters like wildfires.
Why are photos necessary?
The photos you take provide evidence of the species you saw and help confirm the identification of that species. Taking good photos is vital to supporting the research!
What will the data be used for?
Data from iNaturalist is public and available to download for free. iNaturalist observations are used in scientific publications around the world. Ultimately, we envision that the data from LA Nature Quest will be used by local researchers and local governments to make more informed decisions for sustainable development.
How do I get research-grade observations on iNaturalist?
To get an observation to “research grade” status: (1) it must have a photo, (if the physical species cannot be located but sound is heard), (2) it must have an accurate date and location, (3) it cannot be a captive or cultivated organism, and (4) over 2/3rds of the people adding IDs to it have to agree about what species it is. It is key to check back on your observations after you make them to see if anyone has added an identification or left a comment, possibly asking you to provide a bit more information about what you saw. Visit iNaturalist’s Help page to learn more about research grade observations.
Do my observations have to get to a research grade to count for the LA Nature Quest?
No, your casual observations are counted as well.
My Account
Do I need to join the LA Nature Quest project and add my observations to it for them to be included?
No. However, by joining the LA Nature Quest 2025 project on iNaturalist, researchers (and participants) can save time aggregating observations that meet the project’s criteria, since matching observations are automatically collected (especially in collection-type projects). Joining also gives you access to project journal posts (updates, announcements) and adds the project badge/icon to your observations, making them easier to manage.
How do I join the LA Nature Quest project on iNaturalist?
Tap the ellipsis (three dots) on the menu bar at the bottom of your screen to locate “Projects”.
Tap the “Nearby” button on the search bar at the top of your screen, then tap the magnifying glass icon.
Type “LA Nature Quest 2025” and click “Search”.
Look for and tap the icon with a green camera.
On the “LA Nature Quest 2025” project, tap the “Join” button on the search bar under the project name.
When the “Join” button changes to “Leave”, you are confirmed to be a member of the LA Nature Quest.
How can I make sure my observations are in the LA Nature Quest?
When using iNaturalist app, you can check if your observations are included by following the steps below to look for your iNaturalist account name:
Tap the ellipsis (three dots) on the menu bar at the bottom of your screen to locate “Projects.”
On the “Projects” screen, tap the “Joined” button under the search bar.
Locate and tap the “LA Nature Quest 2025” project.
Tap “Observers” in the menu, and look for your name.
You can also tap the “Observation” you submitted, then tap “Edit” on the upper right to open the “Details” screen. Tap “Projects” and see if “LA Nature Quest 2025” is listed on the “Choose Projects” screen. As long as you have the project listed, and if your observations meet the required criteria (i.e., good enough photo for identification), it will be included in the LA Nature Quest and observation heat map.
Where can I see how we are doing?
The LA Nature Quest webpage includes the observation heat map, and it will be updated after the challenge. Participants can see real-time data on the iNaturist project page, including the number of participants and observations.
I took so many photos during the LA Nature Quest that there is no way I can get them all uploaded before the end of the day on October 31 – what should I do?
You can still upload the photos to iNaturalist after October 31 as they can still contribute to biodiversity science. However, they will not be officially counted as part of the prize drawings for the LA Nature Quest.
Can I use the Seek app by iNaturalist app to make observations?
Yes, but you must login with your iNaturalist account to link the Seek app to iNaturalist. This will allow you to post the observations captured using Seek to iNaturalist and ensure they are included in the LA Nature Quest and observation heat map.
Where can I share my LA Nature Quest observations on social media?
You can share with us at: @lapubliclibrary and @LACitySan, @lacityparks, @nhmla, @natureinla and @ladwp1, and tag your post with #LANatureQuest. We encourage you to share your observations on your social media accounts so you can also spread the word about the quest with your followers.
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