This spring, Berks County participated for the very first time in the City Nature Challenge (CNC), an annual event in which communities across the world collaborate and compete to observe, document, and identify wild animals and plants. Over 100,000 people in 669 cities from 62 countries participated in the 2025 Challenge, which was celebrating its tenth year of bringing the world together for biodiversity.
With 235 individuals participating locally, Berks County ranked among the top sixth of communities around the globe.
Started in 2016 and coordinated by the community science teams at the California Academy of Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the CNC is one of the world’s largest community science events. From participating in organized biodiversity surveys, or “bioblitzes”, to recording observations in their own backyards, through the Challenge, individuals learn more about nature and build community, in person and online. Furthermore, observations made during the CNC have helped scientists detect patterns of biodiversity change, providing valuable insights to aid resource management and conservation decisions that can help curb biodiversity loss.
“It’s a very cool activity that gets you engaged in experiencing nature, connecting with others, discovering flora and fauna you may not have normally observed, and getting into a little healthy competition.”
— Connie Cammarano, CNC Berks participant
To participate in the Challenge, naturalists at all levels used the free mobile app iNaturalist to photograph animals, plants, and fungi. Artificial intelligence software built into the app helps identify the observed species, but after users shared their observations on the iNaturalist app, other community members vetted the accuracy of the identifications.
In Berks County, over 4,500 observations of over 800 different species were submitted during the weekend of the CNC, April 25-28. The total number of observations placed the county 3rd among Pennsylvania communities, behind the Philadelphia region and Pittsburgh, and 7th among U.S. communities of similar population.
A series of programs supported the county’s efforts in the Challenge, including a “Prepare for CNC” event at The Nature Place on April 12, followed by iNaturalist training sessions and bioblitzes during the CNC weekend at Rock Hollow Woods Environmental Learning Center, Nolde Forest Environmental Education Center, and Penn State Berks and the Union Canal Trail.
“We had huge fun with this. It gave us so much more to do as a family outdoors and helped us nerd out with nature on a deeper level.”
— James Cook, CNC Berks participant
The CNC was promoted at Earth Day Berks, and Penn State Berks also hosted a species identification party to encourage naturalists to help identify all the flora and fauna observed during the Challenge. Finally, on May 9, Berks Nature hosted a celebration at The Nature Place where final results were presented and discussed. There, participants reveled in the county’s success in CNC and pored over photos of the creatures and plants that had been observed.
“The global Challenge lets us connect to the nature all around us and to each other,” said Bryan Wang, a teaching professor at Penn State Berks and a Berks Nature Ambassador, who coordinated the 2025 CNC for Berks County. “Plus, City Nature Challenge Berks County lets us show the world the incredible biodiversity in our county and the strength of our amazing nature-minded community.”
This year’s Challenge is over but keep your eyes and ears open for nature in your backyard and local park and look out for next year’s City Nature Challenge!
Below are a few of the 800+ species observed in City Nature Challenge 2025: Berks County. All observations can be viewed at the iNaturalist Project.
Photo gallery includes the following species:
- Citrine Salow (Pyreferra citrombra)
- Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
- Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina ssp. carolina)
- Tan Jumping Spider (Platycryptus undatus)
- Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
- Mica Cap (Coprinellus micaceus)
- Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans)
- Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)
- Pinxter Flower (Rhododendron periclymenoides)
- Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica)
- Common Stonefly (Acroneuria abnormis)
- Fairy Pins (Phaeocalicium polyporaeum)