City Nature Challenge
The 2026 City Nature Challenge ran across four days from Friday 24 April to Monday 27 April.
The City Nature Challenge is a global community event where people work together to observe and record wild plants, animals and fungi in their local area.
Discover, explore and help record the rich biodiversity that Maroondah is home to, from your backyard to local parks and creeks.
No experience is needed, and everyone is welcome to take part.
Nature discovery activities
Maroondah City Council hosts nature discovery activities during the four days of the City Nature Challenge.
Prepare for the City Nature Challenge
You do not need specialist equipment or prior experience. To get ready for the challenge:
- Download the iNaturalist app. The iNaturalist app can help identify species after you upload your observation!
- Get familiar with recording observations and sharing with the iNaturalist community.
- Participate! Attend our nature discovery activities or make observations on your own.
How to take observations
- Find wild plants, animals or fungi in Maroondah. This can be in your backyard, on your street, or in a local park or reserve.
- Take a photo or sound recording. A clear photo is usually enough. You do not need to know what species it is.
- Share your observation. Upload what you found using the iNaturalist app or website during the four days of the challenge.
Your observation will help build a better picture of biodiversity across Maroondah and Greater Melbourne.
Results from previous challenges
The City Nature Challenge is an annual global citizen science event that began in 2016. Cities around the world take part at the same time, sharing observations of nature to help build knowledge about local biodiversity.
In Maroondah, the challenge is a chance for the community to learn more about local plants and animals while contributing useful information to scientists and land managers. Results are shared once observations have been reviewed and identified.
City Nature Challenge 2025
Maroondah participated in the 2025 City Nature Challenge (Friday 25 April to Monday 28 April 2025), collaborating with neighbouring councils to represent the “Greater Melbourne" region.
For more information visit iNaturalist.
Overall global results
- 3,337,889 observations
- 80,564 species
- 112,674 observers
See Overall global results
Greater Melbourne results
- 13,051 observations
- 2,299 species
- 854 observers
See all Greater Melbourne results
Maroondah results
- 1439 observations
- 362 species
- 69 observers
See Maroondah results
Top 5 most observed species in Maroondah
- Chlenias banksiaria
- Cherry Ballart (Exocarpos cupressiformis)
- Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen)
- Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans)
- Plantain Moth (Scopula rubraria)
City Nature Challenge 2024
The City Nature Challenge has grown and was divided into two umbrella projects in 2024 to fit all of the participating cities.
The results for Maroondah and Greater Melbourne were recorded as part of the Eurasia, Africa and Oceania umbrella project.
For more information visit iNaturalist.
Overall global results
- 2,436,844 observations
- 65,682 species
- 83,528 observers
See Overall global results
Greater Melbourne results
- 13,649 observations (17th out of Eurasia, Africa and Oceania)
- 2,080 species (16th out of Eurasia, Africa and Oceania)
- 862 observers (4th out of Eurasia, Africa and Oceania)
See all Greater Melbourne results
Maroondah results
- 604 observations (5th of the 24 Greater Melbourne Councils)
- 208 species, including 26 species recorded for the first time (6th of the 24 Greater Melbourne Councils)
- 51 observers (4th of the 24 Greater Melbourne Councils)
See Maroondah results
Top 5 most observed species in Maroondah
- Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen)
- Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus)
- Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans)
- Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata)
- Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)
City Nature Challenge 2023
Maroondah participated in the 2023 City Nature Challenge (Friday 28 April to Monday 1 May, 2023), collaborating with 26 neighbouring councils to represent the “Greater Melbourne" region.
For more information visit iNaturalist.
Overall global results
- 1,846,839 observations
- 57,227 species
- 65,800 observers
See Overall global results
Greater Melbourne results
- 19,206 observations (20th overall out of 482 cities, and 3rd from the Southern Hemisphere)
- 2,345 species (20th overall)
- 924 observers (13th overall)
See all Greater Melbourne results
Maroondah results
- 1,301 observations (5th of the 27 Greater Melbourne Councils)
- 269 species
- 60 observers
See Maroondah results
Top 5 most observed species in Maroondah
- Southern Brown Tree Frog (Litoria ewingii)
- Cherry Ballart (Exocarpos cupressiformis)
- Ruby Bonnet (Cruentomycena viscidocruenta)
- Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen)
- Mycena austrofilopes
City Nature Challenge 2022
Maroondah participated in the City Nature Challenge 2022 from Friday 29 April to Monday 2 May 2022, collaborating with 20 neighbouring councils to represent “Greater Melbourne".
For more information visit iNaturalist.
Overall global results
- 1,694,877 observations
- 50,176+ species
- 67,220 observers
See Overall global results
Greater Melbourne results
- 12,599 observations (33rd overall out of 445 cities)
- 2,035 species (27th overall)
- 603 observers (23rd overall)
See all Greater Melbourne results
Maroondah results
- 1,183 observations (3rd of the 21 Greater Melbourne Councils)
- 342 species
- 78 observers
See Maroondah results
Top 5 most observed species in Maroondah
- Australian Magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen)
- Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus)
- Oxycanus dirempta
- Australian Wood Duck (Chenonetta jubata)
- Crimson Rosella (Platycercus elegans)
City Nature Challenge 2021
Maroondah participated in the City Nature Challenge 2022 from Friday 30 April to Monday 3 May 2021. For more information visit iNaturalist.
Further information
For more information visit the City Nature Challenge website
Interested in hearing about future activities?
Register your interest to keep informed for this event and similar citizen science activities that we may run in the future.
Register your interest
When
-
Friday, 24 April 2026 | 12:00 AM
- Monday, 27 April 2026 | 11:59 PM
Location
Nature discovery activities take place in and around Maroondah throughout the City Nature Challenge.