Contact

2024 City Nature Challenge Observations & Results

2024 Observations

In 2024, nearly 2,000 observations and 600 species were recorded between April 26-29 in various NOVA Parks locations. This year, about 150 more species were recorded, and more than double the amount of observations were made, than in 2023! These results continue to help scientists understand what species share our environment, and collect valuable information on biodiversity. See the data and some of the highlighted observations below across many of the NOVA Parks locations.

Algonkian Regional Park

Dragonfly resting on a log in sunlight.

Fragile Forktail

Observer: paulpisano, April 26, 2024

Ducks swimming in a pond, overcast sky reflected on water.

Red Breasted Merganser

Observer: nature_a, April 27, 2024

Brown fish resting on a person's hand.

Tesselated Darter

Observer: mattyfelp, April 29, 2024

Bird perched on a branch amidst green leaves against blue sky.

Warbling Vireo

Observer: loudonjim, April 29, 2024

Ball's Bluff Battlefield Regional Park

White and brown mushrooms on a forest floor covered with dry leaves.

American Cancer-Root

Observer: margdenn, April 28, 2024

Two slender salamanders intertwined on damp forest leaves.

Eastern Red-backed Salamander

Observer: hthrd, April 27, 2024

Bird with a red chest perched on a branch, surrounded by green leaves.

Red-Breasted Grossbeak

Observer: loudonjim, April 28, 2024

Red salamander on forest floor with brown leaves and twigs.

Red-spotted Newt

Observer: trguenther8, April 29, 2024

Bull Run Regional Park

Glowing centipede under blue light.

Flat Backed Millipede

Observer: ana_kaahanui, April 29, 2024

Brown frog sitting on dry leaves.

Green Frog

Observer: pgswamsley, April 29, 2024

Luna moth with green wings resting on dry leaves.

Luna Moth

Observer: dbarber, April 29, 2024

Yellow lichen on dark rock surface.

Mustard Lichen

Observer: ana_kaahanui on April 29, 2024

Dark brown insect with long antennae on a white fabric surface.

Spring Fishfly

Observer: mattyfelp, April 29, 2024

Gilbert's Corner Regional Park

Bird with black head, white belly, and brown wings perched on a tree branch.

Eastern Towehee

Observer: mattyfelp, April 27, 2024

Reddish-brown Cedar-Apple Rust gall on a cedar branch.

Juniper-apple Rust

Observer: mattyfelp, April 27, 2024

Yellow bird perched on a branch with fresh green leaves.

Prairie Warbler

Observer: mattyfelp, April 27, 2024

Small bird perched on a branch, surrounded by greenery.

White-eyed Vireo

Observer: mattyfelp, April 27, 2024

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens

Curled snake on textured concrete under partial sunlight.

Eastern Gartersnake

Observer: kpwest, April 29, 2024

Bird perched on branch with green background.

Eastern Kingbird

Observer: pelican72, April 26, 2024

Oriole with black head and orange-brown body perched on a branch against green background.

Orchard Oriole

Observer: mattyfelp, April 26, 2024

Hawk soaring against a blurred green background.

Red Shouldered Hawk

Observer: mattyfelp, April 26, 2024

Occoquan Regional Park

Purple wildflower with a yellow center among green leaves.

Azure Bluet

Observer: ing_squared, April 27, 2024

Dark red flower among bright green leaves, viewed from below.

Common Pawpaw

Observer: ing_squared, April 27, 2024

Easter Wild Turkey observed at Occoquan Regional Park by ing_squared on April 27, 2024

Eastern Wild Turkey

Observer: ing_squared, April 27, 2024

Sassafras observed at Occoquan Regional Park by ing_squared on April 27, 2024

Sassafras

Observer: ing_squared, April 27, 2024

Potomac Overlook Regional Park

Hand holding a worm and small rocks in a dimly lit setting.

American Chestnut

Observer: mattyfelp, April 29, 2024

Millipede curled on decaying wood amidst soil and leaves.

American Giant Millipede

Observer: htbolton, April 27, 2024

Eastern Gray Ratsnake Complex

Observer: arlingtonann, April 26, 2024

Mushrooms growing on a tree stump with textured bark and scattered leaves.

Oyster Mushroom

Observer: mattyfelp, April 29, 2024 

Upton Hill Regional Park

Tree with shelf mushrooms in a sunlit forest.

Cracked Cap Polypore

Observer: rjann, April 26, 2024

Finger touches thorny tree branch in a sunlit forest.

Devil's Walkingstick

Observer: jillbarker, April 26, 2024

White and pink flowers with long stamens, surrounded by green foliage in a forest setting.

Pinxter Flower

Observer: zhelicarol, April 26, 2024

Small bird perched on a branch in a forest setting.

White-throated sparrow

Observer: zhelicarol, April 26, 2024

Winkler Botanical Preserve

Turtle partially submerged in a pond surrounded by leaves and twigs.

Common Snapping Turtle

Observer: soupiefick, April 29, 2024

Green pine branches with needles in sunlight.

Eastern Hemlock

Observer: soupiefick, April 29, 2024

Green heart-shaped leaves on tree branches in sunlight.

Eastern Redbud

Observer: soupiefick, April 29, 2024

Yellow wildflowers in a field of green leaves.

Golden Ragwort

Observer: soupiefick, April 29, 2024

W&OD Trail

White webbing on tree branches in a green forest setting.

Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth

Observer: steveyoung, April 27, 2024

Painted Turtle observed on the W&OD Trail by drhowell on April 28, 2024

Painted Turtle

Observer: drhowell, April 28, 2024

Redbreast Sunfish observed on the W&OD Trail by swanlefitte on April 29, 2024

Redbreast Sunfish

Observer: swanlefitte, April 29, 2024

Violet Woodsorrel observed on the W&OD Trail by capitalnaturalist on April 29, 2024

Violet Woodsorre

Observer: capitalnaturalist, April 29, 2024

2024 Results

Park Name 
# of Observations 
# of Species
Algonkian Regional Park 149 103
Balls Bluff Battlefield Regional Park (2nd Place) 325 178
Bull Run Regional Park 227 101
Cameron Run Regional Park 11 11
Carlyle House  0 0
Fountainhead Regional Park 1 1
Gilbert's Corner Regional Park (3rd Place) 275 128
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens (1st Place) 542 204
Occoquan Regional Park 36 30
Pohick Bay Regional Park  0 0
Potomac Overlook Regional Park  111 70
Rust Sanctuary 0 0
Upton Hill Regional Park 195 106
Winkler Botanical Preserve 16 16
W&OD Trail  62 49
NOVA Parks TOTAL 1,953  587 

Conquer challenges and build confidence.

Climb UPton—the largest ropes course in the Mid-Atlantic—is open during the fall season! With 90 different elements and three levels of difficulty, there’s adventure for everyone. Visit climbupton.com for fall hours.