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2025 City Nature Challenge Observations & Results

2025 Observations

In 2025, more than 1,500 observations and nearly 600 species were recorded between April 25-28 in various NOVA Parks locations. 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

Tree with exposed roots by a calm lake.

American Elm

Observer: byron_paul, April 25, 2025

Toad in green grass and soil, looking to the left.

American Toad

Observer: csibyl, April 26, 2025

Orange bird on a branch, surrounded by green leaves, against a blue sky.

Baltimore Oriole

Observer: schmolly, April 28, 2025

Insect with long red tail on mossy rocks.

Black Giant Ichneumonid Wasp

Observer: jvincemery, April 25, 2025

Ball's Bluff Battlefield Regional Park

Black and yellow snake on a log in a leafy forest setting.

Eastern Garter Snake

Observer: laurenwarning, April 27, 2025

Salamander on dirt with a dry leaf nearby.

Eastern Red-backed Salamander

Observer: mattyfelp, April 25, 2025

Green beetle on gray, textured ground with dry leaves nearby.

Six-Spotted Tiger Beetle

Observer: shauna1, April 26, 2025

Deer grazing near trees in a forest.

White Tailed Dear

Observer: capitalnaturalist, April 27, 2025

Bull Run Marina

Cross-section of a tree trunk with visible rings and cracks.

Common Five-lined Skink

Observer: jorgegrl, April 27, 2025

Garter snake on a fallen log in a forest setting.

Eastern Garter Snake

Observer: jorgegrl, April 27, 2025

Tree trunk with clustered bugs, bright green forest background.

Giant Bark Aphid

Observer: jorgegrl, April 27, 2025

Yellow wildflowers among green leaves and fallen twigs.

Yellow Star Grass

Observer: jorgegrl, April 27, 2025

Bull Run Regional Park

Colorful millipede with red and yellow bands on rocky ground.

Black-and-Gold Flat Millipede

Observer: mattyfelp, April 28, 2025

Twig with yellow lichen, tiny mushrooms, and a blue thumb for scale.

Little Nest Polypore

Observer: ana_kaahanui, April 28, 2025

Hand holding a small, curled, dark sea creature.

Marbled Salamander

Observer: ttoklegi, April 28, 2025

Dark grey salamander on a log with speckled markings.

Spotted Salamander

Observer: mattyfelp, April 28, 2025

Gilbert's Corner Regional Park

Brown wasp nest on a green branch with blurred greenery background.

Cedar Apple Rust

Observer: deliabarr, April 26, 2025

Large green leaves with textured surface and visible veins.

Eastern Skunk Cabbage

Observer: deliabarr, April 26, 2025

Bright green moss on a rock by a calm, reflective stream.

Feather Moss

Observer: deliabarr, April 26, 2025

Shiny green plant leaves on forest floor with dry brown leaves.

Mayapple

Observer: deliabarr, April 26, 2025

Fountainhead Regional Park

Fuzzy gray caterpillar on forest floor with leaves and twigs.

Eastern Cottonwood

Observer: lucyevans1, April 25, 2025

White and pink flowers blooming on a leafy branch in the forest.

Pinxter Flower

Observer: lucyevans1, April 25, 2025

Fallen tree trunk covered in white fungus on forest floor.

Shelf Fungi

Observer: milkrollcake, April 25, 2025

Meadowlark Botanical Gardens

Ants crawling on a peony bud surrounded by green leaves.

Chestnut Carpenter Ant

Observer: mitskifan, April 27, 2025

White dogwood flower with green leaves in the background.

Flowering Dogwood

Observer: mattyfelp, April 25, 2025

Fish swimming in murky river water.

Largemouth Bass

Observer: mattyfelp, April 25, 2025

Cactus with round pads and small spines amidst green foliage.

Prickly Pear Cactus

Observer: mrnelson-2025, April 26, 2025

Potomac Overlook Regional Park

Hand holding a small worm and soil in a dimly lit outdoor setting.

American Giant Millipede

Observer: turtleboy92, April 26, 2025

Small yellow bird perched on a tree branch with green leaves.

American Goldfinch

Observer: zhelicarol, April 28, 2025

Dark brown moth on a blue surface.

Canadian Melanolophia Moth

Observer: mattyfelp, April 27, 2025

Brown spider with mottled pattern on a web against a blurred grey background.

Hammock Spider

Observer: mattyfelp, April 27, 2025

Reservoir Park

Green fern-like plant with wispy leaves among dry brown foliage.

Common Yarrow

Observer: mattyfelp, April 26, 2025

Purple wildflowers in a forest clearing near a tree trunk.

Eastern Shooting Star

Observer: pamlamb42, April 26, 2025

Pale green lichen on a rock surface.

Rock Greenshield Lichen

Observer: mattyfelp, April 26, 2025

Pale pink flowers with green leaves on a forest floor.

Wild Pink

Observer: pamlamb42, April 26, 2025

Seneca Regional Park

Brown twig moth on green leaf.

Artichoke Plume Moth

Observer: djrurhfhfjzajzodk, April 25, 2025

Dark spider on a cracked, light brown rock surface.

Dark Fishing Spider

Observer: djrurhfhfjzajzodk, April 25, 2025

Large brown mushrooms growing on a tree trunk, dappled sunlight.

Dryad's Saddle

Observer: pthiringer, April 27, 2025

Bee on white flowers with green leaves in the background.

Spring Beauty Miner

Observer: djrurhfhfjzajzodk, April 25, 2025

Upton Hill Regional Park

Bright green plant growing next to a fallen log in sunlight.

American Pokeweed

Observer: kathleenmarie, April 27, 2025

Wildflowers with white petals among green leaves on forest floor.

Common Dewberry

Observer: mattyfelp, April 25, 2025

Centipedes on dark soil with scattered leaves.

Eastern Red Centipede

Observer: mattyfelp, April 25, 2025

Hand gently holding a green fern on a forest floor.

New York Fern

Observer: jillbarker, April 27, 2025

Webb Nature Sanctuary

Tall ferns with brown tips in a lush green forest setting.

Cinnamon Fern

Observer: mattyfelp, April 26, 2025

White lichen with red-capped fungi growing on rocky soil.

Dixie Reindeer Lichen

Observer: mattyfelp, April 26, 2025

Purple flower held gently between fingers.

Eastern Geranium

Observer: mattyfelp, April 26, 2025

Caterpillars and webbing on a tree branch.

Eastern Tent Caterpillar

Observer: mattyfelp, April 26, 2025

Winkler Botanical Preserve

Purple wildflowers and green leaves on a forest floor.

Dwarf Larkspur

Observer: soupiefick, April 25, 2025

Yellow wildflowers in a forest floor setting with green leaves.

Golden Ragwort

Observer: soupiefick, April 25, 2025

Pink wildflower growing among green leaves and brown leaves on the forest floor.

Virginia Bluebells

Observer: soupiefick, April 25, 2025

Hand holding bright green leaves with a blurred garden path in the background.

Willow Oak

Observer: soupiefick, April 25, 2025

W&OD Trail

Frog partially submerged in murky water.

American Bullfrog

Observer: drhowell, April 25, 2025

Brown and red bird perched on a green wire fence.

Purple Finch

Observer: swanlefitte, April 25, 2025

Peeling birch bark in a sunny forest setting.

River Birch

Observer: brauhas, April 27, 2025

Shiny green beetle on textured gray surface.

Wilcox's Spring Caterpillar

Observer: armandol, April 25, 2025

2025 Results

Park Name 
# of Observations 
# of Species
Algonkian Regional Park 165 108
Balls Bluff Battlefield Regional Park 213 136
Bull Run Marina 14 13
Bull Run Regional Park 202 95
Fountainhead Regional Park 3 3
Gilbert's Corner Regional Park 79 66
Meadowlark Botanical Gardens  253 163
Pohick Bay Regional Park  69 44
Potomac Overlook Regional Park  164 100
Reservoir Park 47 42
Seneca Regional Park 43 39
Upton Hill Regional Park 122 75
Webb Nature Sanctuary 70 59
Winkler Botanical Preserve 32 29
W&OD Trail  100 67
NOVA Parks TOTAL 1,576 568

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