With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Use your phone for good: Take photos for LA Nature Quest
Visitors take photos at Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.
(
Andrew Cullen
/
LAist
)
Topline:
The city of Los Angeles is asking Angelenos to dabble in community science this month for the annual L.A. Nature Quest . The free event is a way for residents to help scientists learn more about our local biodiversity.
How does it work? Residents are encouraged to take pictures of wild animals, insects and plants in their neighborhoods during October and upload it online. You can complete the quest by logging certain types of observations, which makes you eligible for an iPad Mini prize drawing.
How do I participate? You just need a phone. You’ll download iNaturalist from Google Play or the Apple app store and go to the L.A. Nature Quest project . Then go outside and explore anywhere in L.A. There’s also a tutorial on how to record your findings . If you’re not sure where to go, check out unexplored parts on this map . Residents have already found creatures like a red-tailed hawk and a Western fence lizard.
Sponsored message
Kickoff event: You can join events too. The first is at Griffith Park on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. It will have activities for all ages, including outdoor exploration guided by park rangers. Registration is required.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
