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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.
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.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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