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2026 iNaturalist City Nature Challenge April 24-27

04/17/2026 by mconnally

2026 iNaturalist City Nature Challenge April 24-27 Get ready, North Texas 🦋—the 2026 City Nature Challenge is officially blooming across Frisco, Plano, and McKinney! We are taking photos of the flora and fauna of our community. Come help us show the world the incredible nature we have in DFW. ❤️

Don’t Miss the Moth Squad! 🦋

Have you ever been “mothing“? It’s an evening experience like no other. Bring the family, a date, or just your amazing self—just don’t let this magic flutter away!


The Weekend Lineup, Here is the SIGNUP GENIUS LINK FOR THE ADDRESSES!

Blackland Prairie Texas Master Naturalists 
City Nature Challenge 2026 BioBlitz Events 

April 24–27, 2026 
Join us in documenting local biodiversity using iNaturalist! 

Friday, April 24 

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM 
Stewart Creek Wetlands – Frisco, TX 
Host(s): Rick & Lisa Travis 

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM 
Arbor Hills Nature Preserve – Plano, TX 
Host(s): Jean Higgins 

Saturday, April 25 

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Join Us for the 1st Annual BioBlitz with the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center!
Brockdale Park / Blackland Prairie Raptor Center (Lucas).
Coinciding with their Art in the Park event. Any Master Naturalists who are coming only to do the Bioblitz should identify themselves to Marla Layne when they arrive & they will not be charged admission. But, if MN wishes to also participate in Art in the Park they will need to pay admission.

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM 
Frisco Commons Park – Frisco, TX 
Host(s): Frisco Parks 

7:30 PM – 10:00 PM 
Evening Mothing – Frisco Commons Park – Frisco, TX 
Host(s): Frisco Parks 
Don’t Miss the Moth Squad! 🦋

Sunday, April 26 

2:00 PM – 4:00 PM 
Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary – McKinney, TX (fee & registration required)
Meet at the Science Resource Center for a special data-collection blitz led by the Heard’s team! A guided Bioblitz will be held at the Heard Museum on Sunday, April 26, from 2:00-4:00 pm (separate from the evening Moth event), where the Sanctuary manager will direct us to an area of the preserve where the Heard would like to gather more observations.

7:30 PM – 10:00 PM 
Evening Mothing – Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary – McKinney, TX (fee & registration required)
Don’t Miss the Moth Squad! 🦋
 

Monday, April 27 

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM 
Erwin Park – McKinney, TX 
Host(s): Dave Powell 

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM 
Hoblitzelle Park – Plano, TX 
Host(s): Jean Higgins 

What to Bring 

  • Smartphone with iNaturalist installed 
  • Water, sunscreen, and comfortable walking shoes 

Ready to participate?

Download the iNaturalist app,
Join the official iNaturalist project here to make your observations count: BPTMN City Nature Challenge 2026.
Or scan the QR code below to join the Chapter project.
Take photos of wild plants and animals, and upload your observations.

Scan the QR code to share for people to join the Chapter project



Want to join the bioblitzes?
We will be in Frisco, Plano and McKinney! View the locations on our SignUpGenius page.
Register using our SIGN UP GENIUS – City Nature Challenge Bioblitzes 🦋
Or scan the QR code below to vist the page.

LLELA is having a Bioblitz all weekend long!

Our Partner LLELA is hosting their own iNaturalist weekend with free access to Master Naturalists.
Just show badge at gatehouse and tell them you’re there to volunteer.

April 24th-27th, 7am – 7pm (with extended hours on the 25th for mothing)

Communication signup is optional, but encouraged – volunteersignup.org/FLE3C

Supercharge your City Nature Challenge at LLELA!

mconnally 03/10/2026
Where the Wild Things Are (And You Should Be, Too) – 🐺 🍄 – Trade the screen for the canopy and become a pioneer of the urban wild. LLELA invites you to spend time during the iNaturalist City Nature Challenge with the plants and animals along its trails. All area Master Naturalists participating in the Nature Challenge will have no-charge access to the public areas April 24 through April 27, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Read More

SHOUTOUT – Ain’t no Party like a Moth Night Party with Sam Kieschnick, Urban Wildlife Biologist
Don’t Miss the Moth Squad! 🦋

Moth Night in McKinney
Here is the link to Register!
Date: Friday, May 8
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 10:15 p.m.
Where: Erwin Park Hill Top Pavilion
4300 County Road 1006
McKinney, TX 75071

Ain’t no Party like a Moth Night Party with Sam Kieschnick, Urban Wildlife Biologist in McKinney!

mconnally 04/18/2026
Step into the wild after dark! Using special UV lights, we’ll attract and observe moths and other nighttime species as part of a Mothing BioBlitz, a snapshot of the biodiversity in McKinney. See moths and other nocturnal insects up close, learn how to use the iNaturalist app to record observations, and help us document species that call McKinney home!
Read More

How do you log your VH or AT hours? Members, visit the chapter VHAT Calendar link to learn how to log their VHAT time for the 2026 iNaturalist City Nature Challenge, April 24-27. https://txmn.org/bptmn/calendar/

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Filed Under: Annual Events, Current News, General Tagged With: bioblitz, blacklandprairie, blacklandprairiechapter, CityNatureChallenge, STT 70, TexasMasterNaturalist, TexasParksandWildlife

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