City Nature Challenge 2025

From Friday 25 to Monday 28 April, you’ll join people from across Melbourne in the world to observe and record sounds and photos of wild plants and animals to help protect our local biodiversity.  

This is the third year in a row we are competing in the Challenge, and we’re teaming up with more than 20 councils and organisations across Melbourne. 

During the four-day challenge, simply snap a photo of a plant or animal and upload it to iNaturalist. Your observations will automatically contribute to this project and help Melbourne compete on a global stage.  

To get involved, simply:

• Download and install the free iNaturalist app in your device and create an iNaturalist account
• Get out into parks, streets and backyards over the four days of the Challenge. Take photos or record sounds of wildlife, plants, insects and fungi anywhere in the City of Glen Eira.
• Share your observations via the iNaturalist app.

Watch this two-minute video on how to record nature observations with iNaturalist and see what others have spotted around Glen Eira.

Want to take a deeper dive into using iNaturalist?

• view this recording of an iNaturalist training webinar with Dr Luis Mata.
• Watch this Beginners guide to using iNaturalist, hosted by an expert from iNaturalist.
• Read this Short guide to using iNaturalist, prepared by Maroondah City Council.

Stay up to date 

Visit iNaturalist to check out what other Glen Eira residents have spotted during the Challenge. Visit iNaturalist to see how Melbourne is doing in comparison to other cities across the world. 

Join us for a nocturnal insect survey

Join local entomologist and insect expert Daniel Kurek, as we use specialised scientific research equipment to attract and identify local insects such as moths, beetles, and flies. 

You’ll learn about the essential equipment that scientists use for nocturnal insect research and how to conduct your very own survey, how to identify key insect groups and how to set up a light sheet in your backyard to attached nocturnal insects.   

These sessions are for anyone who is keen to collect data on native wildlife, contribute to scientific research and protect our biodiversity. We are particularly interested in speaking to you if you are from a local community organisation, and you would like to train some of your members so you can contribute to local biodiversity initiatives.  

What to bring: A smartphone or other mobile device. We also recommend downloading the free iNaturalist app before the event. 

Come along and be part of this exciting initiative to document and protect Glen Eira’s biodiversity!  

Boyd Park, Murrumbeena  

Friday 11 April, 6pm-9pm

Boyd Park BBQ area, 2 Wilson Street, Murrumbeena

Mallanbool Reserve, Murrumbeena

Saturday 12 April, 6pm-9pm

165 Leila Road, Murrumbeena