Maricopa County Parks and Recreation: Citizen Science Nature Hike

Learn about plants and animals of the Sonoran Desert, and the Seek and iNaturalist apps on this guided hike with Ranger Eric. Join Ranger Eric to learn about plants and wildlife of the Sonoran Desert while hiking 1 mile roundtrip on the Bajada Trail. The trail grade is rated as easy, but with frequently rocky or uneven surfaces. Please wear sturdy footwear, protective clothing and/or sunscreen, carry ample water and snacks. Restrooms are available at the Area 2 Bajada Trailhead. Along the hike we will also discuss a couple of related smartphone apps that you can use to identify any living organism on the planet, Seek and iNaturalist. Seek is the basic version for identifying organisms, but iNaturalist takes it a step farther by allowing you to share your photographed sightings to a global citizen science database to help scientists and conservationists learn more about biodiversity of our world. If interested in learning how to use Seek or iNaturalist, please download one of them before the program (both are free and available for iOS and Android smartphones) and register an account with the app, as cell service can be spotty in the backcountry of the park. MEETING LOCATION: Area 2/Bajada Trailhead. See park map here: https://www.maricopacountyparks.net/assets/1/6/white-tank-8x11.pdf Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/E6s9AdNiEQEfAkqn6 Limit 15 participants. To register, please call the Nature Center at 602-506-2930 ext. 5 with your name, phone number, and number of people attending. If you find you cannot attend a program after you have registered, please call the Nature Center ASAP so we may contact those on the waiting list. Registration for this program will close on Wednesday, 4/2. P.S. If you would like to get more practice with the iNaturalist app, check out the Greater Phoenix City Nature Challenge on the weekend of April 25-28! We will have events scheduled at many of the Maricopa County Parks that weekend, but you can participate across the Phoenix Metro area. More information on this 4-day event here: https://greaterphoenixcnc.com/