Amazing job to everyone who participated in the City Nature Challenge 2018: Boston Area! Together, 55 people have collected 154 oyster observations along our Boston's coast and harbor islands. Thanks to your hard work, 54 species of mollusks were added to the project. See more of the Challenge results at:
www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2018-boston-area

Even though the City Nature Challenge has concluded for 2018, the Delectable Osters data quest is still going. This is a continuous data collection project, meaning your observations will contribute to an important research and environmental management project out of MIT and the National Park Service throughout the year. Let's keep up the momentum and observe even more occurrences of both our native and invasive oysters!

If you do not know where/how to collect oyster observations, or you would like to meet fellow naturalists with a passion for ocean species, attend a guided observation event! At these events, you will join local researchers and citizen scientists on a walk on the beach to learn about shoreline biodiversity and collect oyster specimens and observations.

Boston Harbor Islands Biodiversity Discovery: Thompson Island

• When: Friday, April 27, 8:00am – 12:00pm
• Where: Thompson Island, Boston, MA, USA

2018 City Nature Challenge At Crane Beach

• When: Friday, April 27, 11:00am – 1:00pm
• Where: Crane Beach, Ipswich MA
• Sign up: www.eventbrite.com/e/2018-city-nature-challenge-at-crane-beach-tickets-44769000285

Boston Harbor Islands Biodiversity Discovery: Spectacle Island

• When: Saturday, April 28, 9:00am – 2:30pm
• Where: Spectacle Island, Boston, MA, USA

Quincy Park Department's Environmental Treasury Program event

• When: Saturday, April 28, 4:30pm
• Where: Orchard Beach, Squantum MA
• Recommendation: Wear rubber boots and gloves
• For more information: (617) 472-0799

Learn more about these and other fun events at www.zoonewengland.org/protect/here-in-new-england/boston-area-city-nature-challenge/calendar-of-events

On March 22, we celebrate World Water Day! This international observance day is a time to acknowledge the global water crisis and take action towards reducing the impact of the many water-related challenges including ocean pollution.

This is also a great time to appreciate oysters, the vacuum cleaners of the ocean. These mollusks filter water by selectively feeding on both organic and inorganic solids, then releasing them as pseudofeces which can benefit other ocean life as a food source or even habitat.

Help us learn more about these wonderful organisms and how they benefit their ecosystems by collecting observations along the Massachusetts coast. Attend a collection event with researchers from MIT and Boston Harbor Islands, or be guided through where to find them on your own at:
www.zoonewengland.org/protect/here-in-new-england/boston-area-city-nature-challenge/data-quests