Document Nature in Our Bay
By sharing nature observations, you’re helping build a living record of Alamitos Bay, one that helps us better understand biodiversity, notice change over time, and strengthen care for this place we call home. No science background is needed.
How it works
We use iNaturalist, a free community science platform, to collect and organize wildlife observations from Alamitos Bay.
- Download the iNaturalist app or visit iNaturalist.org
- Create a free account
- Take photos of plants or animals you see in Alamitos Bay
- Upload your observations to iNaturalist
- Join our project so your observations become part of the shared bay record
Join the project here:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/clean-bay-collective-alamitos-bay-wildlife
What to observe
Anything living counts. Birds, fish, plants, algae, invertebrates, and more. Observations from the shoreline, docks, kayaks, and surrounding bay waters are all welcome. Even common species help tell an important story.
This project focuses specifically on Alamitos Bay. If you’re exploring nearby habitats like Colorado Lagoon or Los Cerritos Wetlands, we encourage you to join their projects separately, as those places have their own unique ecosystems.
Why this matters
Alamitos Bay is often overlooked as a natural place, yet it supports an incredible diversity of life. By documenting what’s here, together, we help make the bay visible as the living ecosystem it is. Your observations contribute to community science, education, and long-term stewardship of our urban ocean.
Not ready to sign up for iNaturalist yet?
You can still explore species, join a guided wildlife walk, or send us your questions anytime. If you have a great wildlife photo from Alamitos Bay and aren’t on iNaturalist yet, you can email it to us and we’ll upload it to our project with credit to you, or help you take the next step whenever you’re ready.
How to submit a photo by email
Send your photo or photos to info@algalita.org with the subject line: CBC Wildlife Photo
In the body of the email, please include:
- The date you observed it
- What you think the species is (it’s okay if you’re not sure)
- Where in Alamitos Bay you saw it
(A general location is perfect. No need for an exact spot.)
We’ll upload your observation to the Clean Bay Collective iNaturalist project with credit to you and help fill in any missing details if needed.