Urban biodiversity scavenger hunt
Take on our urban biodiversity scavenger hunt and see what you can find--and learn-- right in the neighborhood around your home.

Get outside. What can you see? What can you hear?
People don’t often think of urban centres when they think about biodiversity. And yet, cities are where most of us interact with nature most often.
Have you ever seen a sparrow? Probably. But have you ever looked for one?
In this activity, we encourage our community to seek out the different species of plants, birds, and insects that can be found in Montreal at this time of year. Take your phone or camera out on your next walk to the corner store, grab your kids for a fun quest, or relax on a bench in the park and see what you can spot!
The scavenger hunt has been extended until April 12.
How does it work?
Step 1: Check out the list below. For each species, you'll find the common name, one or more photos, some information, and some tips on how to find them.
Step 2: Get your camera handy. Bookmark this page on your device.
Step 3: Snap photos! If you find a species on this list, post a photo and the species name on your preferred social media account using @CU4thSpace and #CUgrow. Or, email your photos to info.4@concordia.ca.
Step 4: Keep going and get your friends to join! The last day of the scavenger hunt is April 5.
4TH SPACE will be posting some of our community's photographs, and we will be monitoring your participation! Prizes will be given out to those who find the most species, as well as for general participation through a draw!
The prize will be announced on March 30 and the winners will be decided after the activity ends on April 5.
Urban biodiversity in Montreal: Why should we care?
On March 25 we hosted a webinar entitled "Urban biodiversity in Montreal: Why should we care?", where professors Carly Ziter, Emma Desplands, and Rebecca Tittler outlined what we can find in Montreal-- and why we should look!
View the recording to learn more about some of the species on the scavenger hunt list!
Species index
13:51 YELLOW BIRCH
14:33 GINKGO BILOBA
15:21 SILVER MAPLE
21:04 HONEY BEE
24:09 CARPENTER ANTS
24:41 TURF GRASS ANT
26:20 MOURNING CLOAK BUTTERFLY
27:04 RED ADMIRAL BUTTERFLY
42:56 ROCK DOVES
44:11 HOUSE SPARROWS
44:44 PEREGRINE FALCONS
45:46 TURKEY VULTURE
46:53 NORTHERN CARDINAL
49:23 BLACK CAPPED CHICKADEE
50:56 AMERICAN CROW
Trees & Plants
Want an extra hint to find these trees? Check out QuéBio's map of public Montreal trees.
Ashes are being destroyed in Montreal by the emerald ash borer. Though many trees have died, some have been 'vaccinated' against this invasive beetle.
How you can find it:
- Distinctive "diamond" patterened bark.
- Often marked with spray paint (for removal or treatment) because of the invasion of the emerald ash borer.
- Very common street tree.


Most trees planted in cities are males as females produce 'fruits' that have a very strong distinctive (!) odour. It's introduced from China and is a unique 'living fossil' tree. Very resistant to pollutants and other stressors.
How you can find it:
- Recognizable by distinctive short peg-like branchlets and unusual silhouette.


Traditionally used for many medicinal purposes, hackberry is very beneficial for wildlife and withstands harsh conditions very well. It is often used as a street tree.
How you can find it:
- Very distinctive bark, with "corky" irregular ridges.


There are many species of this beautiful small flowering tree.
How you can find it:
- Recognizable by plump, fuzzy buds at this point in the year (kind of like a fuzzy "sweater" to protect the flowers).
- Often planted in front yards as a landscaping species.


Its distinctive "papery" white bark is highly weather resistant. It can be used to make syrup or "birch beer".
How you can find it:
- Fairly common in yards or landscaped areas.
- Papery bright white bark that peels off in sheets.
- Small horizontal black lines on bark (lenticels).


They tend to bloom very early in spring and have soft fuzzy tufts that are named for their resemblence to cats' paws.
How you can find it:
- Look for the soft fuzzy buds that have begun to appear for spring.


This tree can be tapped for syrup, but produces a darker, stronger-tasing sap than sugar maple.
How you can find it:
- Red buds that swell late in winter and form clusters of tiny red flowers in spring long before the leaves.
- Will flower soon.


This is a native tree to our region of Quebec and is very commonly growing along our streets.
How you can find it:
- Disctinctive shaggy bark.
- Tiny green flowers appear early in spring, before red maple flowers (soon!).
- Large ones are very common in neighbourhood around Loyola.


Native to this region and slow growing, Cedars are among the oldest trees in Quebec-- some are over 800 years old.
How you can find it:
- Often planted as a shrub in the city, and used as a hedge.
- But they can also form large trees when planted alone.


Quebec's provincial tree, its twigs smells like peppermint if you scratch them.
How you can find it:
- Not as common in Montreal as outside the city, look in more "natural" areas.
- Very distinctive peeling, golden tinted bark.


Among the first to flower in spring, and they are beginning to peep out in Monreal.
How you can find it:
- Can be yellow, white, or purple.
- Like to grow in sandy, well-drained soils in sunny locations-- like park grounds or dry garden beds with southern exposure.


Among the first to flower in spring, even when there is still snow on the ground.
How you can find it:
- White flowers that can grow in partial sun but prefer light shade, and prefer rich well-drained soil rich in organic matter.
- They tend to grow best close to larger trees and hedges.


Birds
Crows are all about family! They mate for life and the young stay around for at least a year to help the parents raise siblings. Sometimes they gather in huge groups ("a murder of crows") at dusk and spend the night in trees in these huge groups but the family groups split from the main "murder" and go their own way during the day. American Crows are native.
How you can find it:
- They often hang out in twos or threes in adjacent trees.
- Listen for their "caw caw caw" calls.

These beautiful yellow native birds use spiderwebs to hold their nests together and have a bubbly flight song.
How you can find it:
- You'll mostly find them in trees.
- Look for them in flight when you hear a bubbly song.

If you listen, this native bird could wake you up with its morning song. Like many birds, they travel in flocks in the winter but defend individual territories in the spring and summer.
How you can find it:
- In open grassy areas, singing from trees or bushes.
- Listen for its whistling song, especially in the morning and early evening.

They nest in holes in trees and can sometimes be enticed to eat seeds or apples from your hand in the winter. Although they're tiny, they also have a mobbing call that brings all kinds of other birds out to defend against a larger predator like a larger bird, squirrel, or cat.
How you can find it:
- In trees and bushes.
- Listen for the "chickadee-dee-dee" call when they're agitated, or the "spring's here" song when they're not.

These geese are great partners, extremely devoted and protective of each other. Adults also "babysit"-- they often watch over each other's young.
How you can find it:
- Flying overhead in V formation during this time of year as migrate back home from the south.
- In parks, near water.
- Listen for their forlorn-sounding honks.

These European birds are invasive here in North America. They'are also really smart: they can learn the calls of at least 20 other species of birds!
How you can find it:
- In trees, bushes, on transmission wires, in fields, and in grass/lawns/parks.
- Often in large groups.
- Listen for its trilling, staccato song.

These birds are declining in their native Europe due to illness, but are invasive here in North America
How you can find it:
- In bushes and vines and the eaves (or underhangs) of buildings.
- Listen for their shrill cheeping sounds.

These showy native birds mate for life! Also, the females sometimes sing, just like the males, which actually isn't that common among birds.
How you can find it:
- Bushes and trees.
- Listen for the sharp "chip-chip-chip" song or its descending whistle call. Where there's one, there are usually two, and they tyically check in with each other vocally every few seconds!

These native birds are the fastest animals in the air; they can reach up to 320 km/hr!
How you can find it:
- Usually in flight.
- They nest in tall buildings and structures in the city.
- If it's a quiet day you might hear their sharp call from up high.


This non-native species secretes "milk" from its crop to feed its young!
How you can find it:
- One of the easiest birds to find!
- Streets, parks, ledges, and electrical wires in the city.
- Listen for their characteristic cooing gurgle sounds.

This native species eats dead animals so actually benefits humans. It sounds gross but they help keep our world clean!
How you can find it:
- Look up! You'll often see them circling overhead, even in downtown Montreal.
- Often seen around highways.

Insects
Carpenter ants get their name from their nest building, where they will excavate and form smooth tunnels inside of wood.
How you can find it:
- They are large (6-13 mm in length), and are usually red and black or brown in color.

Underground, their nests form a series of tunnels and gallieries.
How you can find it:
- Easily! They are also known as the sidewalk ant, and can be found on the ground or in the park, on hot sunny days.
- You can often find their nests which resemble shallow mounds of sand.


Although potentially the most famous of the bees (who doesn't love honey?), this is not a native species in Quebec!
How you can find it:
- Around flowering plants, like gardens and meadows.
- They also build nests inside tree cavities and under ledges.

This is among the first butterflies of spring, because it overwinters locally instead of migrating.
How you can find it:
- You will find it flitting about on hot, sunny days!

This is a migratory butterfly and is usually among the first to return to Montreal each spring.
How you can find it:
- On hot, sunny days you'll find it near early-blooming grasses and flowers.

This activity is offered in collaboration with the Office of Sustainability, the Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability and 4TH SPACE, as part of the WWF Living Planet @ Campus program at Concordia.