The City Nature Challenge is an annual global citizen science event that aims to enhance the public’s understanding of local ecology, promote biodiversity education, and support scientists in ecological surveys by building a biodiversity database through data collection. To align with this international initiative, the Ocean Park Conservation Alliance once again invited Seahorse Rangers from kindergarten, primary and secondary schools to visit Ocean Park on 25 April 2026 to take part in the Ecological Survey Workshop.
During the workshop, students stepped into the shoes of ecological surveyor, engaging their five senses to explore the unique features of Hong Kong’s native wildlife and habitats. They explored different corners of Ocean Park, uncovered a rich variety of local flora and flora species, gaining deeper insights into their distinct characteristics and vital ecological roles. 
In the kindergarten session, students explored different diverse habitats and discovered the unique features of animals from the sky, rivers, and land through interactive games and sensory experiences. At the “Dive Into Local Diversity” exhibit, they observed the golden coin turtle and Beale's eyed turtle, learning about their distinctive traits and how they protect themselves.
During the observation, students used brushes and magnifying glasses to carefully examine the tiny insects hidden among piles of fallen leaves. To their surprise, they discovered that these seemingly ordinary leaf litter is not only a source of nutrients for the soil, but also serves as a habitat and food source for countless micro-creatures. These findings helped them realize that Earth is a shared home for all living things, and that by paying closer attention, they can discover nature’s little residents even in the most unexpected corners of everyday life.
In addition, students observed the different features of birds’ feet, learning how their shapes vary according to their specific survival needs. For example, the collared scops owl has sharp and hooked claws to help catch prey. These comparisons not only introduced children to the diversity of bird species but also helped them understand the differences between animals’ body structures and its habitat. Throughout the activity, students were guided and encouraged by educators to use their five senses in exploring plants and animals. They captured their observations with cameras, fostering curiosity and sharpening their skills of observation.
For the primary and secondary school sessions, students became citizen scientists, embarking on an exciting immersive exploration through a park-wide orienteering challenge. They visited three checkpoints, each offering a different perspective on ecological knowledge. At the Eco-Herbal Trail, an interesting “Bingo” game prompted students to identify local flora species. In the process, they not only uncovered the therapeutic uses of medicinal herbs but also tracked subtle animal signs, gaining a profound insight into the intricate relationship between flora and fauna species, for example, butterflies drive pollination, while plants provide nectar for butterflies and leaves for caterpillars to feed and grow.
At the “Dive Into Local Diversity” exhibit, students used sketching and interactive Q&A activities to learn about freshwater species, such as the Hong Kong Newt’s distinctive orange spots, while discussing the habitat threats these animals face. At Whiskers Herbal Valley, they carefully compared the shapes of different leaves, learning how features such as leaf blades, petioles, flowers and stems serve as taxonomic clues for scientists to identify and classify plant species. These field observations deepened their understanding of plant biodiversity. Through teamwork and close investigation, students not only mastered foundational scientific research skills but also strengthened their interest in the natural environment. 
Along the way, students took photos and uploaded their wildlife observations to the iNaturalist platform. During their exploration, they were delighted to discover many hidden species in the Park, such as the black planthopper, the common mormon, and the red-whiskered bulbul. By recording these findings, they not only shared data with the global citizen science community but also experienced the power of citizen science first-hand and gained a deeper appreciation of nature’s diversity.
Throughout the workshop, Seahorse Rangers not only deepened their knowledge of Hong Kong’s flora and fauna species but also nurtured their observation skills and conservation awareness through exploration. These experiences helped them recognize the power of citizen science and their own role in conservation, inspiring them to pay closer attention to their surroundings in daily life, discover the hidden beauty of nature and wildlife, and carry forward the responsibility of protecting the natural world.