The Metro Phoenix Saguaro Census 2023

DATE: May 1 - 31
TIME: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
PRICE: Free

Do you love saguaros? Help us find them in your neighborhood.

The Garden will hold its second annual urban Saguaro Census during the month May to document more saguaros throughout the Phoenix metro area, as well as monitor the ones that were recorded last year.

Beginning May 1, you can upload observations of saguaros (Carnegiea gigantea) using iNaturalist under the Metro Phoenix Saguaro Census project.

An observation can include photos, a location and notes about the general health of the saguaro. You can submit observations of saguaros that you tracked last year.

This year, the Garden wants to record saguaros that are stressed or dead. Participants can share information about a dead saguaro by filling out a short online form, that includes the age, location, estimated size and possible cause of death. The information is critical in helping Garden scientists understand the health and demographics of urban saguaros.

Why?

In 2022, the Garden launched its first-ever urban Saguaro Census in response to the community’s concerns that several saguaros were dying or losing an arm during the summer of 2020. Climate change might be the cause for hotter temperatures in urban spaces, which can overstress saguaros.

More about the project:

Learn more about the Garden’s urban Saguaro Census and its mission. Watch the following training video to become more familiar with iNaturalist.

Watch the following training video to become more familiar with iNaturalist.

Join the Census 
Fill out this form to receive updates about the project or to join as a volunteer. 

Getting Started Guide
Learn how to use iNaturalist on your smartphone to observe saguaros.

WE NEED YOUR SAGUARO! If you have a saguaro growing on your property and are willing to allow the Garden to study it, please email saguarocensus@dbg.org