Tag: iNaturalist
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An iNaturalist milestone: 500,000 observations!
In today’s post, Algonquin Provincial Park‘s Assistant Superintendent David LeGros helps us celebrate a big milestone for community scientists around the province! For over five years now, Ontario Parks has been encouraging park visitors to submit their observations of nature — everything from plants, animals, and fungi — to our community science project in iNaturalist. Over…
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Join us for Science Literacy Week 2022
Today’s blog comes from Jessica Stillman, School Outreach Coordinator at Bronte Creek Provincial Park. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the words: counting, measuring, weighing, and calculating? For us, it’s connection!
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Migrating north: how I became a "Bird Nerd"
Today’s post comes from Sarah Wiebe, the senior park naturalist at Kettle Lakes Provincial Park. Before this year, I would have never considered myself a “Bird Nerd.” My journey began in my southern Ontario home, but it wasn’t until I arrived at my summer destination (Kettle Lakes!) that I truly hit my nerdy stride.
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Ecological integrity in southeastern parks
In today’s post, Protected Areas Intern Katelyn Vardy highlights a few of the projects that staff have completed to improve and maintain the ecological integrity in southeastern parks. When you’re standing in a favourite nature spot or within a park, it’s easy to embrace the beauty and calmness that surrounds you. While campers and day…
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Ontario's smallest snakes
Today’s post comes from Shane Smits, senior park interpreter at Rondeau Provincial Park. Are you terrified of snakes? Do you believe they’re all large and frightening? Well, everyone has a right to their own fears, but what if snakes aren’t all what the movies make them out to be? It’s a common misconception that snakes…
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6 ways to be the best park neighbour
Provincial parks are not islands. Well, some of them are. What we mean is: there is no invisible wall around parks limiting their relationships with the outside world. Even if you never visit a park, you benefit from the pollinator diversity they protect, the CO2 they sequester in wood, roots, and peat, and the clean…
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How will I know ecological integrity when I see it?
Preserving ecological integrity is a priority for all of us here at Ontario Parks. But just what does ecological integrity look like? Algonquin Provincial Park Naturalist David LeGros explains… When I start many of my evening programs at Algonquin, I often ask the audience if they like nature. Usually I get a lot of hands…
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A trip down the Pakeshkag River at Grundy Lake Provincial Park
Today’s post comes from Sonje Bols, a former naturalist at Grundy Lake Provincial Park. Part of a park naturalist’s job is to familiarize themselves with the natural and cultural wonders of their park through exploration. Whether it’s hanging out at bogs to catch and identify dragonflies, checking rocks for snakes, or canoeing along Indigenous canoe…
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Spotted on iNaturalist: our staff's favourite observations
Did you know April is Community Science Month? It’s no secret that we’re big proponents of community science, especially using a beginner-friendly app like iNaturalist! Every observation contributes to park research and helps maintain ecological integrity in our natural spaces. Not to mention the cool and unusual species we’ve spotted along the way! Check out…