You can become a citizen scientist

Workshops set for public to learn how they can help feathered friends

Two Valley environmental organizations are teaming up with three universities to help study and survey some feathered friends that may be in trouble.

Clean Annapolis River Project and the Jijuktu’kwejk Watershed Alliance will hold workshops in Berwick, Annapolis Royal, and Digby in the next few weeks to show interested members of the public how they can help.

In a media release, CARP said that in order to address some of the information gaps surrounding forested wetlands, in 2016 a collaborative was formed between researchers at Dalhousie, Mount St. Vincent, and Memorial universities, with the support of non-government organization partners to undertake a three-year project titled Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning of forested wetlands across Atlantic Canada.

The Landbirds at Risk project is one part of this large, multifaceted initiative that aims to increase the capacity for conservation of these habitats and their biodiversity.

The Landbirds at Risk team, led by Dr. Cindy Staicer at Dalhousie University, is focused on three species at risk – Canada Warbler, Olive-sided Flycatcher, and Rusty Blackbird. These birds breed in forested wetland habitats in Nova Scotia. The team’s goals are to identify important breeding areas for these species and to engage the public in stewardship of high quality habitat.

That goal resonates with Clean Annapolis River Project and the Jijuktu’kwejk Watershed Alliance (JWA), neighbouring watershedbased environmental groups in the Annapolis Valley, CARP said. The Annapolis and Cornwallis (traditionally Jijuktu’kwejk) rivers share their headwaters, in Caribou Bog, located near the villages of Berwick and Ayelsford. To the east the Jijuktu’kwejk drains towards Wolfville, and to the west the Annapolis River flows towards Annapolis Royal and onward through the Digby gut.

In hopes of engaging citizens from across these watersheds in the conservation of species at risk, CARP, JWA and the Landbirds at Risk team are partnering to deliver a series of free public workshops. The workshop will introduce the project, summarize what is known about these birds and their habitats, provide identification tips, explain how volunteers can participate in field surveys, and discuss other ways that people can contribute to the recovery of these species.

For those interested in becoming citizen scientists, CARP plans to host follow-up field surveys in spring 2018, so that members of the public can practice their birding skills, and gain first hand experience conducting formal surveys, which will then be submitted to the Landbirds at Risk Team.

Workshops

Workshops are being held at three locations:

- Feb. 6 from 7 to 9 p.m. at St. Luke’s Church Hall, 340 St. George Street, Annapolis Royal.

- Feb. 8 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Apple Dome, KMCC, 250 Veterans Drive, Berwick.

- Feb. 15 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Isaiah W. Wilson Memorial Library, 84 Warwick Street, Digby

Advanced registration is required, so that in the case of a weather cancellation, participants can be contacted. Registration can be done by phone or e-mail to Katie Mclean:

Email katiemclean@annapolisriver.ca

Phone 902-532-7533 Ext. 6

About CARP

Clean Annapolis River Project is an environmental NGO that operates throughout the Annapolis River Watershed, with an office in Annapolis Royal. Their mission is to enhance the ecological health of the Annapolis River watershed through science, leadership and community engagement. For more information visit www.annapolisriver.ca