Due to closures, we are offering OCVN's continuing education hours via webinars. These webinars will focus on topics including birds, soils, forests, and more, to help you improve your knowledge and skills for volunteering when the opportunities are available again. You can add each of these webinars to your continuing education hours.
*******************************************************
Virtual Kickoff for Taking Flight with Citizen Science
Matt Shumar, Program Coordinator of the Ohio Bird Conservation Initiative, has provided our keynote and kick off. Matt helps us explore the role citizen science is playing in bird conservation and how we can use the tools of citizen science to improve our naturalist skills and conserve bird habitat at our local patch and park.
Taking Flight with Citizen Science Keynote (Session 1)
Meeting Recording:
https://osu.zoom.us/rec/share/ptREBO_N8iBOSbfJyR3tA54jHIq8T6a8gXRNq6ILz0qCSuBlrXJoKtGFwXws8-st
About eBird: https://ebird.org/about
eBird Essentials (free online course): https://ebird.org/news/ebird-essentials
eBird Breeding & Behavior Code definitions: https://support.ebird.org/en/support/solutions/articles/48000837520
Session 2 Building Curious Kids’ Local Connection and Global Perspectives with eBird Citizen Science
Thursday, May 28 at 6:30 PM—7:45 PM EST
Session Leader: Jennifer Fee, Manager of K-12 Programs, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Description: Citizen-science projects like eBird take students outside to carefully observe and document their local environment, notice patterns, and ask authentic questions. These projects help kids connect locally and see their environment in a global context. Jennifer will share free resources (including apps, hands-on activities, and multimedia resources) to put in your “engaging kids” toolbox as well as tips for successfully engaging young people in outdoor observations and citizen science using an inquiry mindset.
Meeting Recording:
https://osu.zoom.us/rec/share/zul0AZu37mhJbY3j1kvTdqEiIq_hX6a80SlIqaVbyE71MYuK7OXYiCSop9eA6R7c
Evaluation for Session 2 Building Curious Kids
https://osu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3eHFVhXWCHPqQ2p
Resources:
Leading Nature Walks: 5 Keys to Success https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI_k_cTmgMs
Science and Nature Activities for Cooped Up Kids https://www.birds.cornell.edu/k12/parents/
Bird Sleuth Explorers Guidebook https://www.birds.cornell.edu/k12/explorers-guidebook/
Journey North
Journey North is a citizen science migration tracking database. The Monarch butterfly is a focus, but they track sightings of other migratory wildlife as well. This database is timely to share as warm weather is on the horizon and the Monarch butterflies current position surely means Ohio will be getting our first in the next 7-10 days.
The Monarch butterfly is currently being considered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for potential listing under the Endangered Species Act and the reasons for the butterfly's steep decline are complex. Monarchs complete an annual multi-generational journey from Mexico to the United States and Canada and back every year. Monarch butterfly reproduction is dependent upon milkweed as a host plant and connecting plant phenology (when plants grow and bloom) with migratory timing is an important component of understanding the species' dynamics. The Monarch butterfly is an iconic species, continentally recognized by nearly all citizens, and will take a whole group effort to conserve.