By Agnes Pasco Conaty
Credit: Agnes Pasco Conaty
April is the month of citizens’ sciences, and what better time than spring to explore the natural world around us? There are many ways to participate in something fun and commitment – and support the wider scientific community as well.
Last year, I wrote on the Globe Observer Program, which also celebrates its 30th anniversary in April. In the column of last year, I presented to readers the Globe Observer application, which allows you to document your observations – clouds, mosquito habitats, land blankets, trees of trees – and download data directly on the program site (Observe.globe.gov/). This year, I would like to develop this theme, bringing you more resources that could fuel your interest in the nature and the natural resources that surround us.
During a recent hike, my family and I experienced the Merlin Bird ID application (Merlin.allaboutbirds.org), an identification and data collection application created by the Ornithology Cornell laboratory. During our hike, my husband, Austin, used the application to identify two types of peaks, raven and Canada geese – all by the sounds they made.
But you don’t have to hike away to hear the birds; If you have a courtyard, you will almost certainly see and hear a variety – I have Robins, Cardinals, Turnages and Colibris in my own courtyard. If you do not have a courtyard, you can surround yourself in birds singing in one of Laurel’s parks or in a wooded landscape, such as the Patoxent Research Refuge. Associating the Merlin Bird ID application with a reference such as the company Audubon North American bird guide (Audubon.org/bird-guide ) can help you confirm the type of bird through its song.
While we have hiked, Austin taught our son Joseph how to estimate the age of a fallen tree while counting the visible rings in a transversal section. It is a practical way to find out about dendrochronology, the science of examination of trees of trees to date of events in the life of the tree and environmental changes by examining the growth model of these rings. Dendrochronology – A bite to say!
And just as we have applications to identify birds, there are applications to identify trees. I particularly like the inaturist (Inaturalist.org/) and plantsnap (Plantsnap.com/). These two free applications allow you to identify a tree (indeed, practically any plant) by simply taking a photo of it. You can also share your observations with other people who use the application. Seek (tinyurl.com/ere3w6xh ) is a version at the level of the inatural application that many (and in particular children) can find easier to use, although this does not allow you to share your results with a community of citizens.
Locate an interesting geology on the path? The Rockd application (Rockd.org) will help you identify rocks and minerals and record your geological observations. The Patuxent Branch Trail, the Riverfront Anacostia path and the Savage Mill Trail, which runs along the Petit Patuxent, are all good local places to track down for the rocks. And all these trails offer panoramic views – many birds and trees too!
Maybe you are curious about the animal tracks you see along the path? Yes, there is also an application to identify them. Nature monitoring (naturretracking.com) Helps to identify the animals by the tracks (or the SCAT) they leave behind. I regularly spot foxes, deer, squirrels and marmots in our backyard, but if I did not see them, I could use the application to understand who was walking.
And everything does not depend on an application. A simple walk can offer us many moments to observe animal behavior. Or just look out the window! Deer often pay in our garden, generally in small groups, and we often see a family of deer eating together – with a deer in search of danger.
Speaking of windows, my family is impatiently awaiting the pair of mourning doves that nest on one of our windows every spring. They collect almost everything that is suitable for nesting – twigs, pine needles, leaves, feathers – then work together to build their nest. Both parents incubate the eggs for about two weeks, rarely leaving them unattended. And then we hear small tweets of two baby doves! Just there on our window rebound, we see the cycle of life curling the loop.
Spring is a period of renewal and rebirth for the things around us, and the riches of spring offer us a classroom without walls and unlimited chances for us to discover the wonders of the natural world. So take your phone, go out and start your civic scientific journey Explore Laurel’s natural beauty!