Going wild at home: five conservation quests for COVID times
Our horizons may have shrunk somewhat during the COVID-19 pandemic, but nature’s panorama is still there, waiting to be explored.
These five conservation quests will take you into the night sky, into the soundscape of a beluga whale, into the world of birds and bats, and into a community of citizen scientists. And you don’t even have to leave your backyard to take the trip!
Birds won’t stop migrating, nest-building and mating because of COVID-19. Your backyard is a perfect spot to start looking for the bird species that frequent our many birding destinations such as Point Pelee National Park. And for the birder who's stuck inside, there’s always Google Street View. Google birders begin their expeditions by clicking on the Street View option of Google Maps. Then they do what birders do everywhere—meander down a lane, scan the horizon, scope out a likely-looking field. But they’re using the “zoom” and “rotate the view” functions to spot the birds captured by Google.1. Go birding... inside and outside.
Plants and animals of Point Pelee National Park
Transcript
[This video contains no spoken words]If you have to shelter in place, Earth is a pretty good planet for it. On a clear night, you might be able to see as far as the Andromeda galaxy, 2.5 million light-years away. Thirteen Parks Canada places have dark sky designations, where the night sky is protected like any other natural feature. To get ready for your return to them, you might want to explore your corner of the universe through the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.
2. Pitch your tent at the edge of infinity... on your back lawn.
Canada's national parks hold a dark secret
Transcript
Canada’s national parks hold a dark secret
Away from glaring city lights… stars shine bright
Dark-Sky Site designation is awarded to areas where artificial light is minimal
And where efforts are made to reduce light pollution in nearby municipalities
This makes for spectacular stargazing
Parks Canada manages many of Canada’s Dark-Sky Sites
And the number is growing
At these sites, visitors can experience mind-boggling views of the Milky Way
Offering visitors a rare glimpse of our galaxy
And all that lies beyond
Protecting the night sky is also great news for wildlife
Unnatural light affects mammals, amphibians, birds, plants, and insects
Some migratory birds rely on the stars to find their way
Join the dark side
See the stars this summer at Dark-Sky Sites across Canada
During the summer, the beluga (an endangered species) frequents Saguenay–St. Lawrence Marine Park to feed, socialize, and rest. You might be able to catch sight of belugas on the park’s webcam.
Belugas are sometimes called sea canaries because they communicate using a wide repertoire of whistles, clicks and squeals. And what better way to experience this rich soundscape than by downloading the beluga ringtone for your smart phone?
3. Watch for beluga whales... and download a beluga ringtone.
Have you ever heard a beluga sing?
Transcript
Have you ever heard a beluga sing?In this video, Nadia Ménard, an ecologist at Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park, gives an interview. There a a few shots scattered throughout where we see images of the Saguenay-St. Lawrence marin park and beluga whales.
The Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park was established in 1998. Now the catalyst was to favour the recovery of the endangered beluga whale population. In my work as a marine ecologist I had the opportunity to work throughout the marine park but in one specific area called Baie-Sainte-Marguerite which is in the Saguenay Fjord. This area is mostly known for its importance for beluga whales, namely females with their calfs, because they’re the future of the population. It’s the area, in the summer range of the population, where the waters are the warmest. So we think it might be a good area also for calving but also to feed their young because the beluga calves depend on the females for milk, they’re a marine mammal. All this is happening underwater. Baie-Sainte-Marguerite is not only an area where we’ve done work on what types of pods are in the area, the food that’s available, but it’s an area where we want to enhance the protection. On a more personal note, I’ve had the opportunity to visit Baie-Sainte-Marguerite many time with my children. We bring along a picnic on the beach and watch the sun setting over the Saguenay Fjord and sometimes we have the chance to hear the beluga singing while we’re having dinner. These are unforgettable memories, probably some of my best wildlife viewing events that I’ve ever had.Scientists use computer models to simulate and explore the living world. But you can also go low-tech and use a “thought experiment.” (Albert Einstein was a big fan of these.)
Cape Breton Highlands National Park has been monitoring bats since 2015. Their discoveries—and some great photos of bats—are captured in this story map:
4. Become a bat for a night.
Bats and white-nose syndrome
Transcript
Parks Canada Agency Branding Logo
Music plays
Photo of bat in flight
Text on screen: BATS AND WHITE-NOSE SYNDROME
Music continues playing
Bats flying in cave
Bats are fascinating mammals,and are important components of healthy ecosystems.
Photograph of a bat eating a moth
The bats native to Canada are insect-eaters,and their value in controlling crop and forest pests
is estimated in the billions of dollars.
Photo of bat with white muzzle
Yet, three bat species in Canadaare now listed as endangered
because of a fungal disease called white-nose syndrome.
Map of New York State, zoom out to reveal Ontario and other parts of the United States.
The fungus that causes white-nose syndromemay have come from Europe.
It has spread quickly throughout Eastern North America,
and may continue to spread.
Bats hibernating
The fungus can transfer quickly between batsduring winter hibernation,
when they gather in underground openings,
like caves or abandoned mines.
Bat climbing snowy rocks
Infected bats can arouse early from hibernation.Dead bat on a snowed log
With no insects to eat,they use up their stored energy reserves, and die.
Photograph of a dead bat on snow
Since 2006, millions of North American bats have diedfrom white-nose syndrome.
Fade to black
Music continues
Fade in from black to photograph of 3 cavers looking into cave from outside
Parks Canada manages national parks
and historic sites across the country
Fort Lennox building
including both buildings and caves where bats can be found.Group of bats in a cave
Across the Parks Canada network, we are protecting batsin all stages of their lifecycle.
Photograph of a scientist handling bats
Parks Canada collaborates with bat expertsto better understand the impacts of white-nose syndrome
Photograph of a scientist's hand with gloves on holding a bat
and to find ways to delay its spread.Parks Canada agents inside the cave
Park staff are identifying bat habitat,and monitoring bat populations and health.
Photograph of a scientists at the entrance of a cave with white suits
Scientists and park staff who monitor batsdecontaminate their clothing and equipment,
to reduce the risk of spreading the disease.
Photographs of artificial bat houses
Artificial bat houses, when they are placedin the right location, can provide roosting habitat
for hundreds of bats at a time.
Webcam video of bats moving around
Webcams installed in Parks Canada buildingscan help visitors observe bats first-hand,
and provide opportunities to study their behaviour.
Bat moving around in cave. A second bat flies into frame.
You can help us to protect bats and their habitats.Bats in a cave flying around
Respect all closures of caves and other sites.Avoid entering caves, since humans can carry spores
on their clothing or footwear, and can unintentionally move
the fungus to new areas.
Group of bats with condensation
The fungus can be present even if bats are not.Group of bats in a cave Entrance of a cave. Parks Canada Agents walk into the cave.
Anyone entering a Parks Canada sitewhere bats are present must have a permit,
and will be required to follow a decontamination protocol
Screen shot of CWHC website.
Text on screen: Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative
www.cwhc-rcsf.ca/wns
which is available on the website of theCanadian Wildlife Health Cooperative.
Group of bats in a cave
We invite you to visit Parks Canada sitesto learn about bats and the challenges they face,
and share this information with others.
Group of active bats in cave
Bats are at great risk.Bats in a cave flying around
We all have the responsibilityto do everything we can to help them.
Photograph of bat on hat with Parks Canada logo
Join Parks Canada and other agenciesto reduce the threats faced by North American bats.
Fade to black
Fade into text on screen:
Photo credits by order of appearance: B.Fenton, H.Broders, and J.Segers
Extra footage: Carl Mrozek and Hugh Broders
Graphic on screen: Parks Canada Branding
Music ends
Fade to text on screen: © Her Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, represented by Parks Canada Agency, 2016.
iNaturalist.ca helps you capture your observations of plants or animals—anytime, anywhere. Every observation contributes to our knowledge of biodiversity. You can upload the photos you’ve taken of plants, animals, and insects at Parks Canada places. Don’t worry if your observations are from previous years; they still count… and can be important data points. And of course, check out the photos uploaded by other visitors!
5. Share your memories and observations on iNaturalist.
