Citizen Science | Friends of Parks and Nature South Australia https://friendsofparkssa.org.au Volunteers working for conservation Thu, 02 Sep 2021 23:59:42 +0000 en-AU hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://friendsofparkssa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/cropped-favicon-friends-of-parks-sa-32x32.png Citizen Science | Friends of Parks and Nature South Australia https://friendsofparkssa.org.au 32 32 It’s nearly time for the Great Southern Bioblitz! A great opportunity for groups to explore their park using the ID tool ‘iNaturalist’ – October 22 – 25th https://friendsofparkssa.org.au/news-events/its-nearly-time-for-the-great-southern-bioblitz-a-great-opportunity-for-groups-to-explore-their-park-using-the-id-tool-inaturalist-october-22-25th/ Thu, 02 Sep 2021 23:59:42 +0000 https://friendsofparkssa.org.au/?p=237703  Great Southern Bioblitz (October 22-25) the ‘Great Southern BioBlitz’, or ‘GSB’ for short, is an international period of intense biological surveying in an attempt to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring

The purpose of this event is to highlight both the immense biodiversity spread across the Southern Hemisphere in the flourishing springtime, as well as to engage the the public in science and nature learning using the citizen science platform iNaturalist. As we are international, in Spanish we are known as ‘Gran Biobúsqueda del Sur’, while in Portuguese we are known as ‘Grande BioBlitz do Hemisfério Sul’.  Read more here

]]> The Great Southern Bioblitz for Greater Adelaide 2021 is coming up in October 22 – 24. These workshops will help you prepare! https://friendsofparkssa.org.au/news-events/the-great-southern-bioblitz-for-greater-adelaide-2021-is-coming-up-in-october-22-24-these-workshops-will-help-you-prepare/ Wed, 11 Aug 2021 08:23:15 +0000 https://friendsofparkssa.org.au/?p=237268 Following the success of 2020, we are again organising the Great Southern Bioblitz greater Adelaide in 2021, in partnership with the South Australia branch of the Australian Citizen Science Association,

We are involved in an international competition to find and document plants and wildlife in cities across the globe. We hope you and your organisation can make a contribution!

How to get involved:

We could hold another how-to session, or probably better for the club organiser to have a bio blitz done over the weekend at a local revegetation site or similar or both

When? The CNC will be held between from  22 Oct – 24 Oct – you can participate for four minutes or four days!

We are also holding several online training events

A beginners guide for using iNaturalist Tue, 17 Aug 2021 8:00 PM

A beginners guide for using iNaturalist Tue, 28 September 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM ACST

Advanced tips for using iNaturalist Tue, 7 September 2021, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM ACST

Let me know your thoughts

Kind regards

Stephen Fricker, Adelaide coordinator GSBioblitz

]]> Would you like to Join the Big Koala Hunt in Belair National Park on Saturday 29th and Sunday the 30th of May ? https://friendsofparkssa.org.au/news-events/would-you-like-to-join-the-big-koala-hunt-in-belair-national-park/ Tue, 18 May 2021 23:12:22 +0000 https://friendsofparkssa.org.au/?p=236323 Courtney Heinjus asks iif any volunteers would like to be involved in the giant koala count happening in Belair on both Saturday 29th of May and Sunday 30th May. See below:

Some researchers from Flinders University are undertaking some research methodology on koalas in Belair National Park. Their aim is more about the effectiveness of each method but the count will create some great data on the actual number of koalas within the park.

They’re undertaking the count on  Saturday 29th and Sunday the 30th of May from roughly 9-5pm. They’re aiming to cover most of the park working on 5 ha blocks for each survey as part of the methodology. You will work in teams of 2 to do the count but will receive training first.

Due to the large area they want to cover, we’re looking for as many volunteers who are keen as possible. There is a decent amount of walking involved but we will try and direct the younger, fitter ones to the steeper areas. Don’t feel like you need to commit to the entire day either. There will be a BBQ on one of the days.

So if you’re keen to get involved or can think of anyone, even people not in your groups to get involved, please send this their way. It’s pretty nice walking through the park and looking at furry things!

Just a side note- I will ban walking through certain areas but it is only 2 people per 5ha so I’m not particularly worried about trampling. If you’ve got any major concerns please let me know.

Thanks,

Courtney Heinjus

Ranger
Central Lofty District

National Parks and Wildlife Service
Department for Environment and Water
M 0448 220 403 P 81309067
Workshop Road,

Cleland 5152
environment.sa.gov.au | naturalresources.sa.gov.au | envirodata.sa.gov.au | parks.sa.gov.au

]]> Introductory training in iNaturalist app for Friends of Parks members: Webinar and guided walk on 25 and 28th March 2021 https://friendsofparkssa.org.au/news-events/introductory-training-in-inaturalist-app-for-friends-of-parks-members-webinar-and-guided-walk-on-25-and-28th-march-2021/ Sat, 06 Mar 2021 11:10:37 +0000 https://friendsofparkssa.org.au/?p=235691 Would you like to learn about INaturalist? This app is a wonderful tool to help you discover and ID new plants, insects, fungi, birds, and whatever other amazing organisms you might find in your park! An online training webinar will be held on 25 March, 6pm. This is lead by Stephen Fricker, an experienced iNaturalist user and biologist working at Uni SA. It is in preparation for two major citizen science events: City Nature Challanege and Great Southern Bioblitz.
 
The webinar will be followed by a guided walk on Sunday 28 March 10am, to give you hands-on experience in making observations. The walk is in the Wheal Gawler Mining Reserve, Gully Reserve Glen Osmond and will take 1 – 1.5 hours. More information and register here
]]> Get to know iNaturalist and become a Citizen Scientist! https://friendsofparkssa.org.au/news-events/get-to-know-inaturalist-and-become-a-citizen-scientist/ Tue, 25 Aug 2020 04:21:55 +0000 https://friendsofparkssa.org.au/?p=233592
Citizen Science projects are a great way to learn more about our parks and the natural environment. A number of current projects in SA use a free app called iNaturalist which enables you to take a photo of a plant or animal, record its location and share it with others who can assist you to identify it.
 
 One such citizen Science project is the Great Southern Bioblitz.  This is an international period of intense biological surveying which seeks to record all the living species within several designated areas across the Southern Hemisphere in Spring. It will be held September 25 – 28th, 2020. We are fortunate that Stephen Fricker, a University of SA staff member and organiser of the Great Southern Bioblitz in Adelaide, will be holding an online workshop for Friends of Parks members.


The online workshop on INaturalist  will be held on 12 September at 3-4pm, will introduce the app and show how it can be used to record biodiversity. Stephen will talk about participation in the ‘Great Southern BioBlitz’  and will also suggest some ideas on how this app can be used by Friends of groups to generate greater engagement with their park, identify weed patches and contribute to research whilst in their park

 
We hope to see you there!
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