Citizen Science, Raccoons and Other Byways
Sunday 25 January
We have not been “Out Walking” as far as usual for a while - see the weather forecast below for the reason. As a consequence today’s edition turns to other interesting topics from the just-in-case section of the filing cabinet.
Offshoot and Byway Time
One of the earliest things we we were surprised by when we spent our first winter in Quebec was that you can tell how cold it is by the sound of the snow as you walk on it. There was an article in the Guardian mid-week that explains what is happening. It’s not fantasy, it’s physics.
Canadians like to claim that they can tell the temperature outside by the sound the snow makes underfoot. The topic has not been well studied, but researchers from the University of Wisconsin suggest that, at temperatures above -10C, the pressure of a foot causes a thin layer of snow to melt, producing a crunching sound as it compresses. Closer to zero, the sliding of grains becomes a squelch as the snow approaches the condition of slush, but as the temperature approaches -10C the snow becomes progressively crunchier. >Below -10C though, the dominant sound is the ice crystals themselves being crushed, producing more of a squeaking. The lower the temperature, the more the ice crystals tend to stick to each other, which creates more friction, so the louder the squeak.
The exact sound also depends on the depth of the snow and the type of surface beneath, and how long the snow has been on the ground. But although there are complex factors at play, it seems plausible that someone who has spent a lifetime trudging through snow really could learn to distinguish the sound associated with different temperatures.
Those Busy Little Paws …
Raccoons - too clever by half. Certainly the raccoons that live alongside us are fascinating little problem solvers. Just think what will be able to do when they evolve opposable thumbs like we have.
… raccoons pack an astonishing number of neurons – an amount comparable to primates – into their brains. Scaled up to size, a raccoon brain would contain roughly the same number of neurons as a human brain.
… raccoons possess specialized fast-conducting brain cells known as von Economo neurons, which are also found in humans, other great apes and a few additional large-brained mammals. This neural arrangement may help explain the species’ striking combination of clever problem-solving and rapid decision-making during exploration – frequently leading to risky behaviors that can have unfortunate consequences. These findings raise the possibility that raccoon neuroscience could offer useful insights into the neural foundations of impulse control and distracted attention.
Patch Wildlifing - Citizen Science
Citizen science projects can add purpose to observing life whilst out walking around our patches. If we are ever to halt habitat and biodiversity decline, we must have the best data. Records of wildlife and plants, their presence and absence, and their varying status over years are crucial. Biologists alone can’t collect all the data due to limited numbers and resources. This is where the amateur naturalist community can help. Citizen science taps volunteers’ collective power to gather large-scale data, accelerate research, and sometimes to uncover patterns missed by smaller teams. It fosters scientific literacy, community engagement, and a sense of ownership. This collaborative model leads to innovative insights through diverse perspectives.
There are quite a few citizen science projects you can report your observations to. I very seriously suggest that you consider the following three, at least:
iNaturalist
This online community is perhaps the easiest to use and additionally gives you assistance with tricky identifications. It is universal in its species range and not restricted to birds or butterflies or plants as some projects are. If you see it and it’s alive you can report it. They describe themselves thus: One of the world’s most popular nature apps, iNaturalist helps you identify the plants and animals around you. Get connected with a community of over a million scientists and naturalists who can help you learn more about nature! What’s more, by recording and sharing your observations, you’ll create research quality data for scientists working to better understand and protect nature.
Join, or find out more, at https://www.inaturalist.org
In essence, you take a photograph (doesn’t have to be perfect) of a species. You upload the photo - if you took it with your phone you use their app to upload directly, others do it when convenient from a computer at home. The website/app asks you where you saw it and when. It suggests an identification which you accept or not and files it away. In time, other users of iNaturalist will stumble across your report and agree or disagree with your ID and gradually the confidence in the ID improves. Often the people who contribute this way are professional or very experienced amateurs and you will learn a lot from them. The suggested identifications are offered by artificial intelligence and are often uncannily accurate - birds, flowers and butterflies in particular. This a great place to start your adventures in citizen science. iNaturalist is a joint initiative by the California Academy of Sciences and the National Geographic Society and operates worldwide.
eBird
If you are reasonably confident of your ability to identify birds then do create an account with eBird.
eBird is among the world’s largest biodiversity-related science projects, with more than 100 million bird sightings contributed annually by eBirders around the world and an average participation growth rate of approximately 20% year over year. It is a collaborative enterprise with hundreds of partner organizations, thousands of regional experts, and hundreds of thousands of users; eBird is created and managed by the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology. Data quality is of critical importance. When entering sightings, observers are presented with a list of likely birds for that date and region. These checklist filters are developed by some of the most knowledgeable bird distribution experts in the world. When unusual birds are seen, or high counts are reported, the regional experts review these records.
Find out more at https://ebird.org
Feederwatch
This is another bird related citizen science project which runs for six months each winter, during which period you are asked to report the birds you see in your garden. Sit in the warm by the window with a cup of tea and note down what visits.
Find the project here: https://feederwatch.org/about/project-overview/
Project FeederWatch turns your love of feeding birds into scientific discoveries. FeederWatch is a November-April survey of birds that visit backyards, nature centres, community areas, and other locales in North America. You don’t even need a feeder! All you need is an area with plantings, habitat, water or food that attracts birds. The schedule is completely flexible. Count your birds for as long as you like on days of your choosing, then enter your counts online. Your counts allow you to track what is happening to birds around your home and contribute to a continental data-set of bird distribution and abundance.
Other Citizen Science Projects
There is something for everyone … just have a look at this list. Whatever interest you, there is a group out there who want to know what you have seen. Many projects available such as Bumble Bee Watch, Project Squirrel, Parks Canada Bioblitz events, iSpy a Hedgehog, Bugs Matter, the. Big Butterfly Count, the Great British Hedgerow Survey … and dozens more.
https://citizenscienceforeveryone.wordpress.com/nationwide-projects/
https://earthwatch.org.uk/blog/citizen-science-projects-in-the-uk-volunteer-to-help-nature/
Join a Club
An excellent way to learn about wildlife is to join a club that organizes talks and field trips where you can learn from more experienced naturalists. If birds are of any interest to you at all then I would point you in the direction of Bird Protection Québec or a similar group near your own home. BPQ is a registered charity, in fact the oldest bird conservation charity in Canada. It has talks monthly in the winter months and field trips most Saturday mornings - and the field trips are free, you don’t have to be a member to go along though, of course, everyone hopes you will join in due course. Birders everywhere almost always (every community has a couple of grouches) welcome newcomers and are only too pleased to talk to you and answer your questions.
The effect of humans on the behaviour of raptors
The answer is - more than you might think, and rarely good
Native or Non-Native Garden Plantings?
Even the most native of native gardens can justifiably allow some non-natives to get their roots established.
… on the whole, if you want to attract butterflies to breed in your garden, you need to grow known caterpillar foodplants.. However, many adult butterflies will take nectar from a range of flowers and, as most garden butterflies are generalists, you can grow a good mix of non-natives as nectar plants.
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