Join Sumac Environmental Consulting and Magnetawan Watershed Land Trust to monitor Eastern Whip-poor-wills. Learn with ecologists and naturalists about Eastern whip-poor-wills and other wildlife (e.g., owls, American woodcock) that may be observed during this evening survey. The survey work will be done around Ahmic Lake. Pre-registration required. Participation includes MWLT swag! 

What is an Eastern Whip-poor-will and why do we care? 

An Eastern Whip-poor-will (a nightjar species) is a nocturnal aerial insectivore bird and the best time to hear them calling is on a bright moonlight night. Unfortunately, Eastern Whip-poor-will populations have been declining and are considered threatened in Ontario. Habitat loss, due to development or forest maturation, predators and decline of moths are just a few reasons scientists feel the populations have declined.

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What’s involved:

Assist in increasing our understanding of nightjar species in the Magnetawan River watershed and beyond. We will be visiting three properties during the evening. A map of all survey stops will be provided in advance of the survey (once registered). 

Join Magnetawan Watershed Land Trust and Georgian Bay Biosphere for a bioblitz at Still Creek Nature Reserve in Whitestone! Become a citizen scientist by learning about local biodiversity, taking pictures of plants and animals, and sharing what you find. This information will help us manage our property effectively. We will explore the ecology that makes this area unique and use the citizen science app iNaturalist to record our observations.

You may sign up for one or both sessions. Both sessions will be capped at 20 participants. This is a family-friendly event, appropriate for ages 10+. Information about location and what to bring will be provided after registration.

Have a knack for photography? Or don't have a knack for photography at all and just want to have some fun? Pick a category below (or two, or three!) and send us your best shot. Be as creative as you'd like. You can find the categories and contest details listed below. We can't wait to see everyone's photos!

Categories
    1. Sunrise or Sunset
    2. Fun in the Sun
    3. Water: Above, Below, or In Between
    4. Nature
    5. Junior (taken by someone 12 or younger)

Contest Details

• One entry per person per category

• Please email photos to communications@mwlt.org

• Please indicate the category for each photo submission, as well as the photographer, location, and date the photo was taken (photos must be taken during the contest dates)

• Voting will be virtual and open to the public. Winners will be announced at the Annual Land Trust Celebration on August 6th.

• By submitting your photo(s), you agree to grant the MWLT permission to use your photo(s) in any future media (credited, of course!)

• Winners will get bragging rights and some super coveted MWLT merchandise!

Did you know that MWLT is on iNaturalist? Go explore nature and let us know what you see using the iNaturalist program. If you don’t have iNaturalist already, it is easy to download the app to your phone (or any device). Take a photo of wild plants or animals and any observation you make within our boundary will automatically be added. However, make sure we are "trusted" with your coordinates. To do this:

Please head over to our project and ensure that this is still the case! To do this go to: 

1) Magnetawan Watershed Land Trust project 
2) Join Project (If you've joined in the past, make sure you still are!) 
3) Click * Your Membership* 
4) Click Yes (if you want!) to receive journal notifications 
5) Click Yes, for any of my observations under "Trust this project with hidden coordinates". 
6) Click Save!
 

The iNaturalist app will help you with the identifications, so it's a great tool to learn about the species around you. Your input will contribute towards conservation initiatives for MWLT in the Magnetawan River watershed.

Be sure to keep an eye on our social media feed and website for challenges (we may even have a fun prize!). Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. We can be reached at info@mwlt.org.