Committed to the conservation, enhancement and stewardship of habitat across Newfoundland and Labrador
Hover over each Monitoring Program below to learn more.
eBird.org
Bird observations
- International
- Year round
- App available
eBird is the world’s largest biodiversity-related citizen science project, with more than 100 million bird sightings contributed each year by eBirders around the world. A collaborative enterprise with hundreds of partner organizations, thousands of regional experts, and hundreds of thousands of users, eBird is managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
iNaturalist.org
Wildlife observations
- International
- Year round
- App available
Every observation can contribute to biodiversity science, from the rarest butterfly to the most common backyard weed. We share your findings with scientific data repositories like the Global Biodiversity Information Facility to help scientists find and use your data. All you have to do is observe. For extra fun check out the Seek App by iNaturalist.
National Audubon Society
Great Back Yard Bird Count
- Bird observations
- North America
- Annual in February
The Great Backyard Bird Count (launched in 1998) was the first online citizen-science project to collect data on wild birds and to display results in near real-time. Now, more than 160,000 people of all ages and walks of life worldwide join the four-day count each February to create an annual snapshot of the distribution and abundance of birds.
National Audubon Society
Christmas Bird Count
- Bird observations
- North America
- December 14 - January 5
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All Christmas Bird Counts (CBC) are conducted between December 14 to January 5, inclusive dates, each season. The CBC is a long-standing program of the National Audubon Society, with over 100 years of community science involvement. It is an early-winter bird census, where thousands of volunteers across the U.S., Canada, and many countries in the Western Hemisphere count birds over 24 hours.
Birds Canada
-Bird observations
-Canada/North America
-Spring/Summer
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By gathering information as a volunteer Citizen Scientist, you can help us understand how changes in our landscape are affecting wild bird habitats and populations, and inform decisions about conservation priorities
1) Maritimes Marsh Monitoring Program
NatureWatch.ca
-Frog, Plant, Worm observations
-Canada/North America
-Year round-App Available
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NatureWatch.ca is your home page for fun, easy-to-use environmental monitoring programs that encourage you to learn about the environment while gathering the information that scientists need to monitor and protect it. A Canadian program run by the University of Ottawa.
1) Frog Watch
2) Plant Watch
3) Worm Watch
Foray NL
-Fungi & Lichen
-Various locations
-Annually in September
-Field collection w/ experts
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Foray Newfoundland and Labrador is a non-profit organization conducting amateur mushroom forays in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The Foray's mission is to organize enjoyable and informative amateur mushroom forays in Newfoundland and Labrador and disseminate the knowledge gained.
Bumble Bee Watch
- Bees & pollinators
- North America
- Year round
- App available
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Bumble Bee Watch is a collaborative effort to track and conserve North America’s bumble bees. This citizen science project allows for individuals to: Upload photos of bumble bees to start a virtual bumble bee collection; Help researchers determine the status and conservation needs of bumble bees; Help locate rare or endangered populations of bumble bees; Learn about bumble bees, their ecology, and ongoing conservation efforts; and Connect with other citizen scientists.
eButterfly
- International
- Year round
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e-Butterfly is maximizing the utility and accessibility of the vast numbers of butterfly observations, photographs, and collections made each year by recreational and professional butterfly enthusiasts. With your help, we will amass one of the largest and fastest growing insect data resources to inform our understanding of ecological and agricultural systems in North America.
Government of NL
- Wildlife observations
- Provincial
- Year round
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The Department of Fisheries and Land resources would like to hear from you about exotic species and several species at risk. Send your sightings including the date, specific location and a any photos to:
1) Bats - Bat Line at 1-833-434-BATS (2287)
2) Exotic Species
3) Species at Risk (NL Endangered Species Act)
Facebook Local Groups
- Wildlife observations
- Newfoundland & Labrador
- Year round
- App available (Facebook)
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There are several local facebook groups that post images and sightings of wildlife in NL. They are a great place to get started in learning about what types of wildlife are present here in the province.
1) The NL Birdwatching Group
Other Citizen Science Programs & Resources
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Government of Canada - Citizen Science Portal
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Action: Citizen Science Activities
Monitoring birds for aesthetic value rather than for food became popular in the late 18th century and the study of birds became prevalent in Britain during the Victorian Era. Today people can join a global community of citizen scientists, and take part in environmental monitoring. Theses citizen science movements have been proven to assist in identifying environmental threats to bird populations, and can even help assess outcomes to environmental management initiatives.
Monitoring wildlife has gone far beyond birding, and there are many different types of citizen science activities SAM communities and residents can become involved in, either provincially , nationally and even globally! Check out our list of opportunities below and get involved!