FREE Citizen Science Demos with EcoSpark
Mark your calendars, as there are two FREE in-person training events for Caterpillars Count upcoming next month!
- Saturday July 8th, from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm at Evergreen Brick Works, no registration required.
- Thursday July 13th, from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm at Bickford Park with Project Swallowtail, register today at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/ecospark-formerly-citizens-environment-watch/events/caterpillars-count-workshop-at-bickford-park/.
Caterpillars Count is a citizen science project helping scientists in studying the seasonal variation (phenology) and abundance of arthropods like caterpillars, beetles, and spiders found on the foliage of trees and shrubs.
Arthropods are underappreciated for their importance on Earth, from being an important food source for birds and other wildlife, to having economic and environmental impacts on forests and crops. Caterpillars, a type of arthropods, are one of the most important food sources for migratory birds: feeding their nestlings as they grow.
Climate change is affecting the timing of biological processes, like spring leaf out, insect activity, and bird migration and breeding. If the phenological shifts of these organisms do not line up, then it can have negative consequences for their populations.
Here’s where you can help! Participants collect data by conducting surveys on trees and shrubs, recording all arthropods they observed. You can find existing sites or propose a new site in your neighbourhood by visiting our website at https://www.ecospark.ca. Contact us at info@ecospark.ca if you have any questions or need help getting started!
