As part of preparation for the upcoming CNC are you compiling a list of areas to explore and species to search for? If yes, consider adding coastal areas and marine taxa to your list!
Choose your adventure – share observations from out on the water (boaters), in the water (divers), or next to the water’s edge (landlubbers).
Plan to explore a beach or a coastal area. Explore rocky shores as well as sandy beaches.
Explore wharves, waterfronts, and marinas.
Explore more than one location!
Remember that position on the CNC leaderboard is based on the following stats – the number of observations, the number of species, and the number of participants. To increase personal counts re observations don’t forget that iNaturalist defines an observation as an encounter with an individual organism at a particular time and location. This means that the same species may be posted multiple times - different locations and/or different dates and create separate observations for different sex/lifestage.
Once the CNC starts follow the various leaderboards global, Canadian, Atlantic Provinces and your own CNC area (you can access local CNCs from the Atlantic Provinces umbrella project). Resort the leaderboard display based on observations, species, or observers. Become competitive and jostle others for position on the leaderboard - the CNC lasts for 4 days - there is always time to find one more observation!
When visiting a beach poke around in the wrack. Besides kelp flies what else can you find?
It will take patience to take a photo of a beach spider - they do move quickly!
Plan to get your feet wet and explore the intertidal zone. The best time to explore this area is between one hour before and one hour after low tide so before heading out check the tide tables online – remember to select local area – here is the link for Halifax: https://tides.gc.ca/en/stations/490. Don’t forget that high tide occurs ~50 minutes later each day!
Always respect the ocean & stay safe. Remember that rocks are often slippery. Be aware that there may be critters living under the seaweed in tide pools.
The CNC stats count the #participants, the # observations, and the #species. If one person simply records 5 observations of barnacles from 5 different locations or on 4 different days during the CNC this would be a great contribution!
Set yourself a personal goal to record a certain number of observations and to search for a number of species. Challenge others to set their own goals and to participate. Remind them that every observation counts.
Need ideas?
Can you find 5 different types of seaweed? Example:
Can you find 3-4 different species of snails? (Periwinkle, Dogwhelk, Rough periwinkle, Flat periwinkle). Note if the snail is alive and living in a tide pool or on a rock or if only shells found on the beach.
Any barnacles, or mussels, or crabs?
What else can you find?
Explore iNaturalist and browse observations that others have shared from areas of interest to you.