Adopt-A-Pond App launch celebrates World Wetlands’ Day!
Did you know that today, February 2, is not only Groundhog Day? It is also World Wetland’s Day! On this date in 1971, the Convention on Wetlands was adopted in Ramsar, Iran. Adopt-A-Pond is celebrating with the official launch of the Adopt-A-Pond App! This new citizen science app will take our Turtle Tally and FrogWatch programmes to the next level in protecting local biodiversity.
Biologists from Adopt-A-Pond and the team at LBC IT Solutions Inc, with the support of Environment Canada’s Habitat Stewardship Program, have created an app with the purpose of encouraging more public awareness and participation as a citizen scientist with Turtle Tally and FrogWatch. The information gathered from this new app will help to identify abundances and locations of frogs, toads and turtles, which is crucial to prevent further population loss for these native groups of wildlife. Participants in our Turtle Tally and FrogWatch programmes will find it easier than ever to share their observations with our team by submitting sightings through the app or our new and improved web reporting system on the Zoo website.
If you are unfamiliar with the Turtle Tally and FrogWatch programmes, there is no need to worry! It is easy and fun to start saving our local species! Do you think you may have spotted a Blanding’s turtle, Gray tree frog or maybe an American toad? If so, please record the details of your experience by downloading the Adopt-A-Pond App! Information from your findings will be shared with our partner organizations, including the Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Atlas (Ontario Nature) and the Natural Heritage Information Centre (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry), to help determine the status of native reptile and amphibian populations and to supplement conservation programs and initiatives.
The Adopt-A-Pond App is fun and easy to use and, with you assisting our biologists, we can map where these threatened and endangered native species can be found. You can download this app through the IOS App Store and Android Google Play Store today!
