Earth Month Citizen Science Event Invites Public to Observe and Share Local Lands

by Christin Bratton

Christin Bratton

It’s time! April 1st marks the start of Earth Month, and as promised, I am officially announcing this month’s citizen science engagement event hosted through F.I.E.L.D., the Forum for Insight, Environmental Learning, and Discussion.

Last week end, I met up with a friend at Bonnet Springs Park in Florida. Since we had just become friends, this was our first outing together, so I suggested we visit this park because it’s such a gem. This gorgeous 168-acre urban nature park has some of the most eye-catching, naturally aesthetic qualities. What stood out was not only the design of the space and the play ground, but what it used to be. The park sits on land that once held a railyard and an industrial corridor. It’s good to notice these things because how are we to know the potential effects of protection if we don’t know its history? This applies to any progressive action.

We walked through restored green space, watched people roam the area, and paid attention to how the land now sup ports both ecological function and human use. You see birds splashing and diving into the water, native vegetation establishing around the ponds and other structures, and people interacting with one another. This type of space is the result of good planning, protection, revitalization, and long-term investment in land health. When land is protected and maintained, you get real out comes for habitat, access, and community connection.

For Earth Month, I am inviting everyone of all ages to take part in that same kind of observation. Visit a protected or natural area near you. If you need to visit a more local area like a park, that works too. Spend some time there. Pay attention to what you see, how the land is functioning, what wildlife you see, and what stands out. Take photos and document your observations in a notebook to keep that aesthetic, natural feel of pen to paper. Then bring that experience into a shared discussion space where we compare what we saw and what it means to us all. This is your chance to share your photography skills.

Please make sure to RSVP for the event by scanning the QR code. [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeg O4lbyWzdQ0p9Ep9pCUJUH sKyTvpa5R5tDK5CEeK5reIN SQ/viewform] Show up to the final discussion on April 15 ready to share what you found.

The best way to describe this event is as a hands-on, hybrid field observation experience. You experience the work and see how environmental science is all around you, not only in articles or news stories. You interact in a shared, open space and engage with it in a way that is active and engaging.

Quite frankly, this is how I approach every place I go. Whatever I find outside, I carry those observations with me back to Buffalo. Someone has to go out, understand what is happening in the field, and bring that knowledge back to the community. This is one way to do that.

So go outside, observe, and let’s talk about it. This citizen science event is brought to you by F.I.E.L.D., and I will lead the event.