Join Schoodic Institute and MCHT for an iNaturalist Early-Detection Training at Cousins River!

Curious about how introduced insects are affecting Maine’s trees? Want to go out in the woods and identify species? Join Schoodic Institute and Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) for an iNaturalist early-detection training and be a forest health detective!

Learn how to identify species of management interest, including harmful insects and at-risk species, and report them using iNaturalist. Researchers use these data to monitor the distribution of these species and maintain healthy forests. After the event, you’ll be able to take these skills with you and continue reporting your observations of these species wherever you encounter them.

WHEN AND WHERE?
Rain or shine, join us from 9am – 11am on August 19 at Cousins River Fields & Marsh Preserve in Yarmouth, ME.

We will meet at 9am, and scientists from Schoodic Institute and MCHT will first lead a training about how to use iNaturalist and identify our focal species. After the training, volunteers will go out into Cousins River to look for and record observations of these species and participate in a BioBlitz to identify as many species as possible.

WHAT TO BRING?
Please bring a smartphone or other device compatible with iNaturalist (helpful tip: if you don’t already have the iNaturalist app downloaded to your device, we suggest doing so prior to the event!). If you don’t have a device, reach out to us ahead of the event and we will provide tablets for use. We also recommend bringing sunscreen and water, and wearing comfortable walking shoes.

QUESTIONS?
Reach out to Kyle Lima at klima@schoodicinstitute.org.