Summer Citizen Science Sampler - 16 July 2023

On a bright Sunday afternoon, leader Anne Pearce guided two of us (one participant and myself) on a walk from the Picnic Point Entry Kiosk up and around the Biocore Prairie. We discussed the Friends’ ongoing citizen science projects (including the Bluebird Trail, PUMA House, Clean Lakes Alliance Monitoring, and the Friends of Amphibians network). More information about these projects can be found here on our website. The joe-pye weed booms floating like purple clouds over the prairie, however, you have to see with your own eyes. They are especially prominent walking north towards Caretaker’s woods, standing out above the prairie in midsummer bloom. We were also surprised by a docile purple martin chick in the middle of the path by the house. The chick appeared unhurt, but also would not move out of our way! We appreciated the opportunity to see a normally athletic and fleeting bird up close, and then acceded to the worrying cries from up above and gave the fledgling its space. 

A fledgling purple martin demands we calculate its airspeed velocity before allowing passage down the trail.

The little PUMA didn’t move an inch, therefore its airspeed velocity was zero! It probably noticed our lack of coconuts and took pity on us.

Report and photos by Will Vuyk