You can SUBSCRIBE and/or leave a comment at the bottom of this KBLOG

You can SUBSCRIBE and/or leave a comment at the bottom of this KBLOG

What is a KBLOG ALERT?

What is a KBLOG ALERT?

Interesting, exciting and timely educational material often catches my attention. This includes upcoming webinars and science competition announcements. I have gathered many teaching tools from participating in webinars and I feel, as I will blog about them later, that science competitions should be a part of the life of students. When I do find any time-sensitive material relevant to helping educators and their students I will pass those on in my KBLOG ALERTS.

ALERT NOTICE

This KBLOG is dedicated to my Canadian family and friends and to the possibility of the Toronto Maple Leafs winning a series against Tampa Bay.

I must admit I am fascinated by Beavers, the official animnal of Canada (recognized, March 24, 1975). So when I saw this Zooniverse activity (see previous KBLOG, https://www.k12stemspace.com/k-blog/engage-with-zooniverse-website) I just had to send it out. It really sounds like fun, something that can be done at home or school, and can be connected to a lot of interesting science especially ecology and animal science. Check it out.

Introducing a project with a name I never thought I'd say, Beavers from Space launches today on the Zooniverse. Not to be confused with the elusive Space Beaver, Beavers from Space uses satellite imagery to uncover beaver habitat in Canada. Read on below to learn more about how you can help out.

Beavers from Space

Become a dam detective by searching satellite imagery for signs of beavers on the landscape!

Despite the cultural and ecological importance of ksisskstaki (beaver) little is known about their presence in Alberta’s streams and rivers. By searching through satellite imagery for beaver dams and lodges in the waterways of the Kainai Nation (Blood Tribe) in southern Alberta, Beavers from Space seeks to determine where beavers are present on the landscape and where they are not. Volunteers will search through imagery of over 7,000 kilometres (4,300 miles) of streams within the study area, a task that would be overwhelming and expensive to undertake with field work alone. This information, in combination with field work data, will inform riparian (river ecosystem) restoration locations, which may include the installation of beaver dam analogues. Beaver dam analogues are a proven riparian restoration technique that improves watershed health and function by mimicking the work of beavers.

The project team includes the Miistakis Institute, Blood Tribe Land Management, and Cows and Fish – Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society.

Become a dam detective today – visit:www.zooniverse.org/projects/ab-beavers/beavers-from-space