by Louis Harrell “The joy of looking and comprehending is nature’s most beautiful gift.” – Albert Einstein Citizen Science is defined as “the collection and analysis of data relating to the natural world by members of the general public, typically as part of a collaborative project with professional scientists.” Why is it important? It offersContinueContinue reading “A Bright Outlook for Citizen Science in Arlington”
Category Archives: Citizen Science
ARMN: Getting To Know You
From time-to-time, ARMN’s Membership Committee posts profiles of our members including how they came to be master naturalists, which parts of nature they most enjoy, and how they work to impact the environment around them. Here is the latest biography of ARMN volunteer Honora Dent who graduated in the Spring 2014 ARMN training class. ARMNContinueContinue reading “ARMN: Getting To Know You”
2014 Dora Kelley Nature Park Frog Watchers Brave Roller Coaster Season
by Kasha Helget A dedicated team of neighbors who live near the Dora Kelley Nature Park in Alexandria withstood the erratic weather for more than three weeks, from February 27 to March 23, to track the movement of frogs to the park’s marsh area where they breed in the late winter. This was the secondContinueContinue reading “2014 Dora Kelley Nature Park Frog Watchers Brave Roller Coaster Season”
114th Annual Christmas Bird Count Season Begins 14 December
The Christmas Bird Count season is here once again. There will be opportunities for ARMN members to participate in this great citizen science effort with a 114-year history this season. The first counts begin this Saturday, 14 December 2013 and the last counts take place Sunday, 5 January 2014. Popular for ARMN volunteers are theContinueContinue reading “114th Annual Christmas Bird Count Season Begins 14 December”
ARMN Members Recognized in Banisteria
By Christine Campe-Price The USDA and US National Park Service (NPS) – George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP) recently published an article in Banisteria, Number 41, 2013, a journal devoted to the natural history of Virginia. The article documents the results of a study of leaf beetles found in Great Falls Park, Turkey Run Park, DykeContinueContinue reading “ARMN Members Recognized in Banisteria”
ARMN Members Help Rebuild Grass Enclosure in Belmont Bay
By Kasha Helget In response to a request from the staff of Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), ARMN members Melissa Perez and Kasha Helget got their feet (legs, and knees) wet on Friday, May 10th to assist in the reconstruction of a celery grass enclosure on the Potomac River’s Belmont Bay at Mason Neck Park inContinueContinue reading “ARMN Members Help Rebuild Grass Enclosure in Belmont Bay”
“Grasses for the Masses” workshops
By Kasha Helget ARMN volunteers conducted two “Grasses for the Masses” workshops at the Fairlington Community Center in February, 2013 in a program sponsored by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for Virginia residents all over the state. During the workshops, a total of 35 individuals, families, and teachers received simple kits and instructions to grow underwaterContinueContinue reading ““Grasses for the Masses” workshops”
ARMN volunteers enjoy helping Smithsonian eMammal camera trapping project
By Jeanette Murry and Alan Tidwell We graduated from the spring 2012 ARMN Basic Training Course. During the summer and fall, we volunteered on a camera trapping project called eMammal organized by the Smithsonian. We focused on Keyser Run Fire Trail in the Shenandoah National Park for our trapping. When we saw the eMammal Project advertised through the ARMN listserv,ContinueContinue reading “ARMN volunteers enjoy helping Smithsonian eMammal camera trapping project”
Interning at USGS Native Bee Lab
By Brooke Alexander While I was taking the ARMN Basic Training Course in Fall 2011, I started working at Sam Droege’s U.S. Geological Survey Bee Inventory and Monitory Lab as an intern. I was amazed to learn that there are 4,000 native bee species in the U.S.! One of the projects I’m working on involves processing native bee specimens from nationalContinueContinue reading “Interning at USGS Native Bee Lab”
Citizen Science: Stream Monitoring in Arlington County
By John Bernard I began my career as a citizen scientist with the Spring 2010 ARMN training class. Among the volunteer activities approved for service hours, I enjoy participation in one of several Arlington County sponsored stream monitoring volunteer teams. After I completed a class given by the County, I joined the team volunteers atContinueContinue reading “Citizen Science: Stream Monitoring in Arlington County”