PLEASE NOTE: this page will be updated in the coming months. The information below is historical for now.
Scroll down to find information about your volunteer team!
Click on the title to open and close each section.
General Resources
2018 October SPECIES AT RISK for CC area
Did you know that the Midland Painted Turtle is now listed Federally as a Species at Risk? That means that all turtles in our region are now considered at risk. Many people comment that they see Midland Painted Turtles “all the time”. While they are more common than most of our other turtles, note how many times you see juvenile Midland Painted around. They take five years to reach sexual maturity and can live up to 40 years in the wild.
If you haven't filled in our waiver, or would like to update an existing one, please fill out our online form.
Rather hand in a hard copy? Print the PDF below and arrange with staff to drop it off at the office.
If you would like to report a species at risk or invasive species on a Couchiching Conservancy Nature Reserve, please fill out our online form.
Rather hand in a hard copy? Print the PDF below and arrange with staff to drop it off at the office.
This manual has been designed to help you use the Landscape app during your monitoring visits. You can download the IOS version or Android PDF version here, or you can stop by the office to pick up a hard copy.
Ticks are a fact of life in our region, but that doesn’t have to spoil your monitoring visits. Just be sure to take precautions and know what to look for.
3 easy steps to protect yourself against ticks when in the field.
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit has created a very informative page on how to protect yourself from ticks.
In Ontario, the Black-legged Tick (aka Deer Tick) is the most common carrier of Lyme Disease so be sure to click here to learn more!
Long Point Basin Land Trust hosted a free webinar where Dr. Andrew Peregrine discusses ticks, the risks of Lyme Disease, and how it has spread across Ontario. Watch this video here.
This form is for submitting general volunteer hours. Who should use this?
Ambassadors, Committees, Office Support, online training, etc. Not sure, ask us!
This form is for submitting your time spent taking our online training on YouTube.
This is also where you provide us with feedback about the training!
We encourage you to fill in as much as you're comfortable with and to bring it with you out in the field.
Let your team mate know where you keep it safe (eg. top pocket of backpack) and in the event of an emergency, they'll be able to better help you or provide paramedics with important information.
Wildlife on Roads Resources
PDF: Using iNaturalist for your wildlife on roads observations by Eco-Kare
YouTube: Road Mortality Workshop . If you watch this video, please use the online form to submit online training hours and feedback.
How are roads impacting species movement and mortality in our region? The Couchiching Conservancy is partnering with Kari Gunson (Principal Road Ecologist at Eco-Kare International ) to map species (reptiles, amphibians, mammals, birds) observed on or near roads. Watch the training video linked above to learn how to use iNaturalist to report your observations to the 'Wildlife on Roads in Ontario' Project
Email Aiesha for more info or to get involved: aiesha@couchconservancy.ca
Frog Monitoring Team Resources
Printable Monitoring Form
Click here to download the 2023 Frog Call Monitoring Form
Past Newsletters
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
Landscape Guide
Landscape is the software that we use for navigation and data collection. Click here to open the guide.
Education
Frog monitors have access to training courses about frog biology, frog ID, and frog monitoring methods. These materials are available on EdApp . If you are a frog monitor and you do not have an EdApp account but you would like one, please contact the Couchiching Conservancy.
Reference Frog Calls
Please download the Reference Frog Call course on EdApp to verify calls while in the field. Be sure to listen with headphones to avoid disturbing the frogs.
We also have the calls available as mp3. files on a USB. If you would like the mp3 files please contact the Couchiching Conservancy.
Timing Monitoring Visits
Evening Frog Monitors: aim to make 1 visit in each of the temperature ranges (thresholds):
- Threshold 1: 6-10°C
- Threshold 2: 11-17°C
- Threshold 3: above 17°C
Your visits do not need to be done in order. If temperatures drop below 6°C during your monitoring visit, or if it gets too windy, you will have to try again on another day when the weather is more suitable.
Daytime Frog Monitors: aim to make 3 visits when the air temperature is above 10°C. This monitoring is typically done in the early spring (late March - mid May). Must have at least 24 hours between visits.
Submit your data through the Landscape Conservation Software portal
Click here to login to the online portal where you can submit and review your monitoring reports.
For help with using Landscape, view our Landscape guide for frog monitors here.
If you need to be set up with a Landscape account or if you need help with Landscape, please contact Aiesha (aiesha@couchconservancy.ca) or Alysha (Alysha@couchconservancy.ca)
Other ways to submit your data
Drop your paper monitoring form off at our office
Submit your Frog Monitoring data through the old online form.
Grassland Bird Survey Team Resources
Land Stewards
Download the 2020 Land Steward Monitoring Form
Archived Property Team Newsletters:
Monarch Monitoring
Printable Monitoring Form
Download the 2023 Monarch Monitoring Form
Past Newsletters
August 2023
June 2023
Sept 2022
June 2022
Education
Monarch monitors have access to training courses about monarch id and monitoring methods. These materials are available on EdApp . If you are a monarch monitor and you do not have an EdApp account but you would like one, please contact the Couchiching Conservancy.
Timing Monitoring Visits
Visits should be made at least 21 days apart. Aim for at least one visit in each month from June through September
Submit your data through the Landscape Conservation Software portal
Click here to login to the online portal where you can submit and review your monitoring reports.
Other ways to submit your data
Drop your paper monitoring form off at our office
Reptile Monitors
Click here to download the Reptile Monitoring Form
Archived Reptile Team Newsletters:
Salamanders & Vernal Pools
Listen to The Field Guides Podcast, Episode #28: Spotted Salamanders
Archived Salamander Monitoring Newsletters:
Water Monitoring Teams
Download the Latest Water Monitoring Form
Read the 2016 Water Quality Monitoring Report
Archived Water Team Newsletters:
Submit your data through the Landscape Conservation Software portal
Click here to login to the online portal where you can submit and review your monitoring reports
If you need to be set up with a Landscape account or if you need help with Landscape, please contact Aiesha (aiesha@couchconservancy.ca)
Other ways to submit your data
Drop your paper monitoring form off at our office
Submit your Frog Monitoring data through the old online form.
Whip-poor-willians
Click here to download the 2020 Whip-poor-will Survey Form
Archived Whip-poor-willian Newsletters: