Concurrent Session I
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Past and future uses of wildlife cameras at a statewide land trust: engaging the public and collecting ecological data (indoor session)
Julia Richburg & Sally Naser, The Trustees
The Trustees have been setting up wildlife cameras on our own properties and those on lands where we hold a conservation restriction for several years. Initially these cameras were used to get CR landowners and our members excited about the wildlife that occur on the properties and therefore the importance of protecting habitats. More recently, we have begun to think of new ways to use the data these cameras are providing to further evaluate the habitat value of our properties and the changes in wildlife populations or behavior due to our activities. This presentation will share some of our data, but will mostly provide an overview of how we anticipate using the information that we are getting from the cameras.
Trailing Wildlife: An Introduction to Strategies and Techniques (indoor session)
Nate Harvey, Cyber Tracking Conservation
The purpose of trailing is to follow a wildlife trail until the quarry comes into view and to do it without ever alerting the animal to our presence. In New England, we do this on White-tailed deer, Moose and Black bear. In this presentation, CyberTracker evaluator, Nate Harvey, discusses trailing techniques and practices for trackers of all skill levels.
Draw Your Way to Tracking Wisdom (indoor session)
Linda Spielman
Drawing tracks is a wonderful way to see more detail and appreciate the subtle energies and interrelationships in tracks. In this workshop you’ll get a gentle, non-judgmental introduction to drawing using simple solid objects. Then you can try your hand at drawing tracks from photos, or if you wish, items such as nuts, feathers, or bones.
Wildlife Tracking: The Basics (indoor session)
David Brown, David Brown’s Wildlife Services
This presentation will review the basics of wildlife tracking with an emphasis on finding and identifying evidence. Where, when and how to look for animal sign will be discussed. We will also examine the details of track morphology for a number of species and discuss ways of distinguishing some ‘look-alikes.’ Since many species use certain gaits for distinct purposes and conditions, we will also discuss identification by the patterns these gaits leave behind. The program is intended not only for novice trackers, but also for the more experienced who wish to tune-up their basic skills.
GPS, GIS (Geographic Information Systems), and Aerial Photography for the Tracker
Matthew O’Mara
In this session, Matt will discuss some of the best free and easy to use software options for the tracker. We will discuss the process of collecting GPS data, photographs, and notes. All you need is a cell phone. We will cover the options to download your data and integrate it with some of the massive amounts of environmental data available online. The goal is to create your own tracking maps so that the tracker can record, organize, and analyze while in the field.