What is the difference? Well BioSmart shows the addition of both iNaturalist and eBird observations! In two days this is how Saskatoon and area has fared on BioSmart;
598 Observations
419 Identifications
217 Species
38 People
So that is pretty sweet! Hats off to everyone.
The ever beautiful Crocus Pulsatilla nuttalliana has been recorded today as an observation!
There has been an observation of a “Puccinia monoica (Rust Fungus) that infects prairie plants in early spring, usually species of Rock Cress (Boechera/Arabis)” (the description given by Glen Lee)
There are no more white rabbit sightings, only brown White-tailed Jackrabbits *whew*.
Some very beautiful Wintergreens are making a carpet of green which is ever wonderful to see.
If you have never seen a wondrous Spring Avens, well they are in bud now, so that is pretty cool!
But besides saying what is recorded, we should mention what is NOT recorded. There are NO pelican sightings recorded yet! And yet we know they arrived April 21! NO beaver nor muskrat sightings. So now the race is on, to see who can get the first pelican, beaver and muskrat sighting! Can you do it? Check on eBird Saskatoon for end of April usual bird sightings, and then it will be discovered what there may be to look for still 😉
Out of all the potential birds of prey around and about Saskatoon which may be sighted such as hawks, owls, vultures, only two have been registered to date = a Turkey Vulture, and a Merlin.
You know what is a rather unique and interesting happenstance of the City Nature Challenge? iNat user svetlana-bogdanovich out of Ukraine has made the most observations! So in the middle of war-torn Ukraine, svetlana has made 505 observations in 2 days! That is pretty incredible.
User eduardoramirez-anapri from Madrid Spain has made 444 observations in the first 2 days.
Pelican PreeningAmerican Pelican Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area, Saskatoon, SK, CAPelican PreeningMuskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), wetlands mammal enjoys the emergent vegetation around Chappell Marsh such as cattailsiNaturalist Observation with smart phone connecting with nature, supporting vital conservation research worldwide.
Celebrate 50 years! Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional park were planted to trees in 1972, 50 years ago. Come out and say Happy Birthday!
“Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other’s eye for an instant?”
Henry David Thoreau
What nature and biodiversity is around you today? As science teaches about various plants, and animals, wildlife and nature, awareness increases that Elephants exist in Africa, Kangaroos in Australia, Koala Bears in China. What insects thrive in Saskatoon? What songbirds remain in Saskatoon? Are there any animals that can be seen in Saskatoon? How many did you come up with?
“If our hopes of building a better and safer world are to become more than wishful thinking, we will need the engagement of volunteers more than ever.”
Kofi Annan
Join the #CityNatureChallenge from April 29–May 2! Document Saskatoon’s nature in the free @iNaturalist app by taking photos of wild plants and animals—and help contribute to the world’s largest citizen science event. More at FriendsAreas.ca
Celebrate National Volunteer Week which has a theme ‘Volunteering is Empathy in Action.’
LichenCity Nature Challenge CNCYXE Saskatoon area versus YQRCNC Regina and area in a mini SK challengeGoldenrod Gall Fly Eurosta solidaginis Conservation Status: imperiled (S2S4) in Saskatchewan, CA (NatureServe)Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), species at risk
Celebrate 50 years! Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional park were planted to trees in 1972, 50 years ago. Come out and say Happy Birthday!
Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.
H. Jackson Brown Jr.
National Volunteer Week April 24 – 30, how will you celebrate? Help show the world what Saskatoon’s biodiversity looks like—grab your smartphone, the free @iNaturalist app, & join this year’s #CityNatureChallenge from April 29–May 2! Great for all ages; find details at FriendsAreas.ca
‘Volunteering is Empathy in Action.’
“If you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.”
Atticus Finch a character in “To Kill a Mockingbird” author Harper Lee
Climb inside the skin of our native wildlife. Learn about the habitat for our herons, and where they might live as our cities grow larger and larger. Climb into the skin of a native butterfly and where they may fly to find a native pollinator flower that is not covered in pesticides. Climb inside the skin of the last remaining mammals and where they may live.
Volunteer with the City Nature Challenge. A great way to study range expansion and contraction, seasonal changes in morphology, the declining or increasing numbers of species at risk or invasive species. By observing local nature, everyone can support vital conservation research while connecting with nature and enjoying the outdoors.
Goldenrod Gall Fly Eurosta solidaginis Conservation Status: imperiled (S2S4) in Saskatchewan, CA (NatureServe)Ranked S2 by SCDC
Woodland Skipper Ochlodes sylvanoides Hairy Woodpecker male (note the red) (Picoides villosus)Spring Meadowlark.
Celebrate 50 years! Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional park were planted to trees in 1972, 50 years ago. Come out and say Happy Birthday!
In Saskatoon and area we are taking part in #CNC2022! Join us between April 29 – May 2 as we take part in this International initiative to collect information about the wildlife flourishing in Saskatoon and area.
Researchers, school groups, citizens and wildlife enthusiasts across the world will be taking part in this race against the clock to put nature on the map, submitting photos and observations of wildlife in their neighbourhoods and greenspaces through the free, easy to use iNaturalist smart phone app.
New finds! Species that haven’t been recorded in particular areas before. Important finds of rare/endangered/threatened species. Observations that have a great story that go along with them. Really cool photos. Fun finds!
Send your photos of yourself, your friends or your family taking images in nature with iNaturalist! friendsafforestation@gmail.com
Researchers, school groups, citizens and wildlife enthusiasts across the world will be taking part in this race against the clock to put nature on the map, submitting photos and observations of wildlife in their neighbourhoods and greenspaces through the free, easy to use iNaturalist smart phone app.
Taking a photo of mushrooms (fungi) with iNat on a smart phoneCity Nature Challenge CNCYXE Saskatoon area versus YQRCNC Regina and area in a mini SK challengeiNaturalist Observation with smart phone connecting with nature, supporting vital conservation research worldwide.CNC Nature Challenge April 29 to May 2
Celebrate 50 years! Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional park were planted to trees in 1972, 50 years ago. Come out and say Happy Birthday! We have some cool events planned coming up!
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
– Gandhi
During this National Volunteer Week, April 24 – 30 celebrate the theme; ‘Volunteering is Empathy in Action.’
Have empathy for the very last time you may see a species at risk if action is not taken. Have empathy for the declining songbird population. Have empathy for the many organisms in the insect and fungi taxons which have not even been named yet, and which may go extinct before people pay attention to them.
Your contributions as an observer during the City Nature Challenge taking place April 29 to May 2 does take action to support global conservation efforts! Just download the free iNaturalist app and sign in, then;
Find it!
Snap it!
Share it!
“You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.”
Winston Churchill
What can you give to protect Mother Earth? The City Nature Challenge is your way to take action, so that you can answer I took action!
Taking a photo of mushrooms (fungi) with a smart phoneMushrooms, Grasshopper, Caterpillar, FungiCity Nature Challenge City Nature Challenge CNCYXE Saskatoon
Celebrate 50 years! Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional park were planted to trees in 1972, 50 years ago. Come out and say Happy Birthday!
“Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in.”
~Author Unknown
iNaturalist does have staff who keep the programming running on iNaturalist, and deal with the coding of the computer vision artificial intelligence. However the soul, the heart and blood of iNaturalist runs on volunteers who have a love for nature and biodiversity.
In love with Saskatoon and area’s incredible nature? You can help map & protect it by joining this year’s #CityNatureChallenge, April 29–May 2! All you need to join is a smartphone and the free @inaturalist app.
iNaturalist volunteers are Citizen Scientist or naturalists! They are members of the general public who collect data in the form of photographs and sound recordings of organisms by using the iNaturalist app. The volunteers may be identifiers who analyze these observations and the collected data relating to biodiversity. Specialist or professional scientists also have a love of biodiversity who are involved in both the observation and identification stages of inaturalist.
Become a citizen scientist or naturalist volunteer by helping us observe and identify wild organisms in Saskatoon and Area using the free iNaturalist app on your smart phone: https://www.inaturalist.org/. iNaturalist combines the magic of artificial intelligence image recognition technology with crowdsourced postings from around the globe. Your participation does help scientists know and understand where and when organisms occur. You may also take pictures using any kind of digital camera then upload the images to inaturalist via your desktop computer.
Planet Earth, the World, Biodiversity is in our HandsVolunteer together for biodiversity Environmental guardianship and stewardsPhoto of Richard St. Barbe Baker
Courtesy: University of Saskatchewan,
University Archives & Special Collections,iNaturalist Observation with smart phone connecting with nature, supporting vital conservation research worldwide.
Celebrate 50 years! Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional park were planted to trees in 1972, 50 years ago. Come out and say Happy Birthday!
April 24 – 30, National Volunteer Week. Sign up for some amazing volunteer opportunities with the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.!
Help show the world what Saskatoon and area’s biodiversity looks like—grab your smartphone, the free @inaturalistorg app, & join this year’s #CityNatureChallenge from April 29–May 2! Great for all ages. City Nature Challenge has virtual events for citizen scientists, and in-person events to be out in nature using iNaturalist supporting global conservation efforts. Help out with this Challenge to place Saskatoon – a city you are all proud of- on the world stage!
There are follow up events to become intrigued by the rich and diverse heritage, awareness of the amazing biodiversity in the afforestation areas of Saskatoon. What is an afforestation area? Where are the two remaining afforestation areas in Saskatoon? Come out to the Jane’s Walk and Arbor Week events!
Join the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. find out more about what is happening!
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation area is 132 hectares [326 acres] in size. As the property lines rather follow the section lines from the Dominion Survey system, it is readily seen that this afforestation area is 2 miles long by and irregular 1/2 mile wide.
George Genereux Urban Regional park, the other afforestation area, is 60 hectare [148 acre] in size. Again, the property lines follow the quarter section boundaries, and Sk Hwy 7 lops off a corner of the 160 acre quarter section, so generally speaking George Genereux Park is about 1/2 mile by 1/2 mile square except for the land taken away by the chopped off corner.
There are woodlands to explore and discover; there is culture and history of Saskatoon’s past to marvel at; there are geological and 7 hectares [17 acres] wetlands treasures for wonder and curiousity.
Celebrate 50 years! Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional park were planted to trees in 1972, 50 years ago. Come out and say Happy Birthday!
City Nature Challenge CNCYXE Saskatoon area versus YQRCNC Regina and area in a mini SK challengeGoldenrod Gall Fly Eurosta solidaginis Conservation Status: imperiled (S2S4) in Saskatchewan, CA (NatureServe)
SaskTel Cares is their motto and it truly resonates with this community project needed ever so much in this era of Cimate change! The City Nature Challenge and having the community of Saskatoon and area come out to take pictures of living organisms, plants, animals, insects, mushrooms is a great way to act locally and take action on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15 Life on Land
Help put the City of Saskatoon and area on the world nature scene! Using iNaturalist take photos of plants, animals, insects and mushrooms between April 29 – May 2, 2022! Saskatoon will compete for the title of the most Biodiverse City. We need your help.
From May 3-May 8 identify what was found in Saskatoon Taking part is easy!
iNaturalist Connect with nature for the City Nature Challenge Saskatoon and Area Défi nature urbaine hosted by the Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc.
On June 5, the clean green community scene volunteer clean up of George Genereux Park takes place in Saskatoon.
The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. are very appreciative of the support and help offered by Ivan and Ila’s No Frills Store in Westage Plaza for the June 5 clean up. They went above and beyond in the fall of 2020, and now volunteers are coming out on Saturday June 5 – very likely for the last time for a major huge afforestation area clean up, and again, Ivan and Ila’s No Frills Store in Westage Plaza is providing support. Refreshments for volunteers is so greatly appreciated, and will go a long way for the well being of all the volunteers who will keep hydrated and sustained with individual snacks.
Ivan And Ila’s No Frills Store Westgate Plaza 2410 22nd St W Saskatoon
Support such is this by Ivan and Ila’s No Frills Store in Westage Plaza is vital, very much acknowledged and appreciated by the volunteers who all came out on Saturday June 5 between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. Users to the George Genereux Urban Regional Park include families, dog walkers, citizen scientists doing bio-blitzes, walkers, bird-bander, cyclists who all enjoy the mixed man-made forest on the prairies. In the fall of 2020 there was Sep 19 2020 kg 9270 pounds and on Oct 20 2016 1500kg or 3,307 pounds of trash removed. Even though volunteers worked tirelessly, there were still trash piles left at the end of the two cleanups. George Genereux Urban Regional Park becomes 50 years old in 2022 and this is the first environmental protection event and trash clean up afforded this urban regional park, so that is why there is another volunteer clean up is needed on June 5, 2021.
All this will create a much safer environment for the general public and for the health of the environment. Is that not what June 5, day is all about?
June 5 is….. the first day of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
June 5 is….. International Trails Day.
June 5 is….. World Environment Day.
June 5 is….. Clean Green Community Scene.
Thank you and gratitude is are extended to Ivan and Ila and Ivan and Ila’s No Frills Store in Westage Plaza which is located at 2410 22nd St W at the corner of Avenue W North and 22nd St W. And Ivan and Ila helped to act locally and think globally on World Environment Day. Isn’t it ever so wonderful to have safe urban regional parks, safe wildlife habitats and to also keep the volunteers safe and hydrated?
As William Shakespeare says, “I can no other answer make but thanks, and thanks, and ever thanks.” –
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area is located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada north of Cedar Villa Road, within city limits, in the furthest south west area of the city. 52° 06′ 106° 45′
Addresses:
Part SE 23-36-6 – Afforestation Area – 241 Township Road 362-A
Part SE 23-36-6 – SW Off-Leash Recreation Area (Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area ) – 355 Township Road 362-A
S ½ 22-36-6 Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area (West of SW OLRA) – 467 Township Road 362-A
NE 21-36-6 “George Genereux” Afforestation Area – 133 Range Road 3063
Wikimapia Map: type in Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area
This is such a perfect theme, as it echoes the province of Saskatchewan’s motto, Multis e gentibus viresfrom many peoples strength.
This National Volunteer week theme also resonates with the slogan initiated for the Watu Wa Miti by Richard St. Barbe Baker founding the International Tree Foundation in 1922. The slogan, TWAHMWE, means “All as one” or Pull together.
Twahmwe is a word from the Kikuyu (also Agĩkũyũ/Gĩkũyũ), a Bantu ethnic group native to Central Kenya. It was here in Kenya that Richard St. Barbe Baker received his first posting as assistant conservator of forests after graduation as a silviculturist from Cambridge.
So, this week, it is a great time to celebrate environmental stewardship, and the amazing volunteers who have done ever so much in reclaiming and taking back the afforestation areas as urban regional parks for the citizens of this great city to enjoy for current and future generations.
The Fatlanders FatTire Brigade volunteers are there maintaining trails for people to appreciate nature and come out in awe of the man-made forest on the prairies.
SOS Trees Inc. come out time and time again to help restore the afforestation areas greenspace ecosystems during clean ups, and to support trees. The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas Inc. have learned so much from SOS Trees Inc. in the care of trees and the urban forest, and this is so much appreciated. Additionally, SOS Trees Inc. included Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area in their latest release of the SOS Trees Tree Guide pocket tour book. Thank you for the inclusion of the progress reports on the afforestation areas in their annual newsletter.
Loraas, the City of Saskatoon environmental protections, parks, YXE green infrastructure strategy (sustainability), land branch, and the Meewasin Valley Authority are always there to help with environmental clean ups to help create safe park space environments for people, species at risk and the semi-wilderness habitat at large. Urban Forestry is there with forest checks, and to provide a guiding hand.
The Friends of the Saskatoon Afforestation Areas volunteers are amazing in their dedication to the afforestation areas celebrating the natural, cultural, geological, historical, geographical heritage creating value for the residents of City of Saskatoon as we celebrate two 50th anniversaries, one 40th anniversary, a 100 centennial anniversary, and a 70th anniversary coming up. Wow! This is ever so exciting to explore these amazing events with the residents of the City of Saskatoon, and with the International Tree Foundation and Trees Canada internationally and nationally. Stay tuned for event announcements, and let us know if you would like to help plan celebrations! Even during COVID, there are safe ways to have a party or a virtual party and celebrations.
The community associations in the City of Saskatoon, Saskatoon residents and corporate sponsors have been truly and greatly appreciated throughout the years. The work that is being done for the afforestation areas could not be done without you!
The various green groups in Saskatoon have been so excellent, whether it is the Wild About Saskatoon group who puts on the NatureCity festival and also wrote an article about their experience out at Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. The Saskatoon Nature Society who have hosted nature tours in the afforestation areas and have included the Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area in their latest release of Nature and Viewing Sites in and around Saskatoon. Outdoors Sask who have supported the afforestation areas. Additionally, the North East Swale Watchers, Nature Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, Saskatchewan Horticultural Society, the Climate Hub, Permaculture Saskatchewan and Saskatoon green groups are all networking together. We have learned so much from all of these varied groups as we share information and network together for the betterment of greenspaces in the City of Saskatoon.
The Saskatoon Star Phoenix, Global News, Shaw TV, CBC radio Morning Show, CFCR, the Saskatoon Media Group, the home of CJWW, 92.9 The BULL, 98COOL and Homefield have all been superlative in sharing the stories of the afforestation areas.
The south west off leash dog walkers are impressed with the afforestation area named in remembrance and in honour of Richard St. Barbe Baker’s legacy. The dog walkers support the bio-blitz iNaturalist efforts with reports on the semi-wilderness habitat sightings, they engage in stewardship roles every spring and fall keeping the park space cleaned up, and they are ever thirsty for more information about the park space which they and their pooch enjoy so much.
We are very sorry if we have missed any of our fantastic supporters and volunteers. (please email us and let us know) Know that each and every one of you have done wonders in supporting the value of the afforestation areas, and it’s unique and one of a kind heritage.
Stay tuned for upcoming events, how to be a volunteer and how to support your urban regional parks on the west side of Saskatoon! The history of the afforestation areas shows that it has been indeed The Value of One, The Power of Many volunteers to be able to enjoy afforestation areas as greenspaces taken back by the citizens themselves. Thank you for all the time and people who appreciate these “man-made forests on the prairies” to enjoy as urban regional parks and who truly take action on climate change and protect the varied eco-system as valued stewards and stakeholders. Afforestation is wonderful as a nature-based solution to climate change, and yet after the trees are planted, there needs to also be caring of the trees.
Richard St. Barbe Baker, the afforestation area namesake encouraged the Watu Wa Miti or forest guardians to take a pledge to plant ten trees a year, take care of trees everywhere, and do one good deed every day. So this is a resounding and heartfelt thank you to all the afforestation area volunteers throughout the years who have taken these urban regional parks back and reclaimed them as city parks after they fell off the radar and were forgotten about. They were preserved in perpetuity in 1972, and as people come out to the afforestation areas, winter, spring, summer or fall, there are so many expostulations about the wonders of phenology, and the delight in having this “man-made forest on the prairies” inside of the City of Saskatoon.
Thank you.
Members of the Fatlanders Fat Tire Brigade Inc. Trash Cleanup Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park on October 3
Baker Afforestation Area and George Genereux Urban Regional Park on October 3
Paul Hanley author Eleven, Man of the Trees and Renny Grilz, MVA
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So doesn’t this all sound remarkable! Do you wish to also volunteer? We have opportunities listed here
And, also, we are always looking for people to be citizen scientists and come out to the afforestation areas in their COVID bubbles to track and take pictures of plants, animals, bugs, or mushrooms by using the iNaturalist or eBird app to help and assist the City of Saskatoon and Meewasin to compile an ecological assessment database of the afforestation areas.
““Be like a tree in pursuit of your cause. Stand firm, grip hard, thrust upward. Bend to the winds of heaven..”
Richard St. Barbe Baker
“Creative expression, whether that means writing, dancing, bird-watching, or cooking, can give a person almost everything that he or she has been searching for: enlivenment, peace, meaning, and the incalculable wealth of time spent quietly in beauty.” -Anne Lamott
Richard St. Barbe Baker Afforestation Area. George Genereux Urban Regional Park. 