Amphibian Week Webinar: Unleashing iNaturalist

Dive into the fascinating world of amphibian conservation and community science with our exclusive webinar: “Amphibian Week 2024: Unleashing the Power of iNaturalist for Community Science Bioblitz Nature Walk!”

Join us for an engaging session where we unveil the secrets of leveraging iNaturalist to contribute meaningfully to conservation efforts during Amphibian Week 2024. As a proud partner Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC), Santa Barbara Zoo is thrilled to bring you this informative webinar, featuring the expertise of Kerry Wixted, the Amphibian & Reptile and Invasive Species Program Manager at the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Allyson Holman, FrogWatch USA Educator and Volunteer Supervisor at the Santa Barbara Zoo, and Tessa Cafritz, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center Naturalist and Volunteer Program Manager.

Following this webinar, you’ll emerge equipped and empowered to make a tangible impact through community science and contribute actively to our upcoming Community Science Bioblitz Nature Walk on Saturday, May 11th in celebration of Amphibian Week 2024. Explore the ins and outs of navigating the iNaturalist platform, learn how to search for amphibians safely and respectfully, and discover the art of contributing valuable data to make a difference in amphibian conservation efforts.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to be part of a global movement for amphibian conservation. Register now and join us in making a positive impact on our environment: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9jhyzAv3Ts2wNvM2oFAr0g#/registration 

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Kerry is a longtime naturalist and is enthusiastic about reptile and amphibian conservation and community stewardship. We are honored to partner with her and contribute to Amphibian Week 2024. In this session, Kerry will leverage her expertise to help set you up for success as a community scientist and an iNaturalist user. Get ready to learn how make a meaningful impact on amphibian conservation efforts.

Allyson Holman is a dedicated advocate for our local reptiles and amphibians, and we are lucky to have her be part of our webinar! With her expertise, Allyson trains local nature enthusiasts on identifying native frog calls and effectively monitoring FrogWatch research sites. During the webinar, she’ll guide us through the process of deciphering the unique frog songs heard in our area. Moreover, Allyson will shed light on how each of us can actively contribute to the FrogWatch USA initiative, empowering us to make a tangible difference in amphibian conservation efforts beyond our Amphibian Week celebration.

Tessa Cafritz, driven by a profound love for reptiles and amphibians, aspires to inspire others to become stewards of the environment and foster deeper connections with the magic of the natural world. During the webinar, Tessa will highlight the importance and wonder of reptiles and amphibians, how to engage with them, and how you can be a champion for our amphibian and reptilian friends and their habitats. As a certified FrogWatch volunteer and avid iNaturalist user, Tessa is eager to share her knowledge and empower Santa Barbara locals to become community scientists.

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Join our Amphibian Week 2024 Santa Barbara Bioblitz project on iNaturalist: 2024 Amphibian Week Santa Barbara BioBlitz · iNaturalist).

To learn more about Amphibian Week 2024, visit: Amphibian Week 2024 | PARC (parcplace.org)

To learn more about FrogWatch USA and the Santa Barbara Zoo’s initiative, visit: FrogWatch USA – Santa Barbara Zoo (sbzoo.org)

Photo by Dennis Yu