2024 Environmental Days
International Bat Day
April 17 is International Bat Appreciation Day. There are over 1400 species of bats worldwide with 19 occurring in Canada and 9 in Alberta. Three of the species found in Elk Island National Park include the Big Brown Bat, Little Brown Bat, and Northern Long Eared. Alberta’s bats are abundant and important to healthy ecosystems. Bats face challenges related to the spread of white-nose syndrome, which can wipe out entire populations. For more information visit the Alberta Bat Action Team.
International Bat Appreciation Day on April 17 is a chance to show our flying and mostly nocturnal friends some love. As well as it obviously being a great excuse to binge a few Batman movies, it’s also an opportunity to delve deep and learn the important role bats play in the ecosystem and biodiversity. There are over 1,400 different bat species and contrary to popular opinion they aren’t blind. So, without further adieu, let’s creep a little deeper into the cave and take a closer look at International Bat Appreciation Day and everything these flying mammals have to offer.
There are over 1300 species of bats worldwide, of which about 19 occur in Canada and about 9 occur in Alberta. Although most of the world's bat diversity occurs in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, Alberta's bats are abundant and are undoubtedly important to the healthy functioning of our ecosystems.
There are over 1300 species of bats worldwide, of which about 19 occur in Canada and about 9 occur in Alberta. Although most of the world's bat diversity occurs in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, Alberta's bats are abundant and are undoubtedly important to the healthy functioning of our ecosystems.
International Day of Forests
March 21, 2024, is the #International Day of Forests, set aside in 2013 to celebrate and raise awareness of forests' importance. Approximately 80% of all terrestrial biodiversity is linked to forests, and healthy forests are one of the world's primary carbon sinks. #FEIS invites you to observe this special day and enjoy Elk Island National Park's forests and the animals they support.
#InternationalDayOfForests #Biodiversity #Trees #Animals #CarbonSink
March 20th is World Frog Day, an environmental day observed to help save our amphibian friends and provide them with a safer environment. This day has been celebrated since 2012 to create awareness of the nearly 6,000 known frog species and their habitat.
#FEIS participates annually in the Elk Island National Park Amphibian Monitoring Project, launched in the spring of 2016. During this project, approximately 65 sites are monitored three times every spring. Since amphibian populations fluctuate widely yearly, depending on habitat and weather, long-term monitoring is necessary for trend detection.
The program engages volunteers as citizen scientists in amphibian monitoring to estimate the rate of breeding site occupancy changes over time in Elk Island National Park. It monitors two native amphibian species - the Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) and the Boreal Chorus Frog (Pseudacris maculata). The actual dates for the survey are weather-dependent but typically occur around the beginning of May.
#WorldFrogDay #EnvironmentalDay #Amphibians #Volunteers #CitizenScience #ElkIslandNationalPark #WoodFrog #BorealChorusFrog #NativeAmphibians
World Wildllife Day
March 3rd is World Wildlife Day. The 2024 theme is Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation. The United Nations aims to raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants and the urgent need to protect them. Join the Friends of Elk Island Society in encouraging all people to take concrete actions to conserve wildlife and their habitats.
World Wetlands Day
February 2nd is World Wetlands Day (https://www.worldwetlandsday.org). Wetlands are small water bodies that support a diverse range of aquatic and semi-aquatic organisms, ranging in size from tiny zooplankton to the mighty moose. These environments provide important ecological services across the landscape we share with other species, and provide cultural and recreational opportunities that enhance our lives. The 2024 World Wetland Day theme is “Wetlands and Human Wellbeing,” highlighting how wetlands help to sustain life on this planet and so it is of the utmost importance that we protect these important habitats. FEIS is joining the international community to raise wetlands awareness and encourage conservation and restoration actions. #GenerationRestoration #ForWetlands #WorldWetlandsDay
World Snow Day
World Snow Day 2024, observed annually on the third Sunday of January, will be celebrated on January 21st. This event was created in 2012 by the International Ski Federation to “Bring Children to the Snow.” The purpose is to increase children’s participation in snow-related sports and bring families together in snowy regions. Elk Island National Park has trails suitable for cross-country skiing or snowshoeing: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/elkisland/activ/experiences/randonee-hiking/etat-sentiers-trail-conditions. You can rent snowshoes for adults and children at Astotin Lake, if you do not have your own; see https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/elkisland/activ/experiences/hivernales-winter/raquette-snowshoeing.