Our volunteer, Nilushika joined OFT’s Farmland Protection and Stewardship Program Manager, Joel, on monitoring visits at the Dean, Copeland, and Ignatius Farms. Below are her observations and reflections from the field, as well as some of the incredible photos she captured!
On July 3rd, I had the privilege of volunteering alongside Joel, Farmland Protection and Stewardship Program Manager, to monitor three ecologically significant farmlands in the Guelph/Eramosa area: Ignatius, Copeland, and Dean. Using a bird identification app, we documented bird species by their calls while surveying the sites for ecological changes, comparing them to last year’s data. All monitoring points were documented with geotagged photos for reporting and future reference, which were uploaded to a GPS tracking app.
Key observations and activities:
- Monitored endangered bird species using a bird identification app
- Noted presence of white-tailed deer (footprint in the mud!)
- Recorded multiple butterfly species
- Monitored the regeneration status of native plant species
- At the Dean Farm, we observed significant bird activity in the Blackcurrant cultivation areas and adjacent hayfields
The monitoring confirmed that these working farmlands continue to provide valuable wildlife habitat while maintaining agricultural production. The combination of cultivated areas and natural spaces appears to support diverse species. This fieldwork provided useful data for ongoing conservation tracking and demonstrated the importance of regular monitoring to assess ecological health in agricultural landscapes.
Interested in joining our farmland protection and stewardship team on monitoring visits? Check out our volunteer opportunities here and complete the Volunteer Inquiry Form!