Bats, spiders, graveyards, the invisible creatures that live in our homes, and even roadkill have stories and important lessons to teach us.
Go little batty!
Big brown bat (Credit: Celey/USFWS, public domain via Flickr Creative Commons)
You don’t need a bell tower to see fascinating bats. you can join Bat count! Number of Batcam Appearances Watch them leave their Connecticut barn each evening via the project’s live Bat Emergence Cam! As you might guess from the project title, Bat Count requires you to count the number of bats hunting bugs each night. Tracking the population and activity of big brown bat colonies will help scientists work to conserve them.
Invasion of giant alien spiders!
Zorro Spider (Credit: Jef Wodniack, iStock)
Now that we have your attention, let’s meet the Zorro spider, native to East Asia, which is exceptionally pretty, has a large orb web, and is harmless to humans. run by scientists Zorro Watch The project seeks to track these newcomers to help understand their impact on local ecosystems. And check out our video: SciStarter Live Webinar on Joro Watch!
Welcome to the cemetery!
Entrance to Miami City Cemetery (Credit: Miami City Cemetery)
Halloween is about having fun, hanging out, having fun, or whatever. cemetery walkA project to study and share the lives of those buried in the Miami City Cemetery (and eventually all cemeteries). Look through the list of cemetery residents, choose an interesting name, and write about that person’s life following the project instructions. As we learn about the intersecting lives of all these people, we will better understand the history of this region.
Brakes for roadkill!
Surrender to small mammals (and other creatures). (Credit: Roadkill Reports project)
While millions of nature lovers seek out birds, butterflies and wildflowers, hunting roadkill takes a special kind of science enthusiast. But that’s what we and scientists do. Roadkill Reportnecessary. Tracking roadkill helps scientists find, study, and remediate road sections where wildlife are most at risk. By reporting today’s car accident victims, you can save other animals from suffering a similar fate!
Say hello to your little friends
Larval, pupal and adult forms of drain flies, most likely part of the Psychodidae family and the “Never Home Alone” family. (Credit: Trevor Bertone)
You’ll never feel lonely on Halloween when you realize you’re completely surrounded by thousands of legged creatures! Why not get to know them? Never stay home alone Project? Once you sign up, start exploring every nook and cranny of your home (whatever it may be) looking for ticks, millipedes, and carpet beetles. If you’re lucky, you might even find a raccoon sharing your living space.
Become a SciStarter Citizen Science Ambassador
Become a citizen science ambassador and help others discover science. (Credit: SciStarter)
As a Citizen Science Volunteer Ambassador, you will help introduce the basics of citizen science to libraries and other community hubs. Free training, expertly designed resources, and more will help you become a champion, connector, and facilitator.
application The second cohort runs from now until November 1st.
Watch the SciStarter Video Podcast
The little black-throated green songbird is telling me to check out the latest SciStarter podcast. (Credit: emydee1, CC BY-SA 4.0
Take a walk through the cemetery, befriend bats, hang out with spiders and stay up to date on the latest news. SciStarter Podcast!
November is full of citizen science events and programs
SciStarter Live!
Join Emma Giles and the SciStarter team Tuesday 2-3pm ETMeet inspiring project leaders, get valuable tips for participating in citizen science projects, and discover the incredible impact your contribution can have. Join the activity via Zoom or watch the live stream. SciStarter’s Facebook page.
November 5 – Sourdough Making for Science (and Thanksgiving!) Start at least two weeks before you plan to enjoy the fruits of your labor (your sourdough)! Watch it on YouTube.
November 12 – Wild Hope, Wildlife Corridors, and Citizen Science Learn how citizen scientists and experts are working together to identify and protect important wildlife corridors, and how you can get involved in conservation efforts. register.
