News from Sault: This weekend a chance to take pictures of Canadian nature

The Nature Conservancy of Canada is urging residents to get out and take photos of wildlife wherever they see it this long weekend.

It’s the fourth year of the Big Backyard Bio-Blitz. Through next Monday, the group is asking Canadians to do their best nature photography impressions and take photos of local flora and fauna.

It is intended as a fun activity for the whole family and provides open source information for conservation purposes.

“We want Canadians to take photos of everything they see in plants and animals because it’s going to go on this huge map,” said Andrew Holland of the Nature Conservancy of Canada.

“And so it’s exciting to be a part of something big and it’s exciting to see what other people are uploading. So it’s really informative for people of all ages.”

When uploading, participants can indicate what is in their photo. Otherwise, the website’s AI will provide suggestions.

One important way this helps the environment across the country is by identifying invasive species.

“By the general public taking photos of this and uploading them, municipalities and levels of government can better understand and see where there are infestations of various invasive alien species and can develop a management plan to remove them,” Holland said.

Last year, more than 9,700 Canadians participated in the Big Backyard Bio-Blitz, submitting nearly 60,000 images and observations.

Officials said the event has grown in each of the four years. To register, visit the Canada Nature Conservancy website.