Today’s blog comes from Layna Lubimiv, chief park naturalist at MacGregor Point Provincial Park.
Did you know MacGregor Point has a new community science initiative, and you can help!
Photo monitoring is an easy way to conduct research!
Simply place your smartphone on the holder, snap a picture, and submit your photo to the QR code on the sign.
This technique is simple and effective, allowing staff access multiple photographs of the same location over time to visually document changes in the environment.
Why does it matter?
For so many reasons!
Each of our sites have a monitoring purpose for seasonal and annual changes in the park. Check out some of our stations to find out what we’re paying attention to at different locations!
Have you been to our Bird Blind in Tower Trail?
Show us what it looks like day-to-day with the changing water levels, vegetation, and migratory birds!
Ever climbed Tower Lookout?
Take a photo of what you see! It’s valuable to have different photo monitoring angles of wetlands to better understand changes from multiple angles. You can see the Bird Blind Trail across the Ducks Unlimited Wetland!
Ash Swamp is usually a seasonally wet swamp, which typically dries up by September — but in 2023, it remained a wetland throughout the year!
We also tackled a large patch of invasive Phragmites and are tracking our success through photo monitoring.
Help track the changes with us!
Track our shoreline with us through the two stations at Camper’s Beach, and one station at Boundary Bay (end of Kempf’s Trail).
There’s so much to learn from Lake Huron.
One of our coolest spots filled with highly sensitive and specialized species is our Pitcher Plant marl.
Track environmental changes with us as we watch the seasons evolve at this iconic location.
Check out our highly sensitive dunes at Day Use Beach — the anchor of our sandy beaches we all enjoy.
Every fall, the Friends of MacGregor transplant dune grass in the Day Use Beach to protect this vital ecological service and habitat.
These two angles help us track the success of dune grass after transplanting! Watch our dunes (hopefully) thrive through your community science photos and your footsteps on designated pathways!
Can you make it to all 10 locations?
Help us year-round so that we can make time lapses with our photo monitoring station photos. Stay tuned for even more locations in 2026!
Don’t just stop here!
Photo monitoring stations throughout our cluster including Inverhuron Provincial Park and Sauble Falls Provincial Park!
Continue your adventure with your seasonal permit!
