Site Directory

New Web Site Can Make Anyone 
an Expert Naturalist!

Now you can have the resources of the experts! In one place, identify every plant, animal and bird in the Rockies, and at the same time, record your observations and contribute to current research studies.

“Millions of people visit the mountains every year, yet most leave with little more than photographs and memories. Before you head out, visit MountainNature.com where you can access all the tools necessary to become an expert naturalist. When you return home, record your sightings on MountainNature.com and contribute to current  research programs”, says Ward Cameron, cybernaturalist at MountainNature.com, and author of the upcoming book Canmore and Kananaskis - Best Hikes Best Activities (Altitude Publishing).  The mountains are a magical place, but now the average visitor can turn their observations into data that researchers can use to help determine the future protection of this vital resource.

Visitors to www.MountainNature.com can:

• Learn 10 secrets to becoming an expert naturalist

• Access simple tools to identify 241 different plants, 196 birds and 48 mammals native to the Rockies

• Search for recent sightings to focus your quest for a new species

• Record your observations so that participating scientists can use your research to help protect the Canadian Rockies.

Ward has been a professional naturalist, guide and storyteller for almost two decades. He has written four books on western Canada and thrilled visitors to the Rockies with his expertise, wit and wealth of knowledge. Now you can benefit from his expertise and, at the same time, help researchers working in the Canadian Rockies. As a naturalist, outdoorsman and adventurer, Ward has more than a few experiences that your readers would love to hear about – bears in the backcountry, wolverines by mountain bike, eagles at close range and, yes, the infamous marten in the igloo. It’s all about sharing the wealth.

Recent Press Coverage  (Audio Files in Real Audio Format)

	Read an article in the Crag and Canyon from May 10, 2000
	Read an article in the Calgary Herald from May 26, 2000
	Read an article in the Calgary Herald from June 2, 2000
	Listen to an interview on CBC Radio from May 26, 2000

Bio of Ward Cameron

Ward Cameron is a naturalist, photographer, author, speaker, and storyteller. He is the author of three books on the Canadian west including the upcoming Canmore and Kananaskis - Best Hikes Best Activities, as well as Mountain Bike! The Canadian Rockies, and Mountain Bike! Southwestern British Columbia.

Born into a photographic family, Ward has always been interested in the outdoors. As he puts it: "From a very young age I tried to incorporate my interest in photography with my interest in the outdoors. From my first photographic recognition in 1980, to today’s much more general acceptance, it has been a tough but exciting trip."

It was Ward's photography skills that helped him break into the field of park naturalist – first in Ontario, and then Alberta. Photography is an integral part of most naturalist presentations, and so these skills helped immeasurably. At the same time, Ward learned to reveal nature’s secrets to groups of all sizes. His presentations include a variety of techniques designed entertain and challenge. Visually, the photography is very strong, and the additional use of story telling, and even some drama, helps bring the message home.

Ward did not plan to become an author, but quickly learned that editors prefer a package of text and images. For five years, he published a natural history column in the Canmore Leader Newspaper and to date, has  completed four books. The research for these projects has required Ward to spend an enormous amount of time alone in the wilderness, and this has occasionally provided unique experiences and great stories.

Moving to the Internet was a natural progression. In the new millennium, more and more of our information and research will take place online. MountainNature.com is designed to combine the tools of the traditional field guide with the interactivity of the web. This same interactivity will allow MountainNature.com to leverage your personal sightings to help current mountain research. This unique web site will create relationships with researchers and naturalists to create an online community where novices and experts can work together to enjoy the mountains while at the same time, helping to protect them.

Question and Answers

Q:     How is MountainNature.com different from books and other resources?

A:      Books can be out of date as soon as they are published. In addition, the exchange of information is one-way – from author to reader. The Internet changes all of this! Suddenly, you can use book-like tools to identify plant, animal or bird, and then follow up with a database record that biologists can use to help determine the future preservation of our mountain wilderness.

Q:     How can a web site help preserve a resource?

A:     As more and more real estate developers cast longing glances at the Rockies, more pressure falls upon scientists. Unfortunately, these same scientists are drowning under shrinking budgets and an ever-present lack of resources (financial and otherwise). At the same time, we have millions of people passing through the mountains every year. If we can record these visitor's experiences, and make this information available to scientists, than perhaps we can help bridge the money gap.

Q:     I understand that visitors can search for recent sightings of plants, animals and birds. However, shouldn't we keep some sightings quiet to help protect sensitive species?

A:      MountainNature.com has built in protection for sensitive species. Search for a wolf, grizzly or harlequin duck sighting, and you will immediately know  if a sighting has been recorded, but the exact location will be protected. In this way, you can be confident that by recording a grizzly sighting, you won’t be promoting a bear jam on the Icefields Parkway. Should you wish it, participating researchers will still be able to access the full details of your sighting.

Q:     What is your next step?

A:      At present, while we focus on creating an online community, we still reach only a small percentage of visitors to the Rockies. The next step may include touch-screen displays in visitor centres and interactive kiosks. This will add another access point for collecting research information. There is no way to collect all the sightings and experiences that make the mountains magical to visitors – our goal is simply to make sure that as many sightings as possible are recorded for posterity.