Citizen Science
Darlene Cavalier from Dr. D's alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania asked the question: "How can people without a science degree engage in and contribute to science?" The answer: Citizen Science. Citizen Science enables people from all walks of life to advance scientific knowledge. For curious and concerned people, YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. Visit the SciStarter site and type in what interests you (eg. astronomy, bees, forests, water quality) OR what area is important to you (eg. Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Pennsylvania, New England), OR even where you want to do something (on a beach, in a boat, from a tree), there's a project for you. Parameters, Protocols, Training are available if needed. SciStarter can even help you develop a project if your interest is not listed. Below are a few examples of Citizen Science contributions we have made.
Dr. D & Dr. Tim hope they sparked your curiosity to become a Citizen Scientist!!
Please
email us with the projects you choose and what information you are recording.
Report Banded Birds
Dr. Tim photographed 2 osprey & noticed they were banded. He sent the information to United States Geological Survey & within a week, he received certificates of appreciation which told how old the this bird was & where it was banded. Such a quick, easy, and rewarding thing to do and it makes you feel appreciated and more connected to the natural world.
Monitor Trail Cams
One of Dr. D's favorite Citizen Science methods is the use of trail cams. These are simple cameras mounted, along animal trails or near watering holes. You can join a project to help monitor these devices at many places around the world. Very rare sighting examples include a Clouded Leopard with two cubs in Borneo & a Java Rhino and calf in Indonesia. Verification of the presence of these highly endangered animals helps establish regional protection for them. In some cases, photographs have led to new species being discovered or species previously thought to be extinct being rediscovered!
Here are some trail cam images from Henrys Lake State Park (HLSP) in Idaho, where Dr. Tim and Dr. D
have been conducting nature education programs for the past 6 years. These helped verify the presence of a grizzly bear & a black bear in the area as well as other, many times unseen, animals.
Report sightings to The Firefly Atlas
Dr. Tim gave regular programs on fireflies (Natures Fireworks) around the 4th of July every year.
(See the Big Dipper firefly
Photinus pyralis pictured at right.) But since spending summers in the mountain west for the past six years not a single firefly was spotted...until a camper at Idaho's Henrys Lake State Park told us he saw fireflies in the marshy area below the campground. We investigated, verified, and reported to the Western Firefly Project, only to learn a most interesting fact: 7 western states have fireflies but none had been recorded from this county!! The
Firefly Atlas project has been documenting decreasing numbers of fireflies in certain areas. Light pollution may be a contributing factor in urban and suburban areas.
Report your bird sighting through e-Bird
Every year, Cornell Lab of Ornithology have a Christmas bird count whereby birders all over the world report every bird they have seen during one day around Dec. 25th through e-Bird. Combined with other studies, including the Backyard Bird Count (which you can do from your easy chair), they have documented some startling findings. E.G. more than 30% of songbirds in North America have disappeared in the last 50 years.
If you have been following Nature Tales and Trails Facebook postings which tell and show highlights of our visits to (almost all) National Parks, we have been astounded by how many times Dr. Tim & Dr.D say to each other--why aren't we hearing any birds? Anyone can access the eBird data to view abundance records over time for any species.
