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CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECTS
Bridging the gap between science and society.
CLIMATE WATCH
Location:
Project by:
Dates:
U.S.
Audobon
Winter (January 15-February 15) and Summer (May 15 - June 15)
Audubon’s 2019 climate change report, ‘Survival By Degrees,’ reveals that up to two-thirds of North American birds are vulnerable to extinction due to climate change. Changes in temperature, the amount of rainfall, and other environmental factors may cause certain birds to either move into new areas over time or struggle to adapt. To test the report’s predictions, Audubon has developed Climate Watch, which aims to document species’ responses to climate change and test Audubon’s climate models by having volunteers in the field look for birds where Audubon’s climate models predict they will be in the 2020s.
PROJECT SIDEWALK
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Project by:
Dates:
Chicago, IL
University of Washington Makeability Lab
Ongoing
Project Sidewalk is a free, online crowdsourcing tool that allows users to label sidewalk infrastructure and identify accessibility barriers by virtually moving through city streets. Crowdsourcing is an inclusive approach to gathering information that is needed to support greater accessibility advocacy and bolster local planning efforts! Project Sidewalk was developed by the University of Washington Makeability Lab.
THE OCEAN CLEANUP
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Project by:
Dates:
Global
The Ocean Cleanup
Ongoing
Help track plastic debris by downloading The Ocean Cleanup Survey App. At your nearest canal, stream, or river, stand safely on a bridge and count floating objects using the app. If you're at sea, use the app to survey and categorize ocean debris from a safe vessel. Your data refines global plastic transport models and identifies pollution hotspots for cleanup efforts.
BIRDS CANADA
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Dates:
Canada
Birds Canada
Ongoing
Birds Canada addresses conservation priorities through six key programs: monitoring bird populations, reversing declines in at-risk species, forming international partnerships for migratory bird conservation, continuing stewardship and research at Long Point Bird Observatory, supporting nature-based solutions for bird biodiversity, and mobilizing bird enthusiasts in Canada to take action and raise awareness.
HIGH COUNTRY CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT
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Dates:
North America
Glacier National Park
Ongoing
Concern for wildlife in Glacier National Park's alpine and subalpine regions is rising due to climate change. To address this, the High Country Citizen Science Project was created in 2008 to gather essential baseline data on species like mountain goats and pikas.
Citizen scientists conduct one-hour surveys at 37 sites after training in mountain goat ecology, identification, and classification. This data helps biologists estimate annual populations and monitor trends, using new statistical models to track changes over time.
MOUNT BROWN HAWK WATCH PROGRAM
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Project by:
Dates:
North America
Glacier National Park
October 5th, 2024
Join park biologists to learn how to identify and count migrating raptors. Educators from Montana Wild Wings Recovery Center will be on-site with live raptors on October 5th, 2024 from 12 pm to 2 pm, offering close-up views of species that migrate past Mount Brown. Biologists, park staff, and volunteers will be available to answer questions about the vital role raptors play in our ecosystems, the risks they face, and the significance of Glacier’s Mount Brown Hawk Watch Program.
NEW JERSEY HIGH WATER
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New Jersey
MyCoast
Ongoing
Capture flood events and impacts across the state and in your community within New Jersey.
SEADRAGONSEARCH
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Dates:
Australia
SeadragonSearch
Ongoing
SeadragonSearch is a collaborative research project that aims to increase understanding of wild seadragon populations through community involvement. Seadragons are marine biodiversity icons, but there are significant knowledge gaps for their conservation. SeadragonSearch will utilize data from underwater imagery to monitor these unique fish across their distribution for a decade, offering insights into their lives and habitat health.
COASTSNAP
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Dates:
Global
Scripps Institution of Oceanography and UC San Diego
Ongoing
CoastSnap is a global citizen science network that uses your photos to monitor changing coastlines. By contributing a photo, you can help track short and long-term beach erosion and recovery, providing valuable insights into beach processes and contributing factors over time.
DOLPHIN SPOTTER: A LAND-BASED CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT
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Florida
Florida Atlantic University
Ongoing
FAU Harbor Branch invites wildlife photography enthusiasts to join the Dolphin Spotter citizen science project, contributing to dolphin research through photo identification. By submitting photos, participants help FAU Harbor Branch's Marine Mammal Stranding and Population Assessment team gather valuable insights into the habitat use and behaviors of Florida's resident dolphin populations, aiding in their conservation.
NESTWATCH
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Project by:
Dates:
Global
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Ongoing
NestWatch is a monitoring program that tracks the reproductive biology of birds, recording nesting times, egg numbers, hatch rates, and chick survival. The database aims to study breeding bird populations' current status and how it changes due to climate change, habitat loss, urban growth, and the presence of non-native species.
NYSDEC LOBSTER RECREATIONAL SURVEY
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Project by:
Dates:
New York
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Ongoing
Fishers of lobsters in New York's marine district are invited to participate in the Volunteer Recreational Lobster Fishing Survey, which helps the DEC gather data on catch and effort. The survey, available both in paper and digital formats, asks about fishing trips, gear used, and catch, aiding in the assessment of lobster populations.
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