Citizen (or community) science is the collection and sharing of observations (data) by members of the general public, often in partnership with professional scientists. By sharing their observations, citizen scientists contribute valuable data to new and ongoing monitoring efforts!
Active Friends Projects
The Friends' citizen science volunteers collect and analyze data relating to the natural environment in the Preserve. They collaborate with professional scientists in designing and conducting these projects and work with Preserve staff to ensure that these projects support Preserve objectives and procedures. To join these efforts or obtain further information, contact [email protected].
Bluebird Trail – Biocore Prairie -- read more
15 Bluebird nesting boxes are located along loop trail around the perimeter of the Biocore Prairie and Community Garden. Established in 2014, the boxes are maintained and monitored weekly by a core of volunteers. Annual statistics are submitted to the Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin, BRAW, and the Preserve. Currently, the trail supports 8 houses and also provides nesting opportunities for Tree swallows.
Current monitors: Jeff Koziol, Laura Berger, Maggi Christianson, Pam Fornell, Genevieve Murtaugh, Paul Noeldner. Faculty Advisor: Anna Pidgeon.
15 Bluebird nesting boxes are located along loop trail around the perimeter of the Biocore Prairie and Community Garden. Established in 2014, the boxes are maintained and monitored weekly by a core of volunteers. Annual statistics are submitted to the Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin, BRAW, and the Preserve. Currently, the trail supports 8 houses and also provides nesting opportunities for Tree swallows.
Current monitors: Jeff Koziol, Laura Berger, Maggi Christianson, Pam Fornell, Genevieve Murtaugh, Paul Noeldner. Faculty Advisor: Anna Pidgeon.
Lake Conditions and Water Quality Station – Near-shore, Lake Mendota
Beginning in May, 2019 a team of Friends volunteers have recorded near-shore lake conditions at the Preserve in University Bay using a data collection protocol developed by the Clean Lakes Alliance. Data is collected twice weekly for five months each summer. The results will be recorded in a data base maintained by the Clean Lakes Alliance and will provide additional information to be used for analysis of the condition of Lake Mendota. This station is one of 80 near-shore monitoring stations on all five Yahara lakes that report to Clean Lakes Alliance.
Current monitors: Matt Chotlos, Doris Dubielzig, Diana Tapia Ramon, Seth McGee, Will Vuyk
Beginning in May, 2019 a team of Friends volunteers have recorded near-shore lake conditions at the Preserve in University Bay using a data collection protocol developed by the Clean Lakes Alliance. Data is collected twice weekly for five months each summer. The results will be recorded in a data base maintained by the Clean Lakes Alliance and will provide additional information to be used for analysis of the condition of Lake Mendota. This station is one of 80 near-shore monitoring stations on all five Yahara lakes that report to Clean Lakes Alliance.
Current monitors: Matt Chotlos, Doris Dubielzig, Diana Tapia Ramon, Seth McGee, Will Vuyk
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Friends of Amphibians
In collaboration with the Jessica Hua Lab and other Friends/nature organizations around Madison, we are leaping into a new city-wide community science initiative. "Friends of Amphibians" will coordinate the collection of data on amphibian species diversity and water quality in Madison-area wetlands to better understand the impacts of pollutants, pathogens, and human infrastructure on local amphibian populations. Find out more here: Friends of Amphibians Webpage Link |
2023 summary reports from the Hua lab:
Purple Martin House - Biocore Prairie – read more
In spring 2017 a Friends Team of PUMA enthusiasts installed a purple martin house at the edge of the Biocore Prairie. The house is maintained by a group of volunteers, who monitor the house closely throughout the summer months, keeping compartments free of nests built by other species. By June 2017, the structure had attracted four martins, two of whom nested and produced young. We were thrilled to report that the babies successfully fledged at the beginning of August.
In 2018, the house attracted only two pairs of Purple Martins. The presence of starlings prevented them from nesting successfully. Starling resistant entrances have been installed in spring 2019. In 2020, 3 subadults raised 3 successfully fledged purple martins. In 2021 and 2022, the purple martin house had very successful years. In 2021, there were 14 adult purple martins at the site who fledged 24 young. In 2022, up to 19 adults fledged 33 young!
Current monitors: Chuck Henrikson, David Liebl, Seth McGee, Richard Ness, Paul Noeldner. Faculty Advisor: Anna Pidgeon
In spring 2017 a Friends Team of PUMA enthusiasts installed a purple martin house at the edge of the Biocore Prairie. The house is maintained by a group of volunteers, who monitor the house closely throughout the summer months, keeping compartments free of nests built by other species. By June 2017, the structure had attracted four martins, two of whom nested and produced young. We were thrilled to report that the babies successfully fledged at the beginning of August.
In 2018, the house attracted only two pairs of Purple Martins. The presence of starlings prevented them from nesting successfully. Starling resistant entrances have been installed in spring 2019. In 2020, 3 subadults raised 3 successfully fledged purple martins. In 2021 and 2022, the purple martin house had very successful years. In 2021, there were 14 adult purple martins at the site who fledged 24 young. In 2022, up to 19 adults fledged 33 young!
Current monitors: Chuck Henrikson, David Liebl, Seth McGee, Richard Ness, Paul Noeldner. Faculty Advisor: Anna Pidgeon
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Snake Search!
Snakes tend to be timid, hard-to-find creatures. Despite their shyness, they play an integral (if unseen) role in our native Wisconsin ecosystems. While they avoid human attention everywhere, snakes have proven extra scarce in the Preserve when compared to other Madison-area natural areas. In the past twenty years (or more) we only know of four snake sightings. What snakes exist in the Preserve? Are there truly less of them here than other places? If so, why might that be? If you want to help us answer some of these questions, reach out to Will Vuyk at [email protected]. Expect more project information on this page soon. Learn more about Madison-area snakes here and the video below: |
More Community Science Opportunities in the Preserve
The UW Entomology Department's Insect Ambassadors are hosting an insect community science series this summer (2023)! Learn more here: https://entomology.wisc.edu/outreach/insect-ambassadors/community-science-series/
You can easily collect important ecological data! All you need is your phone and one or more of the following resources:
iNaturalist - submit photos of any organisms you find in the Preserve, and have them identified by a community of experts.
Website: https://www.inaturalist.org/home
App: https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/seek_app
Ebird - submit your bird observations to this program run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Website: https://ebird.org/home
App: https://ebird.org/about/ebird-mobile/
Merlin - use this app to identify birds both by sight and by sound!
App: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org
Herpmapper - submit your observations of reptiles and amphibians to this website that specializes in herps!
Website: https://www.herpmapper.org
iNaturalist - submit photos of any organisms you find in the Preserve, and have them identified by a community of experts.
Website: https://www.inaturalist.org/home
App: https://www.inaturalist.org/pages/seek_app
Ebird - submit your bird observations to this program run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Website: https://ebird.org/home
App: https://ebird.org/about/ebird-mobile/
Merlin - use this app to identify birds both by sight and by sound!
App: https://merlin.allaboutbirds.org
Herpmapper - submit your observations of reptiles and amphibians to this website that specializes in herps!
Website: https://www.herpmapper.org
Past Friends Projects
iNaturalist Monitoring Project
iNaturalistis is an app designed to be used by citizen scientists who want to collect data and share it online. Several of the Friends have been submitting observations online where the information can be used to track various species and record data long-term. There’s even a “place” defined for the Lakeshore Nature Preserve, so just those observations can be retrieved. In May, 2018 the Friends ran a training session to encourage more users to use the app. Now thousands of observations of hundreds of species have been recorded on the Preserve joining millions of observations worldwide.
iNaturalistis is an app designed to be used by citizen scientists who want to collect data and share it online. Several of the Friends have been submitting observations online where the information can be used to track various species and record data long-term. There’s even a “place” defined for the Lakeshore Nature Preserve, so just those observations can be retrieved. In May, 2018 the Friends ran a training session to encourage more users to use the app. Now thousands of observations of hundreds of species have been recorded on the Preserve joining millions of observations worldwide.
Acoustic BAT Monitoring Project -- read more
A team of volunteers use a GPS-linked echolocation monitoring device to survey the presence of bats along a specified route in the Preserve. The project is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, establishing baseline data on bat species and locations throughout Wisconsin. The project was started in the Preserve by Kennedy Gilchrist and Levi Wood in 2015.
In 2018, the student team of the UW-Madison Bat Brigade continued the project, with the Biocore Lab Manager Seth McGee as advisor.
A team of volunteers use a GPS-linked echolocation monitoring device to survey the presence of bats along a specified route in the Preserve. The project is administered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, establishing baseline data on bat species and locations throughout Wisconsin. The project was started in the Preserve by Kennedy Gilchrist and Levi Wood in 2015.
In 2018, the student team of the UW-Madison Bat Brigade continued the project, with the Biocore Lab Manager Seth McGee as advisor.
