Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA) is a user-friendly web site and database that shares butterfly and moth species information with the public via dynamic maps, checklists, and species pages. BAMONA data are updated regularly and come from a variety of sources, including citizen scientists. Individuals can get involved by documenting butterflies and moths in their neighborhoods and submitting photographs for review. Collaborating lepidopterists serve as coordinators and oversee quality control. Submitted data are verified, added to the database, and then made available through the web site.
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Butterfly and Moth Information NetworkKelly LottsThomas Naberhaus
RiverWatch is a statewide partnership of organizations and individuals working to protect Illinois’ streams. Certified volunteers, referred to as Citizen Scientists, collect reliable water quality data that are use to determine how the conditions of stream are changing over time. Data on streams dating back to 1995 are maintained d by NGRREC in an online, user-friendly database. Following an eight-hour training workshop, Citizen Scientists adopt a stream site and conduct an annual habitat and biological survey of their site between May 1 and June 30. The program is available to all Illinois residents ages 18 and older. No prior experience is required. Training events are provided March to April and sampling equipment is available at numerous facilities around the state at no cost to the volunteer.
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National Great Rivers Research and Education CenterMatthew Young
Every year, strong northerly winds push thousands of raptors from Maine and Canada south along the eastern coastline as they migrate to warmer areas for the winter. With its wide-open views and tallest vantage point in the area, Acadia's HawkWatch location on Cadillac Mt. can often provide visitors with a close look at the raptors. Park rangers, volunteers, and visitors count and identify the raptors as they pass by. Ranger program is conducted daily (weather dependent) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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Acadia National ParkHawk Migration Association of North America
Green City Data is an after-school community service project. Teams of secondary students are trained to inventory urban natural areas selected by regional resource planning agencies to supplement their own data collection efforts. Representatives from seven agencies and educational institutions initiated this project to support development of a system of greenspaces within the Portland, Oregon/Vancouver, Washington metropolitan area. This consortium includes expertise in resource management, geography, biology, computer telecommunications, science education and community coordination. These and other community professionals tech students and volunteer team leaders (teachers or other adults) the basics of habitat identification and mapping in the context of regional planning. ***
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Gail WhitneyMichael HouckJames GillenJoseph PoracskyEllen Lanier-Phelps
Ornithology is one of the few scientific disciplines to which amateurs can still make significant contributions. Whether they observe birds at a feeder, count birds for a national census, or conduct a simple experiment, their activities contribute greatly to our knowledge of birds. Furthermore, participants in bird study programs not only learn about birds, they also become more aware of environmental problems. The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology exists to facilitate such amateur involvement and education. This proposal is aimed at strengthening our education programs and expanding them to include under-served audiences in the inner city. We propose to evaluate the extent to which our radio program, magazine, and Project FeederWatch appeal to various audiences and how effective these programs are at communicating information about birds and in stimulating involvement. Based on this evaluation, we will modify our programs, then evaluate them again. We are also proposing a brand-new volunteer-assisted data gathering program, which we call the National Science Experiment. In cooperation with other organizations, volunteers will look at the biology of pigeons in our cities, food preferences of winter birds across the United States, and the habitat requirements of neotropical migrant tanagers. The results of these studies will be of interest to both ornithologists and birders; furthermore, participants in the project will gain first-hand involvement with the process of science.