Mountain Birdwatch is one example of “citizen science” conducted in Adirondack Park. Citizen science is the opportunity for homeowners, landowners, volunteers, and organizations to participate in scientific censuses and endeavors. The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology has popularized citizen science through programs such as Project Feeder Watch, The Great Backyard Bird Count, and surveys of declining species such as Scarlet Tanager and Cerulean Warbler. The number of opportunities for citizen science are increasing and several national/global programs include Monarch Watch, Journey North, All Taxa Biodiversity (http://www.discoverlifeinamerica.org/atbi/index.shtml), GLOBE at Night (http://www.globe.gov/GaN/), World Water Monitoring Day (http://www.worldwatermonitoringday.org/). One of the longer standing citizen science programs is the annual Christmas Bird Count sponsored by the Audubon Society.
Citizen science actively engages youth and the public in research and education. Participants are provided with training, education, information, and opportunity to learn about the process of science. Discussions and exchanges with scientists is an active means of information dissemination and awareness education directly with the public. In promoting their research, trained scientists gain access to a larger geographical area and time-sensitive data can be collected much more efficiently with volunteer scientists.
New York State has been blessed with many citizen science programs that document biodiversity throughout the state. The New York State Breeding Bird Atlas is one such program sponsored through the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation in collaboration with Cornell University. From 2000 to 2005, more than 1200 volunteers documented the breeding status of 250 bird species in 5,532 (3 x 3 mile) blocks throughout the state. The breeding Bird Atlas provides important baseline data for examining changes in bird distributions and land use management. In comparison with BBA data from 1985, this program has documented the decline of some Adirondack species such as the Spruce Grouse, but also shown an increase in the Northern Parula and the new appearance and successful breeding of the Merlin. These later two species are nearly exclusive Adirondack breeders in New York State.
Adirondack Park is an ideal region for citizen science programs to prosper. The 6 million plus acres with more than 3000 ponds and lakes, more than 100 peaks above 3000 feet, great habitat diversity, and isolated wilderness constitutes tremendous logistical problems for scientists who need access to critical time sensitive data. Bicknell’s thrush presents one such challenge. The species is difficult to find on Adirondack peaks, has an abbreviated vocal period on diurnal and seasonal clocks, and occupies a challenging to navigate habitat. Mountain Birdwatch provides valuable data and observation on Bicknell’s and other montane bird species to researchers such as Dan Lambert (http://www.vtecostudies.org/).
Other citizen science programs exist in Adirondack Park. The World Conservation Society’s Loon Program with more that 500 volunteers conducts an annual census of Common Loons on Adirondack lakes and ponds for one hour on a Saturday in July. Volunteers count the numbers of loon adults, chicks, and juveniles seen on their section of water during the hour. The data allows the WCS to track habitat changes, and population trends of this environmentally sensitive species. The Common Loon is recovering from environmental threats such as lake acidification, habitat change, water traffic, lead poisoning from leaded fishing sinkers, mercury deposition from coal burning plants, and periodic outbreaks of avian botulism in the Great Lakes Region. In 2007, the Loon Program counted 681 adults, chicks, and immature loons on lakes in the Adirondack Region. These data allowed the WCS to estimate that the total Adirondack population has doubled since a census conducted in the 1980s.
http://www.wcs.org/media/file/LoonCensusSummaryResults.2007.pdf
In recent decades, the Adirondack lakes have experience invasions of numerous roadside and aquatic weeds. Terrestrial plants such as garlic mustard and purple loosestrife are high quantity seed producers and spread prolifically by underground stems. These features together with few native predators or herbivores provide opportunities for these weeds to out compete many native species. In aquatic ecosystems, Eurasian milfoil is an invasive species capable of choking rivers, ponds and lakes. Milfoil alters natural nutrient cycles, dissolved oxygen, and light penetration and may indirectly affect aquatic macro invertebrates and fish. Citizen scientists volunteer through the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program to document and monitor the spread of invasive species in the park. Stores, boat docks, and parks often display information warning advising boaters to check their gear for Eurasian Milfoil and to report new populations.
http://www.adkinvasives.com/
The Adirondacks will continue as a model park for integrating volunteer stewardship and citizen science into educational outreach and scientific research. The combination of public and private lands interwoven into a matrix permit accessibility of researchers to isolate areas, effective sentinels for water quality and invasive weeds, and the rare opportunity for citizens to participate on scientific endeavors. These opportunities foster ownership and community pride in possession of unique biodiversity and the inoculation of communities and visitors with science education. Citizen science will undoubtedly become more important in the Adirondacks as climate change continues and federal funds for research diminish.
Citizen science actively engages youth and the public in research and education. Participants are provided with training, education, information, and opportunity to learn about the process of science. Discussions and exchanges with scientists is an active means of information dissemination and awareness education directly with the public. In promoting their research, trained scientists gain access to a larger geographical area and time-sensitive data can be collected much more efficiently with volunteer scientists.
New York State has been blessed with many citizen science programs that document biodiversity throughout the state. The New York State Breeding Bird Atlas is one such program sponsored through the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation in collaboration with Cornell University. From 2000 to 2005, more than 1200 volunteers documented the breeding status of 250 bird species in 5,532 (3 x 3 mile) blocks throughout the state. The breeding Bird Atlas provides important baseline data for examining changes in bird distributions and land use management. In comparison with BBA data from 1985, this program has documented the decline of some Adirondack species such as the Spruce Grouse, but also shown an increase in the Northern Parula and the new appearance and successful breeding of the Merlin. These later two species are nearly exclusive Adirondack breeders in New York State.
Adirondack Park is an ideal region for citizen science programs to prosper. The 6 million plus acres with more than 3000 ponds and lakes, more than 100 peaks above 3000 feet, great habitat diversity, and isolated wilderness constitutes tremendous logistical problems for scientists who need access to critical time sensitive data. Bicknell’s thrush presents one such challenge. The species is difficult to find on Adirondack peaks, has an abbreviated vocal period on diurnal and seasonal clocks, and occupies a challenging to navigate habitat. Mountain Birdwatch provides valuable data and observation on Bicknell’s and other montane bird species to researchers such as Dan Lambert (http://www.vtecostudies.org/).
Other citizen science programs exist in Adirondack Park. The World Conservation Society’s Loon Program with more that 500 volunteers conducts an annual census of Common Loons on Adirondack lakes and ponds for one hour on a Saturday in July. Volunteers count the numbers of loon adults, chicks, and juveniles seen on their section of water during the hour. The data allows the WCS to track habitat changes, and population trends of this environmentally sensitive species. The Common Loon is recovering from environmental threats such as lake acidification, habitat change, water traffic, lead poisoning from leaded fishing sinkers, mercury deposition from coal burning plants, and periodic outbreaks of avian botulism in the Great Lakes Region. In 2007, the Loon Program counted 681 adults, chicks, and immature loons on lakes in the Adirondack Region. These data allowed the WCS to estimate that the total Adirondack population has doubled since a census conducted in the 1980s.
http://www.wcs.org/media/file/LoonCensusSummaryResults.2007.pdf
In recent decades, the Adirondack lakes have experience invasions of numerous roadside and aquatic weeds. Terrestrial plants such as garlic mustard and purple loosestrife are high quantity seed producers and spread prolifically by underground stems. These features together with few native predators or herbivores provide opportunities for these weeds to out compete many native species. In aquatic ecosystems, Eurasian milfoil is an invasive species capable of choking rivers, ponds and lakes. Milfoil alters natural nutrient cycles, dissolved oxygen, and light penetration and may indirectly affect aquatic macro invertebrates and fish. Citizen scientists volunteer through the Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program to document and monitor the spread of invasive species in the park. Stores, boat docks, and parks often display information warning advising boaters to check their gear for Eurasian Milfoil and to report new populations.
http://www.adkinvasives.com/
The Adirondacks will continue as a model park for integrating volunteer stewardship and citizen science into educational outreach and scientific research. The combination of public and private lands interwoven into a matrix permit accessibility of researchers to isolate areas, effective sentinels for water quality and invasive weeds, and the rare opportunity for citizens to participate on scientific endeavors. These opportunities foster ownership and community pride in possession of unique biodiversity and the inoculation of communities and visitors with science education. Citizen science will undoubtedly become more important in the Adirondacks as climate change continues and federal funds for research diminish.
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