Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Engaging Students with Citizen Science: It's for the Birds!

 
Iowa Bald Eagle Monitoring
In 2010, the Iowa DNR's Wildlife Diversity Program is initiating a new bald eagle territory monitoring survey. For many years we have tracked eagle nests on an opportunistic basis, encouraging citizens and natural resource professionals to report anything they could about eagle nests in their area. This approach has worked well but a few things have happened in recent years: 1) The number of nesting pairs in the state has grown exponentially making it more difficult to track all of them, 2) the eagle was taken off of the Federal Endangered Species List, and 3) while eagles are doing very well they still face some old threats (habitat loss) as well as some threats recently brought to light (lead poisoning). For these reasons we would like to put into place a more standardized and comprehensive eagle nest monitoring plan that would help us keep a better eye on trends of bald eagle productivity and population.

Volunteer Eagle Nest monitors are assigned an eagle nest to observe and report on yearly. It requires about a ten hour time commitment annually and volunteers must participate in some form of training either through attending a workshop or if you are unable to attend a workshop, the online training video and materials.

Iowa Colonial Waterbird Rookery Monitoring
One of the most unique groups of birds to occur in Iowa are the Colonial Waterbirds. Colonial Waterbirds are birds that depend on water for their food source and who nest in colonies called rookeries. These rookeries can have as many 100 or more nests and as few as two. The rookeries most often occur adjacent to or very close to water and depending on the species be in a tree or on the ground.

Only conservative estimates of the number of rookeries in the state are available, because Iowa DNR staff does not have the resources to monitor many of the Iowa nests, nor to adequately search for new colonies. Great Blue heron rookeries are by far the most common and can be found statewide. Monitoring these rookery sites is important as it provides data on the reproduction and population of these important species which among other things serve as indicators of our water quality. Monitoring of nests is left mostly up to volunteers and concerned citizens. Therefore, the discovery of new nests, which is often by chance, is primarily by volunteers, other citizens, and agency staff.

For more information and to learn how you can volunteer visit:
http://www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/WildlifeStewardship/NonGameWildlife/VolunteerWildlifeSurveys/ReportingRookeries.aspx

BirdSleuth
Are you still looking for a citizen science project to participate in with your class? Check out Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s BirdSleuth K-12! BirdSleuth is an inquiry-based science curriculum that engages kids in scientific study and real data collection through an exciting citizen science project. BirdSleuth encourages kids to answer their own questions about nature, spend time outdoors connecting with nature, and motivates kids with the real-world importance of the data they enter online which scientists use to study and help conserve birds. BirdSleuth offers educators kits, free resources, and training.


International Migratory Bird Day
International Migratory Bird Day takes place the second Saturday in May every year. On this day we celebrate migratory birds. What a fun way to celebrate after a citizen science project that has focused on birds!



Thursday, February 14, 2013

Engaging Students with Citizen Science


IOWATER 
IOWATER is a volunteer water quality monitoring program that is a great way to get kids involved in citizen science.  IOWATER workshops include training, a manual, and equipment for monitoring Iowa waters with your class. IOWATER fits nicely with many Project WILD, Project WILD Aquatic, and Project Learning Tree activities. Below we have listed several activities from each that can be used in conjunction with IOWATER. For more information on IOWATER training visit the IOWATER homepage at: http://www.iowater.net/

Project Learning Tree
Democracy in Action – Civil action as it relates to water quality. Monitoring of water quality may lead to the need for civil action to improve water quality.

Every Drop Counts – In addition to monitoring water quality for IOWATER, students
monitor their water use, and design and implement a water conservation plan for
themselves. (This would also work on a class or school level).

Publicize It! – Lead students through the process of publicizing their IOWATER project.

Renewable or Not – Increase aware of renewable vs nonrenewable resources as pertains to water quality.

There Ought to be a Law – Law changes may be required when there are water quality issues. Students learn how laws are changed.

Watch on Wetlands – Help students gain important background information on wetlands if your water monitoring sight is a wetland.

Water Wonders – The Water Cycle. It is important to understand how the Water Cycle works when water monitoring. Helps students understand how and when poluution enters water systems.

We Can Work it Out – Use to show how different perspectives need to be taken into consideration, and differences worked out when deciding water quality issues.

Project WILD
Beautiful Basics – What animals need to survive and the importance of water (clean water) to all living things.

Learning to Look, Looking to See – Practicing observation skills which are important to have when participating in a scientific study.

Time Lapse – Learn the changes that take place to a ecosystem over time. Learn how to observe and track the changes to aquatic habitats during monitoring period.

Wild Words – Students record their outdoor experiences, and experiences participating in IOWATER in a nature journal.

Project WILD Aquatic
Dragonfly Pond – Relates land use and zoning/planning to water quality.

The Glass Menagerie – Shows the effects of nutrient overload on aquatic habitats.

Living Research: Aquatic Heroes & Heroines – Research past and present people who have made contributions to the conservation and preservation of aquatic resources.

Something’s Fishy Here – Explore possible avenues of action after reading the provided story or looking at their own IOWATER data.

To Dam or Not to Dam – Students explore the different views and concerns of individuals related to the complex issue of dams on waterways.

Water Canaries – Shows how aquatic life is effected by water quality parameters.

Watered Down History – Students investigate the history of a local waterway or watershed.

Watershed – Students study their local watershed and learn the connection between land and water quality.

What’s in the Water? – Pollution sources and impacts.

Where Does Water Run? – Helps students understand rainfall amounts, runoff, and the effects on water quality.

 

Tuesday, February 05, 2013

Citizen Science Project Ideas

Citizen science projects combine useful observation or data collection with an opportunity for students to learn more about scientific principles, problems, and processes as well as helping them better understand our environment and how to protect it.

Citizen science projects involve students in data collection, presentation, and involvement on a local, state, national, and even global level. Data collection can be wildlife watching, water testing, soil testing, plant monitoring, and many others. There are many citizen science projects that classrooms, and schools can choose to become involved in.

There are many projects out there - how do you choose? First, consider the age of the children in your class or program. Remember to match the age of the children to the skill level of the project. Follow the areas of interest of the children. Come up with several options and let them choose. Or ask them what they would like to contribute to and then find a project that matches.

Here are few things to consider:
• Is the project long or short term?
• Is the project local or national?
• Is there training required?
• What data is collected & how?
• How is the data collected presented to others?
• Are student materials and instructional resources available/provided?
• What types of tools and/or support are available?

Useful web sites to get you started on the path to citizen science!

What is Citizen Science in the Classroom?
Kids Count: Young Citizen Scientists Learn Environmental Activism
http://www.edutopia.org/service-learning-citizen-science

Engaging Students Through Citizen Science
http://www.kidsgardening.org/article/engaging-students-through-citizen-science

Citizen science: Real-world applications for science students
http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/7210

Scholastic News - Kids Press Corps: Fireflies Count!
http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3752450

Project citizen: promoting action-oriented citizen science in the classroom
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-313798147.html

Scientific American: Citizen Science
http://www.scientificamerican.com/citizen-science/

Citizen Science Can Renew A Child’s Love of Nature
http://www.education.com/reference/article/citizen-science-childrens-love-nature/

Citizen Science Project Opportunities
Iowa Opportunities
Iowa Department of Natural Resources: Volunteer Wildlife Monitoring
http://www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/WildlifeStewardship/NonGameWildlife/VolunteerWildlifeSurveys.aspx

IOWATER
http://www.iowater.net/Default.htm

Iowa NatureMapping
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/naturemapping/

National Opportunities
Monarch Larva Monitoring Project
http://www.mlmp.org/

Firefly Watch
https://legacy.mos.org/fireflywatch/

BirdSleuth and eBird: Citizen Science in the Classroom
http://www.birdsleuth.org/

The Great Sunflower Project: The Backyard Bee Count – The world’s largest citizen science project focused on pollinator conservation
http://www.greatsunflower.org/