Iowa Citizens Playing Key Role in Tracking Imperiled Wildlife

Citizen scientists across Iowa make enormous contributions to wildlife conservation each year as part of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ Volunteer WildlifeMonitoring Program (VWMP). This program trains wildlife enthusiasts to observe and collect data on bald eagle nests among other things. 

 

Program Coordinator Stephanie Shepherd explains, “We just don’t have enough staff in the DNR to adequately monitor all the vulnerable species that we need to. This is where citizen scientists play a crucial role.”  Every March and April, Shepherd travels around the state to lead training workshops that prepare folks to collect data on some of Iowa’s critical wildlife. 

 

In 2015, trained, volunteer monitors submitted data on 163 Bald Eagle Territories from around the state. Observations of nesting started in early March and wrapped up in June.  Across three visits to each nest, citizen scientists collected information on their assigned nest’s activity; how many young were produced and how many of those young successfully fledged from the nest. “This data collection requires lots of patience and some good optics in order to watch the nest from a distance and not disturb the birds,” Shepherd indicates. 

Volunteers also collected data on two species of raptor which have only been restored to Iowa in the recent past; osprey and peregrine falcons. These species are not as widespread as eagles but volunteers were still able to gather information on 14 nest sites.  

 

“The Volunteer Wildlife Monitoring Program provides an opportunity for adults who love the outdoors and wildlife to be directly involved with the conservation and monitoring of Iowa’s resources. The work done is crucial to the well-being of these species,” said Shepherd.

 

If you are interested in getting involved, registration are now being accepted for the 2016 workshops. Space is limited and it will be first come, first serve.  For more information or to download a registration form, visit the Volunteer Wildlife Monitoring Program website.  .

 

2016 Volunteer Wildlife Monitoring Workshops

• March 5, 2016 – 1:00 to 4:30 P.M. – CLAYTON COUNTY in partnership with the Clayton County Conservation Board.

o    Location: Osborne Park Nature Center near Elkader, IA

·         March 12, 2016 – 1:00 to 4:30 P.M. – WAYNE COUNTY in partnership with the Wayne County Conservation Board.

o    Location: Bobwhite State Park, Wayne County Conservation Offices, near Allerton, IA.

·         March 19, 2016 – 1:00 to 4:30 P.M. – SAC COUNTY in partnership with the Sac County Conservation Board.

o    Location: Sac County Conservation Center near Sac City, IA.