Citizen Science/Osprey Nation

Citizen Science refers to the cooperation between scientists and nonscientists in collecting data, monitoring animal populations, participating in bird counts, and doing many other types of scientific work aimed at contributing to knowledge and addressing conservation and environmental issues.

Connecticut Audubon Society trains and works with Citizen Scientists on many projects based in our Centers. Some of our current projects are:

Osprey Nation

• Osprey Nation (including yearly reports and map, and information on how to become an Osprey Nation steward)
• Osprey Cam

Center at Pomfret

• Rapid Bioassessment Training for Volunteers
• Mammal Monitoring
• Vernal Pool Inventory
• Canterbury Grassland Habitat Survey
• StreamWalk Project
• Bird-banding (resident and breeding birds during spring and summer)
• Northern Saw-whet Owl banding

Center at Fairfield

• Monitoring Birds and Wildlife
• Freshwater fish surveys (with Housatonic Community College)

Birdcraft

• Bird-banding Station (migratory birds during spring and fall)

Coastal Center at Milford Point:

• Bird-banding Station (migratory birds during spring and fall)
• Monitoring and banding of migratory shorebirds (with DEP Wildlife Division)
• Monitoring American Black Ducks (with DEP Wildlife Division)
• Monitoring nesting Piping Plovers and Least Terns (with US Fish & Wildlife Service and DEP Wildlife Division)
• Monitoring and tagging Horseshoe Crabs (with Project Limulus/Sacred Heart University)

Deer Pond Farm

• Connecticut Bird Atlas: Deer Pond Farm adopted Block 60D.
• eBird: two hotspots: Deer Pond Farm, CT Audubon (Fairfield County), Sherman and Deer Pond Farm, CT Audubon (Dutchess Co.)
  
• International Monarch Monitoring Blitz: Deer Pond Farm collects and submits data.
• Monarch Watch: Deer Pond Farm is a certified Monarch Waystation and collects data on Monarchs.
• Nest Watch: Data is collected and submitted for nest boxes in the sanctuary.
• New York Breeding Bird Atlas III: Deer Pond Farm is the principal atlaser for priority block Pawling-CE.
  Contact Cathy Hagadorn, center director, to become a volunteer at Deer Pond Farm to support these citizen science projects.

Throughout Connecticut:

• Habitat-specific Field Surveys and Monitoring Studies

• Citizen Science-based bird surveys such as Christmas Bird Counts, Breeding Bird Surveys, etc.

• Sanctuary-related habitat improvement and monitoring

We encourage you to become a Citizen Scientist and help us contribute to preserving birds and their environments in Connecticut. Please contact our Centers for more information.