2022 Projects & Programs
We are looking for eager community volunteers to help monitor conservation efforts at the Center! Below is our list of 2022 Citizen Science projects. See how you can participate in monitoring in the field, data collection, and data entry. Whether you are a curious lover of the outdoors or a scientist by trade – there is something for everyone! Projects involve regular data collection throughout a season, while Public Programs are a singular family or adult program with a Citizen Science component. Upcoming Citizen Science trainings and programs can be found on our calendar using the “Citizen Science” filter.
If you are interested in a particular project or program, please reach out to the staff contact or Citizen Science Coordinator, Emily Leonard (ELeonard@schlitzaudubon.org).
Birds
Cavity-Nesting Songbird Monitoring
Volunteers monitor nine boxes weekly to track Eastern Bluebird and competing cavity-nesting species, including Tree Swallows.
Activities Involved: Hiking, data entry
When: April – August
Volunteer Commitment: Volunteers not needed at this time.
Age Requirements: Adult
Staff Contact: Emily Leonard | ELeonard@schlitzaudubon.org
Daily Bird Sightings
Bird species seen daily by birders are recorded* on the bird board located in the Great Hall. Volunteers load this data into the national eBird database monthly.
Activities Involved: Hiking
When: Daily, all year
Volunteer Commitment: Whenever you bird at Schlitz Audubon!
*Please email Emily Leonard with rare sightings.
Volunteer Age Requirements: 14 and older
Staff Contact: Emily Leonard | ELeonard@schlitzaudubon.org
Bird Point Counts
Counting birds at the same points year after year allows land managers to track bird trends over time. Point counts entail recording all birds seen and heard from select points in a five-minute period.
Activities Involved: Hiking, data entry
When: Six weeks, last week of April – first week in July.
Volunteer Commitment: Volunteers not needed at this time.
Volunteer Age Requirements: Adult
Staff Contact: Emily Leonard | ELeonard@schlitzaudubon.org
Project Feeder Watch
Volunteers watch feeders from inside our Great Hall. Our observations, submitted to Cornell University, help us understand the distribution and abundance of feeder birds over time.
Activities Involved: Birdwatching in Great Hall, data entry
When: November – April
Volunteer Commitment: Volunteers welcome
Volunteer Age Requirements: Adult
Staff Contact: Emily Leonard | ELeonard@schlitzaudubon.org
West Meadows Weekly Bird Survey
Participants walk a one-mile route to survey for birds seen and heard once a week
Activities Involved: Hiking, data entry
When: April 15 – October 15, each Wednesday at 7:00am
Volunteer Commitment: Volunteers not needed at this time.
Volunteer Age Requirements: Adult
Staff Contact: Emily Leonard | ELeonard@schlitzaudubon.org
Insects
Firefly Monitoring
Help researchers learn more about our firefly populations, distribution, and the environmental factors which influence firefly populations.
Activities Involved: Hiking
When: Public program in July | Date TBD
Staff Contact: Emily Leonard | ELeonard@schlitzaudubon.org
Bumble Bee Monitoring
Help researchers learn more about our bumble bee populations: which species are on our property and where to find them. Participate in the Wisconsin Bumble Bee Brigade with Schlitz Audubon.
Activities Involved: Hiking
When: June – September
Volunteer Commitment: Multiple surveys
Volunteer Age Requirements: Youth ages 8-15 must be accompanied by an adult.
Staff Contact: Emily Leonard | ELeonard@schlitzaudubon.org
Monarch Larval Monitoring
Larval stage monarchs depend on milkweed. Small teams of monitors look specifically at milkweed abundance, milkweed diversity, monarch larval density, and monarch survival rates at the Center. Data is entered into a national database to increase knowledge of monarch lifecycles in the wild, as well as milkweed diversity and abundance.
Activities Involved: Hiking, data entry
When: Weekly, late May – late August
Volunteer Commitment: Volunteers not needed at this time
Volunteer Age Requirements: Youth ages 8-15 must be accompanied by an adult.
Staff Contact: Emily Leonard | ELeonard@schlitzaudubon.org
Monarch Tagging
Participants learn about monarch butterflies and help collect data on their seasonal migration across North America. Using butterfly nets and specially designed wing tags from Monarch Watch, Schlitz Audubon helps researchers understand migration patterns and track monarchs throughout the year.
Activities Involved: Hiking, catching butterflies, data collection, tagging
When: Public programs in September | Dates TBD
Age Requirements: Youth ages 4-15 must be accompanied by an adult
Staff Contact: Emily Leonard | ELeonard@schlitzaudubon.org
Mammals
Acoustic Bat Monitoring
Staff members use an Echo Meter Touch device to listen for bat echolocation calls of bats to see how many species are on the property.
Activities Involved: Hiking
When: Adult Public Program | Thursday, June 23, 2022 | Registration required
Age Requirements: 16 and older
Staff Contact: Cassie Rincon | crincon@schlitzaudubon.org
Snapshot wisconsin
Volunteers classify photos from our trail camera. We send the resulting data to the Wisconsin DNR, which hosts Snapshot Wisconsin and uses trailcam photos to help inform wildlife management practices.
Activities Involved: Data entry, animal identification
When: Monthly, all year
Volunteer Commitment: Volunteers not needed at this time
Volunteer Age Requirements: 16 and older
Staff Contact: Jacob Kempinski | JKempinski@schlitzaudubon.org
Reptiles & Amphibians
Frogwatch USA
With FrogWatch USA, monitor frog calls during the breeding season to determine the size and distribution of populations.
Activities Involved: Hiking, Data entry
When: Optional online training is offered in March. Weekly monitoring takes place after sunset, April through August.
Volunteer Commitment: A training session with the Racine Zoo is recommended, but training can be provided at the time of the surveys. Potential volunteers are welcome to participate in a survey to decide if it is a good fit for them. Surveys take approximately 2 hours. Volunteers must be able to hike 2 miles over varying terrain in the dark, using a headlamp or flashlight.
Volunteer Age Requirements: Adult
Staff Contact: Michelle Allison | mallison@schlitzaudubon.org
TURTLE MONITORING
Volunteers count turtles basking in the spring sun at four ponds. This tracks the abundance and locations of turtle species.
Activities Involved: Hiking
When: April and May
Volunteer Commitment Volunteers not needed at this time
Volunteer Age Requirements: Adult
Staff Contact: Drew Shuster | dshuster@schlitzaudubon.org
Wetlands
WETLAND MONITORING: AQUATIC FUNNEL TRAP SURVEY
To observe and record amphibian and macroinvertebrate species utilizing the ponds on our property and determine if and when they are breeding.
Activities Involved: Hiking, wading in ponds, data entry
When: March – May
Volunteer Commitment: Attend the Wetland Monitoring Orientation and a training session in late February. Join a team and choose a pond where you will conduct three 5-day wildlife surveys. Each team member should be available at least two days out of each survey session.
Volunteer Age Requirements: Youth 8-15 must be accompanied by an adult
Staff Contact: Emily Leonard| ELeonard@schlitzaudubon.org
MACROINVERTEBRATE SCOOP SAMPLE SURVEY
To determine which macroinvertebrate species (aquatic insects and crayfish) are living in each of our ponds.
Activities Involved: Hiking, Data entry
When: March – May
Volunteer Commitment: Attend the Wetland Monitoring Orientation in late February. Volunteers should complete three Macroinvertebrate Scoop Sample Surveys in at least one pond throughout the monitoring season.
Volunteer Age Requirements: Youth 8-15 must be accompanied by an adult.
Staff Contact: Emily Leonard| ELeonard@schlitzaudubon.org
WETLAND MONITORING: VISUAL ENCOUNTER EGG MASS SURVEY
To determine which species of amphibians are breeding in our ponds by looking for egg masses.
Activities Involved: Hiking, Wading in ponds, Data entry
When: March – May
Volunteer Commitment: Attend the Wetland Monitoring Orientation in late February, conduct two or three surveys (up to 30 minutes each) in at least one pond throughout the monitoring season.
Volunteer Age Requirements: Youth ages 8-15 must be accompanied by an adult.
Staff Contact: Emily Leonard| ELeonard@schlitzaudubon.org
VISUAL ENCOUNTER TERRESTRIAL SURVEY
Search for migrating salamanders and potentially breeding frogs and crayfish near vernal ponds.
Activities Involved: Hiking, Data entry
When: March – May
Volunteer Commitment: Attend the Wetland Monitoring Orientation in late February, conduct two or three surveys (up to 30 minutes each) for at least one pond throughout the monitoring season.
Volunteer Age Requirements: Youth 8-15 must be accompanied by an adult.
Staff Contact: Emily Leonard| ELeonard@schlitzaudubon.org
River Monitoring
Mussel and River Monitoring
Participants learn how to monitor the health of local water bodies and the mussel species living within them. Assist in monitoring the mussel species at our Milwaukee River property and participate in Adopt-A-River cleanup.
Activities Involved: Canoeing or kayaking, wading in water, data entry
When: Public Programs | Dates TBD
Commitment: Register for related educational programming and field trips to assist with data collection
Age Requirements: Adult
Staff Contact: Aubrey Fulsaas| afulsaas@schlitzaudubon.org
Plants
Tree Inventory
Inventory and map mature trees at the Center by species with the use of a sub-meter GPS unit and an application called ArcCollector.
Activities Involved Hiking, Data entry
When: June 15 – October 15
Volunteer Commitment: Volunteers regularly meet Wednesday 9:00am – 12:00pm and occasionally on weekends. Two-hour training is needed to go over maps and methods. Strong tree identification and organization skills are required.
Volunteer Age Requirements: 16 and older
Staff Contact: Drew Shuster | dshuster@schlitzauduobn.org