Citizen science is a way to contribute to real science studies in the field. Your observations contribute to the knowledge of wildlife from birds to tortoises to panthers. All offer opportunities to learn with others while you help expand what is known about wildlife.

Bird Ops ( Opportunities)

• Project Feeder Watch
  • The event runs from November to April. You survey the birds that visit your location on a flexible schedule. This is a great way to watch your neighborhood birds.
• Nest Watch
  • CornellLab provides great information on how to nest watch like a scientist while understand the data gained from these observations.
• Great Backyard Bird Count
  • How to join
• Christmas Bird Count
• Florida Ornithological Society Bird Surveys
• iNaturalist – is a place to record crowd-sourced (that’s people like me & you) data for scientists to study. Did you see a cool bird on a visit to a national wildlife refuge ? Add your refuge wildlife sighting to the iNaturalist App.
  • iNaturalist is fun to explore, build community and even compete with friends (or students) for most observations.

Wildlife Ops

• Florida Springs Heartland Manatee Sighting Network – this is who I am volunteering for this year. My job requirements include going to a stunningly gorgeous spring every Friday morning. I spend an hour there to watch and report a sighting! So far no Manatees but have seen a beaver family, otter family, deer and a Great Egret. Every visit has been amazing.
• Save the Manatee to report a sighting
• Report Sightings to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
  • Gopher Tortoise Sightings – includes info to report illegal activities in Florida
  • Panther Sightings shows Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission verified sightings caught on camera or tracks recorded.
  • Rare Snake Sightings
  • Horseshoe Crab Sightings
• Florida Horseshoe Crab Watch in these local Florida Counties; Dixie, Levy and Taylor.
• Ray Reporting
• Dolphin Spotter

Conservation Ops

While all the above are considered conservation opportunities, I believe that conservation projects offer an excellent chance to embrace whole ecosystems. Florida proudly boasts more than 80 of them according to the University of IFAS Extension!

• Florida Native Plants – love this!
• Florida Springs Institute – obliviously one of my FAVORITES
• Florida Sea Grant – Florida Microplastics Awareness Project
• MOTE Marine Laboratory Citizen Science has several opportunities learn more to see if this is available in your area.
  • Coral Reef Restoration in the Florida Keys
  • Journey North – tracks migrations and seasons

Unleash Your Curiosity: Discover the Perfect Science Project for Your Desire!

• National Geographic Citizen Science Projects
• Zooniverse – requires a “sense of wonder and a few clicks”
  • Biology, Climate, Nature, Physics
    • Chirp Check – see if AI is getting Bird Songs right – Oh I am going to try this one.
• NOAA Citizen Science Opportunities
• Search USA.gov for Citizen or Community Science Projects
  • Has Virtual (couch & yoga pants) observation opportunities
• SciStarter – cool sight but needs to be updated some links go no where.
  • Squeal on Pigs – this sounds very interesting & yes there is an app for that.