Did you know that there are ways to contribute to wildlife research from your smart phone, tablet, or laptop? Citizen science projects are a way to involve the public in important research that could help biologists learn more about a wide variety of species. There are a huge variety of projects that you could become involved in whether you like to go on nature hikes or observe wildlife from your own backyard. Here are a few projects that you can contribute to right here in Illinois!
Bee Spotter:
There are many species of bees that are at high risk for extinction. As pollinators, bees play a very important role and without them, many ecosystems would be threatened. With your help, scientists can get a better idea of the distribution and population status of many bee species. On the Bee Spotter website, you can report a bee sighting by making a free account and uploading a photo of the bee you spotted! Entomologists will then be able to identify the species and record the location of your finding. The Bee Spotter website also has maps of bee sightings from citizen scientists over the years! To make an account and get buzzing, visit here.
Project Squirrel: Project Squirrel has been recording observations since 1997 and has produced several published research articles. 
This citizen science project was designed to better understand where squirrels populate, what kind of habitats they prefer, and to help scientists study local environments and how they are changing. It also looks for differences in sightings and locations of gray and fox squirrels, two very popular species to spot in Illinois! To become a citizen scientist for Project Squirrel, click here!
eBird: The Cornell Lab of Ornithology manages many different citizen science projects throughout the world. One project that you can get involved with anywhere is eBird. Download the app to record your observations of birds as well as photos and even sound recordings of their calls.
All of the information uploaded by hundreds of thousands of people is available to educators, scientists, and birders. Because of programs such as these, researchers can conduct a variety of projects on many different spatial scales. Information you provide through this program can help to better inform conservation strategies for thousands of species! To read more about this project and download the app click here.
FrogWatch USA: Did you know that hundreds of frog species have declined or even have become extinct in the past decade? These species are both prey and predator and are an extremely important indicator of environmental health. FrogWatch USA is a great program started by the American Association of Zoos and Aquariums. 
You can become a part of this program in your own backyard to provide scientists long term data on frogs and toads in the United States! It is also a great opportunity to learn different frog and toad species and what their calls sounds like. Record data every year from February through August to help the conservation of these incredible animals.
For more information on other Illinois citizen science projects, visit The Nature Conservancy’s Website
This list was compiled by Kathleen Rafferty, Class of 2021
