Everyone can contribute to scientific knowledge by collecting data about the natural world, plus you can have fun learning about nature at the same time.
With abundant technology available to us on our mobile phones and computers, the general public is being asked to contribute to collaborative projects with professional scientists. Data collection is vital documentation for research! Below are some popular citizen science programs:
With abundant technology available to us on our mobile phones and computers, the general public is being asked to contribute to collaborative projects with professional scientists. Data collection is vital documentation for research! Below are some popular citizen science programs:
Data Collection
Nurdle Patrol
Simply survey the high tide line on the beach or riverbank for nurdles (plastic pellet pollution from industrial sources) for 10-minutes and submit the total number of nurdles found. A simple task that provides very valuable data!
Hummingbirds at Home
Report on hummingbird visits in your yard or at your feeder. (Website and App)
Project FeederWatch
Over the winter season, survey the birds that visit your bird feeders and submit the data on the website. (Website)
FrogWatch USA
Identify frogs in your neighborhood by ear and report the data from Feb. to Aug. The BR Zoo manages the local chapter and hosts certification training in January each year. (Website)
Firefly Watch
Watch for fireflies in your yard once a week and submit your observations to the Boston Museum of Science. (Website)
iNaturalist
Record your nature observations, meet other nature lovers, and learn about the natural world. Other users can help you identify your observations. Scientists use the observations for research. (Website & App)
NestWatch
Monitor nests in your yard every 3-4 days and contribute observations to Cornell Lab of Ornithology's nationwide monitoring program. Record when nesting occurs, number of eggs laid, how many eggs hatch, and how many hatchlings survive. There is online certification training to get you started. (Website & App)
eBird
You can record your observation checklists from your birding outings on this website hosted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society. This critical data is used for scientific research and conservation all over the world. eBird is also the platform used for special bird observation events, such as the Great Backyard Bird Count. (Website & App)
eButterfly
The eButterfly website is a real-time, online checklist and photo storage program providing a new way for the butterfly community to report, organize and access information about butterflies in North America. (Website)
BioBlitzes
The community takes over a selected park on a specific weekend and documents all of the species we can find. Bugs, birds, plants, mushrooms, mammals, fish - everything! BREC hosts a BioBlitz every spring. Keep an eye out for BioBlitzes at universities and other organizations as well. (iNaturalist)
City Nature Challenge
A new challenge is sweeping the planet - which city can find the most species? Lake Charles and New Orleans are current participants in this challenge which is held in April each year. (iNaturalist)
Bat Colony Monitoring
Do you have a bat colony on your property? LDWF is looking for volunteers to submit data about their colony to help monitor for White Nose Syndrome, a devastating fungal disease among bats. Program flyer (PDF)
Zooniverse
The Zooniverse is the world’s largest and most popular platform for people-powered research. Whenever you have a moment at your computer, you can assist professional researchers by completing simple guided tasks to record data from photographs, scans and other resources. Choose from hundreds of projects in a wide variety of scientific disciplines. A few project examples: Identify wild animals photographed on game cameras; Transcribe hand-written plant and insect tags from museum collections; Identify trees in the Amazon forest canopy from drone photographs; Help find Higgs-Boson particles, baby galaxies, comets, and much, much, much more! (Website & App)
Simply survey the high tide line on the beach or riverbank for nurdles (plastic pellet pollution from industrial sources) for 10-minutes and submit the total number of nurdles found. A simple task that provides very valuable data!
Hummingbirds at Home
Report on hummingbird visits in your yard or at your feeder. (Website and App)
Project FeederWatch
Over the winter season, survey the birds that visit your bird feeders and submit the data on the website. (Website)
FrogWatch USA
Identify frogs in your neighborhood by ear and report the data from Feb. to Aug. The BR Zoo manages the local chapter and hosts certification training in January each year. (Website)
Firefly Watch
Watch for fireflies in your yard once a week and submit your observations to the Boston Museum of Science. (Website)
iNaturalist
Record your nature observations, meet other nature lovers, and learn about the natural world. Other users can help you identify your observations. Scientists use the observations for research. (Website & App)
NestWatch
Monitor nests in your yard every 3-4 days and contribute observations to Cornell Lab of Ornithology's nationwide monitoring program. Record when nesting occurs, number of eggs laid, how many eggs hatch, and how many hatchlings survive. There is online certification training to get you started. (Website & App)
eBird
You can record your observation checklists from your birding outings on this website hosted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society. This critical data is used for scientific research and conservation all over the world. eBird is also the platform used for special bird observation events, such as the Great Backyard Bird Count. (Website & App)
eButterfly
The eButterfly website is a real-time, online checklist and photo storage program providing a new way for the butterfly community to report, organize and access information about butterflies in North America. (Website)
BioBlitzes
The community takes over a selected park on a specific weekend and documents all of the species we can find. Bugs, birds, plants, mushrooms, mammals, fish - everything! BREC hosts a BioBlitz every spring. Keep an eye out for BioBlitzes at universities and other organizations as well. (iNaturalist)
City Nature Challenge
A new challenge is sweeping the planet - which city can find the most species? Lake Charles and New Orleans are current participants in this challenge which is held in April each year. (iNaturalist)
Bat Colony Monitoring
Do you have a bat colony on your property? LDWF is looking for volunteers to submit data about their colony to help monitor for White Nose Syndrome, a devastating fungal disease among bats. Program flyer (PDF)
Zooniverse
The Zooniverse is the world’s largest and most popular platform for people-powered research. Whenever you have a moment at your computer, you can assist professional researchers by completing simple guided tasks to record data from photographs, scans and other resources. Choose from hundreds of projects in a wide variety of scientific disciplines. A few project examples: Identify wild animals photographed on game cameras; Transcribe hand-written plant and insect tags from museum collections; Identify trees in the Amazon forest canopy from drone photographs; Help find Higgs-Boson particles, baby galaxies, comets, and much, much, much more! (Website & App)
Report Sightings
Links to report sightings of species of interest to Louisiana conservation agencies
Swallow-Tailed Kite
Whooping Crane
Whale Shark
Gopher Tortoise
Report found bird bands at reportband.gov.
Eastern Spotted Skunk: Call LDWF at 337-735-8674 or post an observation on iNaturalist in the Eastern Spotted Skunk project.
Report marine animals that are on the beach, entangled or injured (dead or alive)
Whooping Crane
Whale Shark
Gopher Tortoise
Report found bird bands at reportband.gov.
Eastern Spotted Skunk: Call LDWF at 337-735-8674 or post an observation on iNaturalist in the Eastern Spotted Skunk project.
Report marine animals that are on the beach, entangled or injured (dead or alive)