The goal of citizen science at Yale is to train students, faculty and staff to survey and record biodiversity on campus. Participants gain bird and plant identification skills and develop a better understanding of urban ecology in ‘ordinary’ spaces while assisting scientists in gathering large, continuous datasets. Data collected by citizen scientists will be compared with climate and weather data to understand trends pertaining to migratory bird patterns and plant phenology. Such data may be used to inform land-use planning in the future.
The Yale Office of Sustainability has partnered with the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History to create this innovative new program. The pilot phase introduced potential citizen scientists to bird species on the Yale campus; throughout the spring semester of 2012, 43 different bird species were identified on campus over the course of four walks.
Upcoming Activities 2013
January 23, 12-1: Bird Walk on Science Hill (snow date January 25)
January 29 & 30, 12-12:30: YuBio Database Citizen Science Tutorial, Peabody Auditorium
February 12, 12-1: Tree walk, Peabody Museum to Old Campus (rain date February 15)
April 1: Bird walk, location TBA (rain date April 3)
April 23: Bird/Plant Walk, location TBA (rain date April 24)
Frequently Asked Questions
Resources
Develop your bird identification skills by reviewing this list of commonly found species at Yale, and then visiting the Birds of Connecticut exhibit at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History to test your skills.
Use the YUBio data entry portal to record bird and plant sitings from around the Yale campus.
2012 Pilot Project
During the first year of the program, there were two primary components: citizen science training and expert –led bird walks. Future sessions will incorporate more plant identification, phenology, and will challenge participants to consider why certain plants are selected, and how they contribute to habitat and wildlife food sources.
-
Citizen Science Training
Participants are trained in bird identification methods by experts from the Peabody Museum and practice in the Connecticut Hall of Birds at the Yale Peabody Museum.
Citizen Science Training
Participants are trained in bird identification methods by experts from the Peabody Museum and practice in the Connecticut Hall of Birds at the Yale Peabody Museum.
-
January Bird Walk
Despite snow and rain in January, 17 species were identified on Science Hill. Twenty-eight participants joined this lunch-time walk.
January Bird Walk
Despite snow and rain in January, 17 species were identified on Science Hill. Twenty-eight participants joined this lunch-time walk.
-
Urban Ecology at Yale
Bird walks encourage students to gain a deeper understanding of the biodiversity on the campus they live and learn in during their Yale experience.
Urban Ecology at Yale
Bird walks encourage students to gain a deeper understanding of the biodiversity on the campus they live and learn in during their Yale experience.
-
Making Observations
Citizen scientists choose a route they walk regularly and note the species they observe on a regular basis. This information can help track what bird species are commonly found on the Yale campus as well as those that migrate through.
Making Observations
Citizen scientists choose a route they walk regularly and note the species they observe on a regular basis. This information can help track what bird species are commonly found on the Yale campus as well as those that migrate through.
-
Keeping Watch
Red-tailed hawks are commonly spotted around Yale's campus.
Keeping Watch
Red-tailed hawks are commonly spotted around Yale's campus.
-
February Bird Walk
Twenty species were identified on February's lunch-time walk.
February Bird Walk
Twenty species were identified on February's lunch-time walk.
-
March Bird Walk
Forty-four participants started their lunch-time walk at Beineke Plaza to observe bird species on Old Campus.
March Bird Walk
Forty-four participants started their lunch-time walk at Beineke Plaza to observe bird species on Old Campus.
-
Grove Street Cemetery
A lunch-time walk around this part of campus rewards observers with many bird sightings.
Grove Street Cemetery
A lunch-time walk around this part of campus rewards observers with many bird sightings.
-
April Bird Walk
Participants sight birds and nests around the Yale Medical Campus on an early April morning.
April Bird Walk
Participants sight birds and nests around the Yale Medical Campus on an early April morning.
-
Field Practice
Experts from the Yale Peabody Museum help participants identify birds and their songs.
Field Practice
Experts from the Yale Peabody Museum help participants identify birds and their songs.
-
Moving Forward
The Yale Citizen Science program will expand to include plant phenology, insects and more.
Moving Forward
The Yale Citizen Science program will expand to include plant phenology, insects and more.
Bird Walk Locations
The blue circles on this map show where citizen scientists observed bird species. View a list of all species observed and species observed on each expert-led bird walk.
