Citizen Science
Citizen-science is a recently adopted focus area of the Institute, which aims to promote wildlife-related projects involving volunteer help from the public. Landowners, land managers, wildlife enthusiasts, school children, and public citizens can all take part in data collection. Currently, there are two specialized research programs engaging citizen scientists as part of their data collection efforts and one program that provides research information on a monthly basis.
◊ The South Texas Wintering Bird Program, spearheaded by Mr. Thomas Langschied, provides a web-based opportunity for south Texas landowners, residents, winter-Texans, and public land managers to participate in research efforts by collecting data on their property. Landowners and managers can submit bird sightings into a web-based data format. The data entries are then compiled so that scientists can monitor migratory bird movements across this highly privatized region.
◊ The Quail Associates Research Program is a network of citizen-scientist ranch owners who have joined in an effort to collect quail-related data each year from their ranch. The information compiled from the participants is then sent to the Institute for analysis and dissemination. By gathering data throughout the region, landowners and land-managers take part in helping provide a better understanding of annual changes in quail productivity across south Texas.
◊ The Deer Associates Program is a eblast program providing members a monthly enewsletter free of charge. Each issue provides an article written by deer experts of the Institute and collaborating organizations along with current events and a student highlight. The eblast membership is open to the public and can be obtained by signing up via the web.
