If you’ve ever found yourself mesmerized by the activity at your bird feeder or wondered if that’s the same caterpillar you saw yesterday, you may have the heart of a Citizen Scientist lurking within you. Read on to find out how two Happy Dancing Turtle staff take their personal interests to the next level through Citizen Science programs. Citizen Science Programs come in all shapes and sizes and on as many topics as there are wonders in nature. Many use hands-on action, like dragging a specialized rake across the floor of a lake to find AIS, while others are more observation-based.
Apps, online reporting, cellphone cameras, and other technology have made collecting and reporting data simpler and more immediate, in some cases sending data directly to researchers. So while the individual activities may seem small, they can have a big impact. Indeed, entire books have been written about the “growing worldwide phenomenon, [that] is invigorated by evolving new technologies that connect people easily and effectively with the scientific community.”
Project Feederwatch Is All-time Favorite
When Driftless Region program specialist Nora Woodworth declares one Citizen Science Program a favorite, that’s saying something. From bees to nests, loons to frogs & toads, to regularly recording finds on iNaturalist, Nora is a nature sleuth!
“My all-time favorite citizen science program is Project Feederwatch from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology,” said Nora. “By the end of a busy summer, I eagerly anticipate the slowdown of nature in the fall. Feederwatch is the perfect November start to my slow season.”
Nora explained all you need to participate in Project Feederwatch is at least one bird feeder that you keep filled, visible from a window of your house. You can make observations about your feeder as much or as little as you want. You begin by recording a few details about a two-day period: if you watched in the morning, afternoon, or both on each day; an estimated amount of time you watched; and the average depth of snow on the ground. Then, you record all the bird species you identified, counting the maximum number of birds you saw at one time.
Giving some real count examples, Nora said: “If I counted two blue jays at my feeder and the next day saw four blue jays at my feeder, I just record the maximum of four blue jays. Most folks can’t be sure the two blue jays seen earlier are not part of the four blue jays, so this avoids double-counting birds. You can watch for as little or as much as you'd like. The flexibility of the schedule is one of the biggest reasons this is my favorite program!”

Nora has found that Feederwatch allows her to intentionally slow down and enjoy morning coffee in front of the large windows, looking out over her backyard. “I have numerous feeders, a bird bath, and a few birdhouses there and I love watching the birds on a cold or snowy winter weekend morning. Snowy mornings are my favorite - everything looks fresh and bright and the birds easily stand out against the blanket of white.”
The change of seasons–namely falling snow–adds a whole other layer of magic to the window watching, Nora reports. “Though it’s not long before I can’t resist the urge to strap on my skis and get a closer look at the winter woodland inhabitants. I record the number of each species visiting while I sip my coffee, listen to a podcast, enjoy a chapter of a book, or snuggle with my pup.
Occasionally, Nora’s witnessed something really exciting: “a sharp-shinned hawk swoops in to snatch one of the 30+ dark-eyed juncos seeking refuge under my porch in the cold of winter; a great-horned owl or barred owl shows up to keep an eye on the squirrels from above; or the resident bully blue jay refuses to let any of the smaller birds get food.”

“I'm honestly a bit embarrassed about how entertaining I find the ‘feeder drama’ in the dead of winter, without much else happening. But now, Feederwatch wants that data, too! You can now submit observations of mammals, sick or dead birds, and behavioral interactions along with your species counts.”
Here is how to learn how to join Project Feederwatch.
Knowledge Base for Caterpillars Count
In Spring 2024, Anna Smith, Northern Lakes Region gardens & grounds assistant joined Caterpillars Count, a Citizen Science Program that focuses on caterpillars as well as the larger category of arthropods. The goal is to get more information on the prevalence and timing of the insects. She recorded data weekly over the spring and summer, according to a detailed method outlined by the program. Specific questions the program hopes to address are outlined in this blog post.
As with any outdoor endeavor, weather played a huge factor. Rain and wind made for less-than-ideal conditions, especially the extensive rain during the first half of the season. “I didn't attempt to gather data on rainy or high wind days because the insects would most likely be hunkered down or blown off tree branches,” said Anna.
This start-up season meant learning a lot about set up of the count area. “A highlight was getting to see what kind of insects were hanging out on the different tree species marked for data collection,” she said. The guidelines for Caterpillar Count result in a specific monitoring area featuring one tree or shrub as a center marker and 4 satellite trees. When gathering data, Anna used a “beat sheet” to be able to see the tiny creatures.
The red tag marks the center survey tree Anna selected.
Anna constructed the beat sheet from easily found materials.
The blue tag marks one of the four satellite trees Anna selected.
Anna discovered that the best time to collect data was “after morning dew evaporates, but before afternoon wind picks up. Although, wet leaves and wind strength can be noted in data collection process.”
By September, leaves on some of the survey trees had begun to brown early because of drought, Anna noted, which marked a good time to wrap up for the season. “I think the project went well despite weather factors. I now have a better idea of what to expect and the tools ready for next season,” she said.
For more information on how to participate visit the Caterpillars Count website. As for planning when you would need to get prepared for the 2025 season, Anna said, “I think the best time to start is as soon as the insects appear in your area, which is mid to late May (depending on snow melt) in the Pine River area.”
To learn more about other HDT staffer citizen science projects, check out Part One,
Part Two, and Part Three of the series. Want to know more about sustainable living topics, events, and happenings? Sign up for Happy Dancing Turtle’s eNewsletter.
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