Volunteers have
helped Glacier National Park resource managers
build baseline information about the status of
flora and fauna to study population changes. In
a two year study funded by GNPF, Glacier
National Park is first focusing on mountain
goats, pikas and Clark’s Nutcrackers to detect
changes that may occur on these canaries of
global warming. |
Based on the success of the loon project, eighty-six
volunteers received a few hours of training to complete
systematic mountain goat and/or pika surveys and to
document opportunistic sightings of Clark’s Nutcrackers
in 2008.
Glacier National Park’s citizen science program was
established in 2005 to help resource managers address
the need for baseline information and monitoring in a
creative budget conscious way. The most exciting part of
the project is that it engages volunteers to gather
large datasets, use non-invasive monitoring methods,
educate participants about resource issues and foster
stewardship amongst participants. It has created a way
for people to give back to the Park in another way and
those who have volunteered will never forget the
experience.
Last summer Nick and Karen Chickering, GNPF board
members, volunteered for this program and here is what
they had to say……“The value of the Citizen Science
Program to us is the enhancement of our experience in
Glacier National Park, where we intensely watched for
mountain goats and pikas. We had seen these two species
in the Park before, but never knew exactly how to seek
them out. In a one-hour period, due solely to the
precise and controlled methods learned from this
program, we counted 17 mountain goats one day. Yes, you
help the park with its scientific research and
inventories of species, but you also help yourself by
learning how to see and observe these magnificent
creatures. We are looking forward to learning more from
the Citizen Science program and putting our skills to
work again this summer.”
If you would like to volunteer for the 2009 Citizen
Science Program this summer, please contact Jami Belt at
jami_belt@nps.gov or
contact the Glacier National Park Fund at 406-892-3250.
Citizen Science in Glacier’s High
Country: Monitoring Mountain Goats,
Pikas and Nutcrackers
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