Are you looking for something fun and different to do this summer? If so, working on a citizen science project may be your ticket for summer fun. Here’s one excellent opportunity:
Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge and the College of Western Idaho are seeking volunteer citizen scientists to join local monarch conservation efforts in the Treasure valley. Monarch numbers have greatly declined in recent years. A nationwide effort is being implemented to help researchers understand monarch breeding sites and migratory paths. This information is critical to inform conservation and management decisions for these amazing creatures and you can help!
Volunteer citizen scientists will monitor Deer Flat National Refuge milkweed patches and look for signs of monarch butterfly presence. All training will be provided, including how to identify milkweed, monarch eggs, larvae, and adults; what data to collect; and how to submit the data.
Training will take place at the Deer Flat Visitor Center on May 20, 1-3pm. If you absolutely can’t make that training time, but wish to participate contact the volunteer coordinator and we will try to provide an alternate option for you. Monitoring time commitments are flexible / TBA.
Please contact Wendy Irwin at 208-467-9278 or deerflat@fws.gov for more information or to sign up as a citizen science volunteer.
If Butterflies aren’t your thing, check out some of these citizen science projects:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_citizen_science_projects#Active_citizen_science_projects or
