Citizen Science for CA Naturalists

UC California Naturalist

http://www.inaturalist.org/projects/a%C3%B1o-nuevo-and-surrounds-uc-california-naturalist-project

Contribute to growing citizen-science datasets on the distribution of the plants and animals in Sagehen Creek Basin. Data will help build a species guide and understanding of biodiversity in the watershed.

Northern California

Coastal California from San Luis Obispo to San Franscisco

Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge

http://www.fws.gov/sfbayrefuges/antioch/

Gather information that inform management plan and protection for three endangered species: Lange's Metalmark butterfly, Antioch Dunes evening primrose and Contra Costa wallflower. 

Contra Costa

Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge, along the southern shore of the San Joaquin River

Global Community Monitor

http://gcmonitor.org/section.php?id=259

Through air monitoring, to improve air quality through policy changes in favor of environmental health and justice

Kern

Sites with poor air quality around Arvin, CA

Adventurers & Scientists for Conservation

http://www.adventureandscience.org/pika.html; http://209.20.75.37/projects/asc-pika-project

Help scientists track where pikas persist and where they may be disappearing. Pikas are chirpy relatives of rabbits that live on mountaintops throughout the North American West.

Northern California

Alpine areas in Central & Northern California Sierras

Naturalist Center - California Academy of Sciences

http://www.calacademy.org/science/citizen_science/ants/

Obtain baseline data for ants living in local counties.
Goals include:

• Documenting the ant diversity of the Bay Area
• Mapping the spread of invasive ants, including the problematic Argentine ant
• Creating a permanent collection of ant species for scientific research and teaching
• Allowing the community to experience scientific discovery firsthand

Northern California

Bay Area backyards, hiking trails, school yards - anywhere you can think of

Conservation Lands Network, developed by the Bay Area Open Space Council

http://www.bayarealands.org/take-action/bioatlas.php

As a baseline for monitoring these changes, the Bay Area BioAtlas seeks to build reserve-level Species Guides of where the Bay Area's unique plants and animals persist and where they are absent, as they shift in response to land use and climate change; To coordinate with Calflora's library of 21,000 checklists to ensure these valuable distribution data are available to conservationists. 

Northern California

Pepperwood Preserve and other nature preserves in the Bay Area

Bay Area Early Detection Network

http://baedn.org/

Gain up to date information about invasive plants; Prevent environmental and economic damage caused by these invaders; Educate citizens regarding natural resource stewardship; and dramatically reduce the need for the planning and resources required to control large, established invasive plant populations. 

Northern California

Bay Area - wherever invasive plants are found

Association of Zoos & Aquariums

http://www.aza.org/frogwatch/, http://www.curiodyssey.org/exhibits-and-animals/animal-care/citizen-science

Help conserve amphibians by reporting the calls of local frogs and toads -ongoing analyses of these data have been used to help develop practical strategies for the conservation of these important species. 

All (see 'geographic scope')

Wherever frogs are found

Naturalist Center - California Academy of Sciences

http://www.calacademy.org/science/citizen_science/spider/

Obtain baseline data for the distribution and spread of the newly introduced Zoropsis spinimana spiders. Goals include:

• Documenting the current distribution of Zoropsis spinimana spiders in the Bay Area
• Mapping the spread of these invasive spiders
• Allowing the community to experience scientific discovery firsthand.

Northern California

Bay Area - wherever zoropsis spinimana spiders are found

East Bay Regional Park District

http://www.ebparks.org/Page22.aspx

Alameda

Crab Cove at Crown Memorial State Beach

Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

http://montereybay.noaa.gov/research/bchmon.html

1) obtain baseline information on rates of beach deposition of marine birds and mammals; 2) assess causes of seabird and marine mammal mortality; 3) assist resource management agencies in early detection of unusual rates of natural and anthropogenic mortality; 4) assess abundance of tar balls (oil patches) on beaches; 5) build a network of interacting citizens, scientists, and resource managers; and 6) disseminate information to the resource managers, public, and educational institutions

Northern California

Beaches in and around Monterrey Bay

Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association

http://www.farallones.org/volunteer/beach_watch.htm

• Provide a baseline dataset on the presence of live and beach cast marine organisms;
• Assist Sanctuary management in the early detection of natural and human-caused environmental events;
• Develop a network of volunteer expert surveyors who can respond during an oil spill; and
• Educate the public about the coastal environment and how they can make a difference in protecting their beaches.

Northern California

42 beach segments every two to four weeks from Bodega Head in Sonoma County to Año Nuevo State Reserve on the San Mateo/Santa Cruz county line

Humbolt State University

http://www.humboldt.edu/wildlife/faculty/black/research/humgoose.html

To investigate mechanisms behind the complex social system and ecological relationships that drive the distribution and dynamics of the local jay population. Jays are wonderful focal animals because they are conspicuous, and travel in pairs and family groups, allowing students to practice monitoring skills. 

Humboldt

Near Humbolt State University, from Diamond Drive (north of campus) to Fickle Hill Road (south of campus).

San Bernadino National Forest - USFS

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/sbnf/workingtogether/volunteering/?cid=fsbdev7_007779

Gain information about Bald Eagles and high-use foraging, perching, and day resting areas, fluctuations of numbers, and changes in use areas depending on weather, ice, and lake level conditions.

San Bernardino

Big Bear Lake, Baldwin Lake, Lake Arrowhead, Silverwood Lake, Lake Gregory, and Little Green Valley Lake.

California Urban Streams Alliance - The Stream Team

http://www.thestreamteam.org/nodes/projects/youthteam.htm; http://www.bigchicocreek.org/nodes/projects/streamteam/stream_youth_team.htm

• Provide useful baseline information that can be used to track a variety of potential impacts - such as non-point source pollutants can flow from the land into creeks including sediment, synthetic materials from our roads and automobiles, fertilizers, nutrients, sewage leaks, and animal wastes - that can stress aquatic systems and impair their beneficial functions. 
• Facilitate the ability to track changes over time and help prioritize efforts for identifying sources of pollutants, and appropriate land use changes needed to minimize impacts and protect the ecological health of the Big Chico Creek watershed
• Teach kids robust environmental information gathering techniques and instigate a life-long appreciation for Big Chico Creek
• Link on-going watershed monitoring and restoration efforts with the educational needs of K-12 students

Butte

Big Chico Creek Watershed

BioCurious

http://biocurious.org/

Provide a complete working laboratory and technical library for entrepreneurs to cheaply access equipment, materials, and co-working space; a training center for biotechniques; a meeting place for citizen scientists, hobbyists, activists, and students

Santa Clara

Sunnyvale, CA

The Xerces Society

http://www.xerces.org/bumblebees/

Track the status of five bumble bee species and finding out where current populations are situated; project focuses on Five of bumble bee species (western bumble bee, rusty patched bumble bee,yellowbanded bumble bee and the American bumble bee)

All (see 'geographic scope')

Where bumble bee species of interest are found

Calflora

http://www.calflora.org/

Calflora is structured as a digital library to fulfill the following objectives:

1. to serve as a repository for information on California wild plants in electronic formats from diverse sources, including public agencies, academic institutions, private organizations, and individuals.
2. to provide this information in readily usable, electronic formats for scientific, conservation, and educational purposes.
3. to serve public information needs related to scientific study, land management, environmental analysis, education, and appreciation of California plant life.
4. to coordinate and integrate efforts towards these objectives undertaken by scientists, public agencies, private organizations, and members of the public.

Calflora offers resources for an informed, timely approach to biodiversity protection. Through Calflora, scientists, citizens, and policymakers have quick and easy access to data they need for analyzing species distributions, modeling spread of invasive species, or identifying consequences of habitat loss.  Furthermore, Calflora provides a mechanism for citizens to participate directly in building the information resources they need, and gives all users an opportunity to learn about the beauty and diversity of California plant life.

All (see 'geographic scope')

wherever observations of California flora are made

California King Tides Initiative

http://californiakingtides.org/

To create a rich and diverse archive of photographs that highlight the changes in California’s shoreline communities and ecosystems.

All (see 'geographic scope')

California Coastline

USA National Phenology Network

http://www.usanpn.org/cpp/

Study how living systems are functioning in response to climate variability and, over the long-term, to climate change.
This project is in the pilot phase and is currently developing and testing phenology observation protocols to study resource (e.g. vegetation) response to climate change with engagement of citizen scientists. Approximately 25 plant taxa have been selected statewide for initial monitoring. In addition, associated education and outreach programs and materials are being developed that use phenology as a theme for interpreting resources response to changing climatic conditions. The pilot project is being conducted at 7 National Parks in California. 

All (see 'geographic scope')

7 National Parks: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area; Golden Gate National Recreation Area; Redwood National Park; Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks; Lassen Volcanic National Park; J

Wildlifecrossing.net

http://www.wildlifecrossing.net/california/

Inform policy, management, and financial investment in reducing road-kill with information about where wildlife vehicle collisions occur, what animals are involved, on what kinds of roads are collisions frequent, and other data.

All (see 'geographic scope')

California Roads

Coastal Watershed Council

http://coastal-watershed.org/monitoring/alba/

Evaluate the effectiveness of organic farming practices and wetland restoration in improving habitat and sediment and water quality in the slough, by monitoring changes in sediment, orthophosphate, nitrate and ammonia levels as water enters, moves through, and exits the wetland area of Triple-M Ranch.

Monterey

ALBA's Triple-M Ranch in North Monterey County

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/celebration

Collect information aboutsixteen key species of urban birds. The scientists have created a project that will use data collected from participants in the celebration to study these resident and migratory birds - their numbers, their behavior, their interaction with the urban habitat.

All (see 'geographic scope')

Your backyard or garden

Central Coast Vineyard Team

http://www.vineyardteam.org/projects/index.php

Determine the effectiveness of new practices for improving environmental quality. The following issues are addressed in CCVT demonstrations and research:

• Protecting surface and groundwater quality
• Conserving wildlife habitat
• Minimizing soil erosion
• Reduced risk insect and disease control
• Biological control techniques

Northern California

Central Coast Vineyards

Audubon Society

http://birds.audubon.org/christmas-bird-count; http://www.goldengateaudubon.org/birding-resources/christmas-bird-counts/

This program was originally started as an alternative to a Christmas bird hunt in the 1900’s.  The program is now an international bird census from which the data has been used to document bird population declines and establish conservation measures.

All (see 'geographic scope')

The bird count takes place all over the US, Canada and several other locations in the western hemisphere.

Automatic Position Reporting System as a WX NETwork

http://www.wxqa.com/

1) to collect weather data contributed by citizens; 2) to make these data available for weather services and homeland security; and 3) to provide feedback to the data contributors so that they have the tools to check and improve their data quality.

All (see 'geographic scope')

home - citizen weather station

University of Washington

http://depts.washington.edu/coasst/

Gather baseline data against which any impact—from human or natural origins—can be assessed so that nearshore ecosystems worldwide will be actively known, managed, and protected.

Humboldt

Beaches in Humbolt & Del Norte Counties

Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS)

http://www.cocorahs.org/state.aspx?state=ca

Using low-cost measurement tools, stressing training and education, and utilizing an interactive Web-site, CoCoRaHS aims to provide the highest quality data for natural resource, education and research application

All (see 'geographic scope')

Anywhere in California

PRBO Conservation Science

https://sites.google.com/site/colwatsurv/

All (see 'geographic scope')

San Joaquin Valley and Tulare Basin including the following counties: Stanislaus, w. Tuolumne, Merced, w. Mariposa, Madera, Fresno, Kings, and Tulare

Communities for a Better Environment

http://www.cbecal.org/resources/why-we-research/

Examine the environmental and health harms that result from unaddressed injustices and weaknesses, such as:

• the heavy concentration of polluters in CBE communities;
• our society’s continuing reliance on fossil fuels;
• flaws in our regulatory system.

Northern California

Communities in and around Oakland, Richmond and the Bay Area

Pacific Institue

http://www.pacinst.org/topics/community_strategies/index.php

Build research capacity and conduct participatory research in partnership with California-based organizations

Northern California

Communities in the Bay Area and Central Valley

Contra Costa Watershed Forum

http://cocowaterweb.org/get-involved/monitoring/

The information gathered by volunteers is used for a variety of purposes:

• to assess the current conditions of Contra Costa County streams
• to compare stream health to state water quality standards
• to calculate water quality and biological integrity indices
• to serve as a baseline for comparison in future studies

Contra Costa

Watersheds and creeks in Contra Costa County

San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory

http://www.sfbbo.org/volunteer/opportunities.php

Study dispersal, migration, behavior, social structure, life span, survival rate, reproductive success, and population growth. At the Bird Observatory, we band to study the seasonal and long term population patterns of migratory, wintering and year-round resident birds. Banding allows us to track individuals, which is important in factoring survival, migratory turnover rates, and longevity. Additionally, banding birds allows us to examine individual response to the riparian restoration at the Coyote Creek Field Station.  These data are important for land managers and those designing future riparian restorations to create habitats that can support healthy, vibrant bird populations.

Contra Costa

Coyote Creek Field Station north of Alviso, CA

IBM Research - Almaden

http://creekwatch.researchlabs.ibm.com/

All (see 'geographic scope')

Waterways around California and the world

Don Edwards S.F. Bay National Wildlife Refuge

http://www.fws.gov/desfbay/volunteer.html

Contribute to protection, restoration, education, and management plan efforts for the protected wildlife area.

Alameda

San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Don Edwards SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge

http://www.fws.gov/desfbay/species_inventory.htm

Help scientists track species behavior on our refuge. Volunteer identification might confirm that a poorly studied population of species still persists, or might make a new discovery outside of the known range.

Alameda

Don Edwards San Francisco Bay NWR

National Resource Conservation Service - California

http://www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov/features/volunteers.html

Help protect and conserve the earth's natural resources.

All (see 'geographic scope')

Earth Team work is conducted throughout the state; Work with the CSRC&D covers watersheds in Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Mono, and Tuolumne Counties

Lawrence Hall of Science

http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/ays/index.html

• Develop critical thinking skills through scientific research and exploration within low income communities of color in the cities of Oakland, Richmond, Emeryville, and San Francisco, California.
• Research and curriculum addresses environmental quality - soil, water and air - within the schools and communities where we work and gives young scientists access to information technologies to enhance data collection and understanding of the world around them.

Northern California

Communities in and around the Bay Area

Global Community Monitor.

http://gcmonitor.org/section.php?id=255

Assess exposure to heavy metal pollution present in the homes and bodies of children living near industrial facilities in the West Berkeley and West Oakland area.

Alameda

Berkeley near Pacific Steel Castings & West Oakland near Custom Alloy Scrap Sales

California eBird

http://ebird.org/content/ca/about

eBird's goal is to maximize the utility and accessibility of the vast numbers of bird observations made each year by recreational and professional bird watchers. It is amassing one of the largest and fastest growing biodiversity data resources in existence.

All (see 'geographic scope')

Anywhere in the state you would like to observe birds.

Elkhorn Slough Foundation and Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve

http://www.elkhornslough.org/research/09birdupdate.htm

Obtain data on nest box occupancy (which boxes are occupied, and by which species), phenology (timing of reproductive events), indicators of reproductive success (clutch size, hatching rate, fledging rate) and parasitism (blowflies in nesting material). Monitoring these parameters serves as one way of keeping track of the health of oak woodland communities over time at the Slough.

In addition to tracking patterns over time, this monitoring may also be useful for examining patterns over space.

Monterey

Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve

Elkhorn Slough Foundation and Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve

http://www.elkhornslough.org/volunteer/volunteer_long-term.htm; http://www.elkhornslough.org/research/bird_esnerr.htm

Quantify the diversity (species richness) and abundance of shorebirds and waterfowl using central Reserve wetland habitats. If dramatic changes are detected, we can contact other organizations and reserves along the Pacific coast and attempt to find the cause of the pattern, if it is widespread. If the change is only local, we can seek explanations in terms small-scale events such as alterations to pollution levels or habitat management strategies.

Monterey

Elkhorn Slough

PRBO Conservation Science

http://shorebirdscount.blogspot.com/

Track and coordinate information about shorebird usage of flooded, fallow rice fields in Central California.

Northern California

Yolo Wildlife Area, Cosumnes River Preserve, and other fallow fields in the central valley

Coastal Watershed Council

http://coastal-watershed.org/first-flush/

Sample storm drain runoff during the first significant rainfall of the wet season. During the first rainfall, water washes significant levels of pollution off street surfaces, driveways, and curbs and into storm drains. This concentrated mix of often polluted water flows directly from these storm drains into creeks, rivers and the Monterey Bay.

Santa Cruz

Creeks and run-off sites in the Monterey Bay Watershed (see http://50.16.247.99/cwc-data-portal-ver2/ for First Flush sites)

Reconciliation Ecology Lab

http://www.fresnobirds.org/

This project addresses the impacts of urbanization on the distribution and abundance of birds species in Fresno, California. Urbanization is among the biggest conservation challenges of this century, for cities increasingly dominate the landscape, with ecological effects reaching well beyond their boundaries. Urbanization affects the distribution and abundance of wildlife throughout the world, with birds being conspicuous examples, but our understanding of the underlying processes remains highly inadequate.

Fresno

Within the city of Fresno, CA.

Sierra Streams Institute

http://www.friendsofdeercreek.org/volunteer.html

Conduct thorough assessment of ecological condition of the Deer Creek Watershed using an integrated approach and understanding of how chemical, physical, and biological conditions interact and influence one another. Deer Creek has been impacted by human use and abuse since the days of the Gold Rush.

Nevada

Multiple sites in the Deer Creek Watershed in Nevada County

Friends of Sausal Creek

http://www.sausalcreek.org/volunteer/teams.html#bird

Bird monitoring: to evaluate the impact of the Friends' restoration activities.

Aquatic Insect Montoring: observe and learn about stream fauna within the watershed; watch how the stream is re-colonized with new, or perhaps familiar, insects. 

Water Quality Monitoring: to assess the health of that part of the overall watershed. The project collects high quality reliable baseline data that may be used to identify pollution sources.

Alameda

Sausal Creek and its tributaries

Golden Gate Audubon Society

http://www.goldengateaudubon.org/volunteer/friends-of-the-alameda-wildlife-refuge/

Protect and enhance wildlife at the proposed Alameda National Wildlife Refuge; Build public support for creating the refuge and to ensuring the long-term survival of species that depend upon its habitat, including the endangered California Least Tern and Brown Pelican

Alameda

500+ acres at the former Alameda Naval Air Station

GLOBE

http://globe.gov/science

Scientific questions vary depending on the location, school, and mentoring scientists. Some programs may have purely education and action focus, others collaborate with scientists to gather data that will contribute to professional research.

Current global Science Projects address: 

• Carbon Cycle
• FLEXE
• Seasons & Biomes
• Watershed Dynamics

All (see 'geographic scope')

Schools throughout California

The National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO)

http://www.globeatnight.org/index.html

The GLOBE at Night program is an international citizen-science campaign to raise public awareness of the impact of light pollution.

All (see 'geographic scope')

Anywhere the sky can be seen.

Gray Whales Count

http://www.graywhalescount.org/GWC/The_Count/The_Count.html

Research goals: estimate the number of gray whales and gray-whale calves migrating northbound through our corridor and to share our data to complement similar sampling-studies along the California coast.  

Education goals: teach the process of scientific research to Counters and to give them the opportunity to conduct a meaningful study, to experience marine mammals in their environment, and to share this process and their enthusiasm with publics through outreach and various media, especially the internet.

Santa Barbara

Counter Point on the Coal Oil Point Reserve in Goleta, California,

National Audubon Society & Cornell Ornithology Lab

http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/whycount.html

Create an immense picture of winter birds; The counts can help answer many questions:

• How will this winter's snow and cold temperatures influence bird populations?

• Where are winter finches and other “irruptive” species that appear in large numbers during some years but not others?

• How will the timing of birds’ migrations compare with past years?

• How are bird diseases, such as West Nile virus, affecting birds in different regions?

• What kinds of differences in bird diversity are apparent in cities versus suburban, rural, and natural areas?

• Are any birds undergoing worrisome declines that point to the need for conservation attention?

All (see 'geographic scope')

Backyards around the US

SFSU Department of Biology

http://www.greatsunflower.org

We know that pollinators are declining in certain wild and many agricultural landscapes. However, little is known about urban pollinators. While the loss of these pollinators is important, it is more important to understand what effect these losses have had on pollinator services.

By finding a way to track and value the goods and services provided by natural ecosystems, we will find a future in which conservation is not a luxury but a guiding principle of daily decision-making throughout the world. The data you collect from your sunflower will be a start. It will provide an insight into how our green spaces in the urban, suburban and rural landscapes are connected as well as shedding light on how to help pollinators. What we need are innovative strategies to maximize the benefits of our wild and semi-wild habitat remnants. The Great Sunflower Project is the first step.

urban backyards

Nature in the City

http://natureinthecity.org/gh.php; http://www.sfbutterfly.com/www.sfbutterfly.com/Green_Hairstreak.html

Restoration within an urban setting of a vanishing butterflies historic ecosystem - connect two disjunctive butterfly populations in the Sunset District with street level plantings of host and nectar sources; year-to-year comparison of the amount of vacant lots within a single neighborhood that have been converted back to original upland dune habitat.

Other goals include: 

• Reverse inbreeding of isolated populations, a known cause of local extinction.
• Rally support from the surrounding neighborhood and connect the community to the habitat of this unique and beautiful species.
• Restore fragments of native dune habitat, the natural home of the butt

San Francisco

Sunset District of San Francisco

Greenprint Initiative - Sacramento Tree Foundation

http://www.greenprintmaps.org

Provide a one-stop repository for tree data in the Greenprint region - Sacramento, Yolo, Placer, El Dorado, Sutter, and Yuba Counties - welcoming information from any agency or group and enabling and celebrating citizen participation; work toward building a complete, dynamic picture of the urban forest so that cities can better manage their trees, planners can protect trees, scientists can combat tree pests and diseases, and homeowners can share their tree stories.

Northern California

Greenprint region - Sacramento, Yolo, Placer, El Dorado, Sutter, and Yuba Counties

Pepperdine University

http://grunion.pepperdine.edu

Document human impact (especially beach grooming practices) on grunion. 

Southern California

Beaches in California and Baja where Grunion spawn

Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (GGRO)

http://www.ggro.org/public/volunteer.aspx

to conduct long-term studies of the seasonal movements of birds of prey along the Pacific Coast, particularly over the Marin Headlands, to further the understanding and preservation of raptor populations. 

Hawkwatch: identify and tally 19 species of birds of prey, so that data from different years can be compared.  The count results help GGRO look for trends and patterns in hawk populations over time.

Banding: answer questions about what raptor populations GGRO is tracking in the count studies – what are their geographical ranges?  Recoveries also give us insight into causes of  raptor injuries and deaths.  Banding hawks gives us a rare opportunity to study them in hand, to check its physical health, weight and condition. 

Radiotelemtry: study daily timing of migration, the hawk’s habitat use, and even the human impacts on migration. 

Marin

Marin Headlands and Golden Gate National Recreation Area

The Watershed Project

http://www.thewatershedproject.org/WhatWeDo/HealthyWatersheds.html

Create a legacy of healthy watersheds for future generations

Contra Costa

Watersheds in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties

Humbolt State University

http://www.humboldt.edu/wildlife/faculty/black/research/humgoose.html

Gather data that will be useful to policy makers when addressing socio-political issues dealing with the geese in the Arcata area. There are four initial operational objectives.

• assess habitat preferences and diet in all seasons
• determine habitat characteristics of roosts, nests and brood-rearing sites
• determine energy budget in relation to disturbance (natural and human mediated)
• determine carrying capacity of habitats
• assess response of goose plant-foods to grazing and fertilizing from goose droppings
• determine fate of broods & lifetime reproduction of marked birds
• determine movement of marked individuals throughout range

The HSU waterfowl research group will also address questions dealing with traditional use of sites, mate choice, divorce, pair bond tenacity, extra-pair behavior, adoption and parental care.

Humboldt

Fields, marshes and other habitat in the Arcata area

iNaturalist

http://www.inaturalist.org/

From hikers to hunters, birders to beach-combers, the world is filled with naturalists, and many of us record what we find. What if all those observations could be shared online? You might discover someone who finds beautiful wildflowers at your favorite birding spot, or learn about the birds you see on the way to work. If enough people recorded their observations, it would be like a living record of life on Earth that scientists and land managers could use to monitor changes in biodiversity, and that anyone could use to learn more about nature.

A platform for citizen scientists and projects to upload and share information about observations.

All (see 'geographic scope')

Anywhere

Bug People - The Insect Sciences Museum of California

http://isfba.bugpeople.org/sites/siteFPages.htm

Entomology outreach and publication of the web-based 'Insects of the San Francisco Bay Area field guide' based on insect observations and specimens taken by project collaborators.

Northern California

Workshops and field events will take place in parks and open space throughout the Bay Area. A table is set up every Saturday at the Oakland Rotary Nature Center.

Plate Watch

http://platewatch.nisbase.org/

Engage citizen volunteers in the collection of critical background data on invertebrates in coastal ecosystems, to facilitate the early detection of invasive marine species. Species targeted for monitoring include 8 marine species invasive in California with the potential for transport and significant impacts in more pristine habitats to the north, such as Alaska.

The Adopt-A-Plate program is being established to (a) detect biological
invasions by non-native marine species; (b) measure changes in the distribution and abundance of marine invertebrates more broadly, and (c) measure important water quality parameters.

 

Northern California

Morro Bay, Berkeley, and other sites in coastal California, as well as many sites in Alaska

Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI)

http://www.jellywatch.org/

Develop a better understanding of the ocean through creation of a long-term dataset about the animals and the conditions of the beach.

All (see 'geographic scope')

Beaches throughout California

Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

http://www.nhm.org/site/activities-programs/community-science/spider-survey/how-to-participate

Learn more about how widespread introduced species of spiders have become, and how they have interacted with the native spiders; learn more about how urbanization and the loss of natural habitat has affected populations and distributions of naturally occurring spiders.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles County

Turtle Island Restoration Network

http://seaturtles.org/article.php?id=2032

to work collaboratively with charter vessels, research expeditions, and local yacht clubs to compile, to record and communicate any and all sightings of leatherback sea turtles off the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington.

All (see 'geographic scope')

Ocean waters off the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington

Coastal Watershed Council

http://coastal-watershed.org/monitoring/livestock-land/

Conduct water quality monitoring in three watersheds in Monterey and San Mateo counties between January and December 2012; achieve immediate and lasting water quality improvements by educating livestock owners on Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Northern California

Locations upstream and downstream of areas with livestock facilities in Monterey and San Mateo counties

The Watershed Project

http://www.thewatershedproject.org/WhatWeDo/LivingShoreLine.html

Data that students and teachers collect helps scientists understand how best to restore native oysters to the San Francisco Bay and the critical role these bivalves play in the underwater web of life.

Overall, the Living Shores initiative aims to help people appreciate the rich potential for healthy underwater habitats in the Bay and along its shoreline, and to restore that lost habitat; 

Northern California

San Francisco Bay

PRBO Conservation Science

http://www.prbo.org/cms/449

To answer the question: Where do all the Curlew's go? The goal is to determine how important California's Central Valley is for wintering Long-billed Curlews. The purpose of the survey is to estimate the total number of migrating and wintering curlews in the interior valleys of California, to identify hot spots of occurrence, and learn more about which types of croplands they prefer. The Central Valley, Imperial Valley and Carrizo Plain are the initial foci of our interest.

All (see 'geographic scope')

Central, Carrizo & Imperial Valleys of California

The Department of Entomology at Cornell University

http://www.lostladybug.org/

We're asking you to join us in finding out where all the ladybugs have gone so we can try to prevent more native species from becoming so rare.

All (see 'geographic scope')

Gardens, fields, flower beds anywhere you might find them.

Turtle Island Restoration Network

http://seaturtles.org/article.php?id=2329

Marine Debris Action Teams lead beach cleanups, scientific evaluations of debris density, and take action to save sea turtles by reducing the plastic pollution responsible for harming and killing endangered sea turtles.

Northern California

Coastal sites along the West Coast

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

http://www.serc.si.edu/labs/marine_invasions/MIRL_at_RTC/undaria.aspx

Document and help prevent the spread of Undaria pinnatifida, a quick-growing non-native kelp, also known as Asian kelp, which arrived to Southern California in 2000 and quickly spread north to Monterey. 

Northern California

San Francisco Bay and Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay

Your Wildlife

http://www.yourwildlife.org/projects/missing-scenes-of-nature/

Learn more about the wildlife living in our midst and help identify what scientists have not yet seen or are not yet looking at

All (see 'geographic scope')

Your home

San Diego Audubon Society

http://www.sandiegoaudubon.org/our-work/conservation/important-bird-areas?id=46

Enhance protection and conservation activities around Mission Bay: observe and record the three bird species (stilts, avocets and terns); monitor invasive and native vegetation cover at the South Shores area of Mission Bay and help implement an adaptive management plan to reduce the nearly eight acres of ice plant that is currently dominating the site

San Diego

Sites around Mission Bay, San Diego

University of Minnesota

http://www.mlmp.org/

The overarching goal of the project is to better understand how and why monarch populations vary in time and space, with a focus on monarch distribution and abundance during the breeding season in North America.

All (see 'geographic scope')

Where ever Milkweed can be found.

Morro Coast Audubon

http://morrocoastaudubon.org/shorebird_monitoring.php

Keep track of numbers of shorebirds using Morro Bay and contribute to data on shorebird abundance throughout the pacific flyway. Collecting these data will provide a view of the variability of shorebird numbers seasonally and annually, with the overall goal of tracking long-term trends. 

San Luis Obispo

Morro Bay

Heal the Bay

http://www.healthebay.org/get-involved/volunteer/mpa-watch

Collect unbiased data on coastal and marine resource use, which will provide important information to understand how people are using the newly established marine protected areas (MPAs), and to help inform MPA management.

Los Angeles

Marine Protected Areas in Malibu and Palos Verdes

Otter Project

http://www.otterproject.org/site/pp.asp?c=8pIKIYMIG&b=6065349

1) Foster compliance and inform management decisions for Central Coast MPAs by providing useful information to enforcement and management agencies - monitoring for compliance can ensure that scientific monitoring is reflecting the dynamics of the ecosystem and not persistent human impact;
2) Inform management decisions by providing useful information to enforcement and management agencies, some of which acknowledge feeling overburdened by new regulations.  

MPA Watch will address questions such as: 

• Are certain activities increasing around MPAs (i.e. increased wildlife viewing, diving, etc.)
  

• Are regulations being followed? 
  

• What are the threats and benefits of MPA use?

 

Northern California

Marine Protected Areas in the Central Coast Region - Bean Hollow, north of Año Nuevo in San Mateo County, to Point Buchon SMR, in San Luis Obispo County

National Phenology Network

http://www.usanpn.org/participate/observe

Provide valuable observations that scientists, educators, policy makers, and resource managers are using to understand how plants and animals are responding to climate change and other environmental changes.

All (see 'geographic scope')

Any site that meets the project guidelines (see training section)

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

http://watch.birds.cornell.edu/nest/home/index

Your observations will be added to a continually growing database that is used to monitor population trends, nesting phenology, and the behavior of birds across the country.

All (see 'geographic scope')

Anywhere you can find a nesting pair of birds.

Audubon Canyon Ranch

http://egret.org/volunteer

To protect nesting Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Black-crowned Night Herons and other species; To develop information for scientists, researchers, planners, birding enthusiasts and local residents. 

Northern California

Heron & Egret Habitat in preserved wildlands throughout the North Bay

Kelly Research and Outreach Lab & Geospatial Innovation Facility (GIF) at UC Berkeley:

http://www.oakmapper.org/

Collect and display known and suspected locations of Sudden Oak Death so that scientists can track the spread of the disease.

All (see 'geographic scope')

Project is focused on California, but volunteers can participate wherever SOD is found.

MPA Monitoring Enterprise, a project of the California Ocean Science Trust

http://oceanspaces.org

Brings people together who care about California’s oceans so they can explore and learn about marine life, and how we use and manage our ocean resources;  Connect fishermen, policy-makers, and scientists to find the information needed to contribute an informed voice in decisions; Provide a platform that will add context to available ocean data and encourage constant growth – additional members, new ideas, and new sources of knowledge.

All (see 'geographic scope')

Participants work from personal computers to analyze data from California's Marine Protected Areas

The River Otter Ecology Project

http://www.riverotterecology.org/otter-spotter-citizen-science-project.html

Once we gather hundreds of such observations we will be able to assess all the data and the status and ecology of Bay Area river otters, of which nothing is currently known.  

Northern California

Bay Area waterways where otters are found

PRBO Conservation Science

http://data.prbo.org/apps/pfss/index.php

To learn about species population trends, subsequently which shorebird species are at greatest risk, and which habitats they most depend upon.

This study will help elucidate the importance of San Francisco Bay and Central Valley wetlands as wintering grounds for shorebirds and other waterbirds along the Pacific Flyway. The annual PFSS will help fill existing information gaps and provide guidance to resource managers on how best to conserve shorebird habitats in the face of environmental change, including urbanization, extreme weather and climate variation, agricultural flooding, and wetland restoration and management.

All (see 'geographic scope')

Bay Area and beyond

Pepperwood Preserve

http://app.pepperwoodpreserve.org/pls/apex/f?p=514:20:427182351109801; http://www.inaturalist.org/projects/pepperwood-vital-signs-uc-california-naturalist-project;

Contribute to growing citizen-science datasets on the distribution of the plants and animals of the Pepperwood Preserve; Contribute to the Bay Area BioAtlas, which seeks to build reserve-level species guides of where these plants and animals persist and where they are absent, as a baseline for monitoring changes related related to land use and climate change.

Sonoma

Pepperwood Preserve, between Santa Rosa and Calistoga

Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group

http://www2.ucsc.edu/scpbrg/volunteer.htm

To conduct a census of wintering falcons during December so that we may attempt to annually track this population of peregrine falcons, in comparison to breeding birds; To help keep the youngsters safe upon fledging; To learn more about longevity, nest site tenacity, and juvenile dispersal at a sample of the locations.

The Peregrine Falcon continues to be an important indicator of ecological health and careful monitoring of its population will help Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group better understand our ecosystem.

Northern California

San Francisco Bay nesting sites of peregrine falcons

West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project

http://www.woeip.org/community-based-participatory-research/

The objective of this study is to evaluate the air quality of residential areas in West Oakland. The study will lead to the design of lower-cost sensors and instruments. This initiative provides an opportunity to:

1. engage citizens in air quality monitoring and management practices
2. “fill in the gaps” in state monitoring networks, and
3. use new data sources for scientific research.

Alameda

West Oakland Neighborhoods

UC California Naturalist

http://www.inaturalist.org/projects/pt-lobos-and-surrounds-uc-california-naturalist-project

Contribute to growing citizen-science datasets on the distribution of the plants and animals around Point Lobos State Reserve. Data will help build a species guide and understanding of biodiversity in the watershed.

Monterey

Point Lobos State Reserve and other coastal areas near Monterey, CA

La Purisima Audubon Society

http://www.lapurisimaaudubon.org/PRIDE.html

Survey shorebirds at the Lower Santa Ynez River (LSYR) to assess whether restoring mudflat habitat will increase the abundance, distribution, and diversity of shorebirds utilizing the Lower Santa Ynez River.  The project uses data gathered by volunteers and professional scientists to test the hypothesis that shorebird abundance, distribution and diversity within the LSYR is limited by the amount of available mudflat habitat.

Santa Barbara

Mudflats at the outlet of the Lower Santa Ynez River

National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON)

http://neoninc.org/budburst/index.php

We are a network of people across the United States who monitor plants as the seasons change. We are a national field campaign designed to engage the public in the collection of important ecological data based on the timing of leafing, flowering, and fruiting of plants (plant phenophases). Project BudBurst participants make careful observations of these plant phenophases. The data are being collected in a consistent manner across the country so that scientists can use the data to learn more about the responsiveness of individual plant species to changes in climate locally, regionally, and nationally.

All (see 'geographic scope')

Anywhere there are plants

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw/

Data show which bird species visit feeders at thousands of locations across the continent every winter. The data also indicate how many individuals of each species are seen. This information can be used to measure changes in the winter ranges and abundances of bird species over time.

FeederWatch data tell us where birds are as well as where they are not. This crucial information enables scientists to piece together the most accurate population maps.

The massive amounts of data collected by FeederWatchers across the continent help scientists understand

• long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance
• the timing and extent of winter irruptions of winter finches and other species.
• expansions or contractions in the winter ranges of feeder birds
• the kinds of foods and environmental factors that attract birds
• how disease is spread among birds that visit feeders

All (see 'geographic scope')

Wherever you can set up and observe a bird feeder

Networked Organisms

http://www.projectnoah.org/

To build a tool with which users can explore and document wildlife and a platform to harness the power of citizen scientists everywhere. 

All (see 'geographic scope')

see Project Noah Map & Missions on their website

Project Squirrel

http://www.projectsquirrel.org/

Answer questions about distribution and behavior of squirrels (see "what we've learned" for scientific publications)

All (see 'geographic scope')

Wherever you are

Watsonville Wetlands Watch

http://www.citizen-science.org/www/rdPage.aspx; http://www.watsonvillewetlandswatch.org/citizen_science.htm

To collect and record environmental data over the long-term to monitor the biodiversity and overall health of the Watsonville wetlands. The overarching goal of Project Tierra is to provide ongoing data regarding water quality, plant populations and bird populations to the scientific community that will inform wetland conservation and land management decisions in the Pajaro Valley. Project Tierra is especially interested in using this data to evaluate the success of Watsonville Wetlands Watch restoration projects and guide the adaptive management of these lands.

Santa Cruz

Watsonville Sloughs and surrounding upland habitats

California Native Plant Society

http://www.cnps.org/cnps/rareplants/treasurehunt/

Gather up-to-date information on many of our state’s rare plants, while engaging chapter members and other volunteers in rare plant conservation

All (see 'geographic scope')

Trips occur all over California.

Save the Redwoods League

http://rcci.savetheredwoods.org/action/redwoodwatch.shtml

Understand where redwoods grow well today in order to better predict how climate change will impact the redwood forest and where the redwood forests of tomorrow will thrive.

All (see 'geographic scope')

Anywhere you find a Redwood - park, backyard, botanical garden, etc.

Reef Check

http://www.reefcheck.org/rcca/rcca_home.php; http://www.reefcheck.org/rcca/

Survey nearshore reefs providing data on the status of key indicator species - assess the relative abundance and size distribution of target species and how these parameters are changing over time. This will permit the evaluation of population and community attributes at sites inside and outside of existing and proposed Marine Protected Areas and will provide insight into how different sites respond to newly imposed management measures.

All (see 'geographic scope')

Reefs along California Coast

REEF

http://www.reef.org/programs/invertebrate

to collect and report information on selected invertebrate and algae species along the West Coast of the US and Canada - invertebrates and algae can serve as valuable indicators of the health and status of local environments.

All (see 'geographic scope')

Coastal California

Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF)

http://reef.org/programs/volunteersurvey

Collect and report information on marine fish populations as well as selected invertebrate and algae species along the West Coast of the US and Canada. The data are collected using a fun and easy standardized method, and are housed in a publicly-accessible database on REEF's Website. These data are used by a variety of resource agencies and researchers. 

All (see 'geographic scope')

Coastal California

Otter Records Research Group, Department of Wildlife, Humboldt State University

http://www.humboldt.edu/wildlife/faculty/black/research/otters.html

Describe the distribution and demography of otters on the coasts, wetlands and watersheds in Humboldt and Del Norte counties. The river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a key bio-indicator of the health of our environment as they sit at the top of this water-based food chain. Initial scientific goals are to:

• Assess spatial and temporal variation in otter distribution
• Assess spatial and temporal variation in pup production
• Conduct observational studies on otter foraging
• Conduct diet assessments
• Assess home range and site faithfulness of individuals

Humboldt

Coasts, wetlands and watersheds of Humboldt and Del Norte counties

LiMPETS (Long-term Monitoring Program and Experiential Training for Students)

http://limpetsmonitoring.org/rocky_intertidal.php

Collect baseline data on intertidal zone condition in order to follow changes over time and better understand impacts of  human activities and climate change; provide students with the opportunity to experience the scientific process firsthand; increase awareness and stewardship of National Marine Sanctuaries.

Northern California

Multiple sites along the Northern California coast

Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand

http://foxsurvey.ucdavis.edu/

Determine the current distribution and status of the Sacramento Valley red fox in the Sacramento Valley. The study entails three parts: (1) seeking sightings of red foxes or dens from residents of the Sacramento Valley, (2) collecting road-killed specimens for genetic, reproductive, age, and health indexes, and (3) collection of feces and hair from around dens for genetic material.

The project also addresses (1) how effective public input was on locating the foxes and (2) how the website can be improved for future conservation efforts.

Northern California

Sacramento Valley

UC California Naturalist

http://www.inaturalist.org/projects/sagehen-creek-basin-uc-california-naturalist-project

Contribute to growing citizen-science datasets on the distribution of the plants and animals in Sagehen Creek Basin. Data will help build a species guide and understanding of biodiversity in the watershed.

Nevada

Sagehen Creek Basin, near Truckee

LiMPETS (Long-term Monitoring Program and Experiential Training for Students)

http://limpetsmonitoring.org/sandy_beach.php

Monitor the abundance and distribution of the Mole crab - one of the most important herbivores on the beach, and a vital link in the sandy beach food web. Significant changes in mole crab populations can be an indicator of a larger problem in the ecosystem.

All (see 'geographic scope')

Along the coastal sandy beachs

Mendocino Coast Audubon Society

http://www.mendocinocoastaudubon.org/mcas_cons.html

Find facts and contribute to re-search connected with sharp declines in coastal birds.

Mendocino

Ten Mile Beach, Virgin Creek Beach and Glass Beach in Mendocino County

Sailing Education Adventures

http://www.sfsailing.org/youth-sailing-san-francisco/sea-explorers-citizen-science-sailing-marine-biology

Gain knowledge about plankton's role in the oceans

Marin

San Francisco Bay

San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory

http://www.sfbbo.org/volunteer/opportunities.php

To document population trends, inform resource management decisions, and contribute to other projects including the "Annotated Atlas and Implications for the Conservation of Heron and Egret Nesting Colonies in the San Francisco Bay Area", a collaboration between SFBBO and Audubon Canyon Ranch. The Colonial Waterbird Monitoring Project also records data on timing of nesting and evidence of predation.

Contra Costa

Alviso, Mallard (Artesian) and Guadalupe Sloughs, and restoration areas in the South Bay

Turtle Island Restoration Network

http://www.inaturalist.org/projects/shark-watch

to learn about local sharks, skates and rays, their distribution and range along the California Coastline (and the world too!) and to quantify recreational and commercial fishing

All (see 'geographic scope')

Waters off the coast of California

Audubon Canyon Ranch

http://egret.org/volunteer

To conduct a census of shorebirds and waterbirds on Tomales Bay.

Marin

Tomales Bay

Richardson Bay Audubon, Center & Sanctuary

http://www.tiburonaudubon.org/volunteer.html

Promote high quality conservation science in Richardson Bay, dedicated to the conservation and restoration of functioning ecosystems that will benefit species ranging from birds that utilize the bay as a food source to benthic marine species and habitats that play a major role in ecosystem health.

Marin

Richardson Bay Center & Sanctuary in southern Marin County

Coastal Watershed Council

http://coastal-watershed.org/monitoring/snapshot-day/

Provide a one-day “Snapshot” of the health of the rivers and streams that flow into the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS).

Santa Cruz

Rivers and streams throughout Santa Cruz County

Tahoe-Truckee Clean Water team

http://snapshotday.org/details/; http://www.tiims.org/Citizens-Gateway/Citizens-Monitoring.aspx

1. To promote environmental education and stewardship
2. To collect valuable water quality information about Lake Tahoe and its watershed

Tulare

UC Berkeley Forest Pathology Lab

http://nature.berkeley.edu/garbelotto/english/sodblitz.php

SOD-blitzes inform and educate the community about Sudden Oak Death, get locals involved in detecting the disease, and produce detailed local maps of disease distribution. The map can then be used to identify those areas where the infestation may be mild enough to justify proactive management.Sudden Oak Death (SOD), a serious exotic disease, is threatening the survival of tanoak and several oak species in California. Researchers have discovered that the pathogen that causes SOD spreads most often on infected California bay laurel leaves. Some management options are available (sanitation, chemical preventative treatments, bay removal), but they are effective only if implemented before oaks and tanoaks are infected. Timely detection of the disease on bay laurel leaves is key for a successful proactive attempt to slow down the SOD epidemic.  

Northern California

Areas where SOD is currently at a low or intermediate level?

Mendocino High School

http://mendocinohighschool.blogspot.com/2009/01/what-is-sonar.html

• Foster student stewardship of natural resources
• Collaboration among students, teachers, community members and practicing scientists
• Maintenance of reliable and high quality databases
• Provide job shadowing and career awareness in Natural Resource management
• Provide training and equipment for Natural Resource monitoring

Mendocino

Big River watershed

Turtle Island Restoration Network

http://www.spawnusa.org/pages/page-52

Assess the health of fish populations in San Geronimo Valley and protect coho salmon and steelhead trout populations in Lagunitas Watershed

Marin

San Geronimo Valley streams: Arroyo and Larsen Creeks and 10 tributaries

Heal the Bay

http://www.healthebay.org/get-involved/volunteer/stream-team#streamteam

Determine where much of the pollution in Malibu creek is coming from, how development has impacted the creek, and where some of the most urgent pollution problems are.

Los Angeles

Malibu Creek Watershed

Sunol-Ohlone Regional Wilderness

Help with the long-term monitoring and management of this
restored marshland

Alameda

Sunol-Ohlone Wilderness

Surfrider - Santa Cruz Chapter

http://www.surfridersantacruz.org/current-projects/water-testing/

Assess safety of beaches and ocean water

Santa Cruz

Beaches in and around Santa Cruz and the central Coast

Chabot Space & Science Center

http://www.chabotspace.org/c3-citizen-science.htm

Alameda

Redwood Regional Park and Joaquin Miller Park

California Urban Streams Alliance - The Stream Team

http://www.thestreamteam.org/nodes/volunteer/; http://www.thestreamteam.org/nodes/projects/monitoring.htm; http://www.bigchicocreek.org/nodes/projects/streamteam/index.htm

• Develop and implement a watershed scale volunteer monitoring program,  documenting long-term trends in watershed condition that cumulatively result from restoration activities, land management changes, and natural processes.
• Involve student and community volunteers in monitoring efforts to encourage stewardship and foster an understanding of the complexities of natural resource protection.
• Build on prior monitoring efforts to facilitate data sharing and improve data analysis.

Butte

Volunteers meet at the Five Mile Recreation Area near Chico, CA

East Bay Regional Park District

go to http://www.ebparks.org/search and search for "thursday birding" to download PDF

Document the variety and numbers of an array of birds of prey: hawks, falcons, eagles

Contra Costa

Parks and trails in the East Bay Regional Park District

Traverse Creek Stewardship

http://www.traversecreek.org/

Establish baseline data for water quality conditions in our watershed, to create educational opportunities, to increase stewardship awareness, and to determine if our watershed is healthy

El Dorado

Traverse Creek

5 Gyres

http://5gyres.org/get_involved/travel_trawl

Understand if plastic pollution exists in the 5 gyres

Northern California

North Pacific Gyre (off the coast of California)

Coastal Watershed Council

http://coastal-watershed.org/education/watershed-ed-outreach/

Motivate them to influence their families about the proper use of fertilizers, cleansers, oil, and other household chemicals.

Santa Cruz

San Lorenzo and Pajaro River Watersheds

Tri-County Watchdogs

http://gcmonitor.org/article.php?list=type&type=184

Support community air monitoring in the TriCountry and Southern Kern area

Kern

TriCountry and Southern Kern area

Morro Coast Audubon Society

http://morrocoastaudubon.org/tcbb.php

Identify and keep track of the location, status, and changes of Tricolored Blackbirds. This information is critical for understanding how things are changing and making sure that colonies that can be enhanced or protected are identified.

San Luis Obispo

Tricolored Blackbird habitat in SLO county

UC Davis Information Center for the Environment (ICE)

http://tricolor.ice.ucdavis.edu/content/online-help

Monitor trends in the distribution and abundance of tricolored blackbirds. The statewide survey provides current, reliable information on the numbers and distribution of tricolored blackbirds throughout California and a means to document trends in the population over time. The survey complements more intensive field efforts that provide insights into the factors causing observed population increases or declines.

All (see 'geographic scope')

Tricolor blackbird colony sites through California

Marin Municipal Water District

http://marinwater.org/controller?action=menuclick&id=584

Protect the vulnerable Western Pond Turtle and collect valuable data on native and non-native turtles to direct the management of these species.

Marin

Phoenix, Lagunitas and Alpine Lakes in the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed

ESA - Seeds

http://www.inaturalist.org/projects/uc-davis-seeds-bioblitz

Draw attention to the biodiversity of plants, and animals that live in Putah Creek Reserve. 

Yolo

Putah Creek

AntWeb - California Academy of Science

http://www.antweb.org/antcollect.jsp

Record data that will help researchers advance our understanding of biodiversity and our planet. Ants are incredible, especially because they act as a special "keystone" species that can indicate just how healthy and diverse all the plants and animals are. 

All (see 'geographic scope')

Anywhere you see an ant

Urban Forest Map

http://www.urbanforestmap.org/

Map every tree in San Francisco. We'll calculate the environmental benefits the trees are providing -- how many gallons of stormwater they are helping to filter, how many pounds of air pollutants they are capturing, how many kilowatt-hours of energy they are conserving, and how many tons of carbon dioxide they are removing from the atmosphere. The information volunteers gather will help urban foresters and city planners to better manage trees in specific areas, track and combat tree pests and diseases, and plan future tree plantings. Climatologists can use it to better understand the effects of urban forests on climates, and students and citizen scientists can use it to learn about the role trees play in the urban ecosystem.

San Francisco

San Francisco

Coastal Watershed Council

http://coastal-watershed.org/urban-watch/

Answer questions about what kinds of urban runoff pollution are entering our storm drains, creeks and streams, and the Monterey Bay during the dry weather season (June – September). See http://coastal-watershed.org/what-do-we-monitor/ for description of water quality measures.

Santa Cruz

Creeks and run-off sites near Capitola, CA

Richardson Bay Audubon, Center & Sanctuary

http://www.tiburonaudubon.org/volunteer.html

Promote high quality conservation science in Richardson Bay, dedicated to the conservation and restoration of functioning ecosystems that will benefit species ranging from birds that utilize the bay as a food source to benthic marine species and habitats that play a major role in ecosystem health.

Marin

Richardson Bay Center & Sanctuary in southern Marin County

Audubon Canyon Ranch

http://egret.org/volunteer

To discover weeds before they become well-established and thereby protect Audubon Canyon Ranch’s unique natural resources; To deepen volunteer understanding of the natural world. 

Marin

Martin Griffin Preserve near Stinson Beach

Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy

http://www.parksconservancy.org/get-involved/volunteer/drop-in-programs/weed-watchers.html

Discover weeds before they become well-established to reduce damage to ecosystem integrity, prevent the loss of habitat for rare plants and animals, and prevent costly natural resource management. 

Northern California

Golden Gate National Parks throughout San Mateo, San Francisco, and Marin counties.

Marin Municipal Water District

http://marinwater.org/controller?action=menuclick&id=585

Survey trails and roadsides for new weed populations, discovering invasive plants before they become well established. Data collected from vegetation monitoring informs the resource management and conservation activities on the watershed.

Marin

Trails around Mt. Tam

Global Community Monitor

http://gcmonitor.org/article.php?list=type&type=99

Document industrial pollution and associated human health exposures and risks and advocate land use and other policy reform at the city and regional level. Currently, we are working with community members to create a buffer zone between families and polluting industries by relocating metal recyclers to the abandoned Oakland Army base.

Alameda

West Oakland

Xerces Society

http://www.xerces.org/western-monarch-thanksgiving-count/;

Census Western Monarch colonies at a number of locations along the California coast and help address questions about natal grounds for the migratory generation in the west and other factors relevant to monarch butterfly migration

All (see 'geographic scope')

Western Monarch wintering sites along the California Coast

http://whale.scientificamerican.com/

http://whale.scientificamerican.com/

Learn more about why and when whales make specific calls in order to properly understand the implications of these responses, we need to know 

The dataset generated by this project will allow us to address interesting questions, such as:

• How well do different judgements of volunteers agree, and how well can we categorize calls of vocal species such as pilot whales?
• How large is the call repertoire of pilot whales? (is size repertoire sign of intelligence?)
• Do the long and short finned pilot whales have different call repertoires (or ‘dialects’?)

All (see 'geographic scope')

Your home

EarthWatch Institute

http://www.earthwatch.org/expedition

Examine how the human impacts, such as shipping lanes and pollution are affecting marine mammal populations along the coast.

Orange

Waters between the Los Angeles area and Santa Catalina Island

Friends of Five Creeks

http://www.fivecreeks.org/citizen_science/

Build up knowledge that will help in managing the area, and contribute a worldwide database on biodiversity

• Learn more about how animals use these urban oasis. 
• Identify and map native plants and plant communities that should be protected and encouraged, 
• Identify and map invasives that should be controlled or eradicated -- especially to avoid wildfire. 

Contra Costa

El Cerrito & Albany Hills

What's Invasive

http://whatsinvasive.com/

Locate invasive species by making geo-tagged observations and taking photos to alert us of the spread of habitat-destroying invasive plants and animals

All (see 'geographic scope')

Parks throughout California and the country, with a particular focus on Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Cornell Lab of Ornithology

http://content.yardmap.org/

All (see 'geographic scope')

your backyard

Richardson Bay Audubon

http://www.tiburonaudubon.org/edu-youth-cbc.php

Marin

Marsh, bay, and land areas surrounding the Pickleweed Community Center and Canal District of San Rafael

South Yuba River Citizens League

http://yubariver.org/river-monitoring/

Monitor and assess water quality conditions in the Yuba River to contribute to the protection and restoration of waterways for healthy wildlife, safe recreation, and reliable water supplies.

Nevada

Designated sites along the Yuba River in Yuba and Nevada Counties

San Francisco State University Department of Biology

www.zombeewatch.org

1. To determine where in North America the Zombie Fly Apocephalus borealis is parasitizing honey bees.
2. To determine how often honey bees leave their hives at night, even if they are not parasitized by the Zombie Fly.
3. To engage citizen scientists in making a significant contribution to knowledge about honey bees and to become better observers of nature.

All (see 'geographic scope')

Wherever honey bees are found - parasitized bees have been found in Northern California and South Dakota