Become a community scientist
Community science (also called citizen science) is a joined effort between volunteers (you) and scientists (us) to study the natural world. Learn about some of our current projects and email [email protected] to get involved:
Breeding Season Surveys (BSS)
As part of our year-round bird monitoring program, we train community scientists to conduct breeding season point count surveys at 12 sites around Salt Lake. These surveys help inform bird-friendly restoration, management, and land conservation. We welcome birders of any level, and we will teach participants bird identification by sight and sound, data recording skills, and everything else they need to know to conduct bird surveys. Our two month training program begins at the end of February and includes an initial training and pre-assessment test, weekly online bird ID trainings and field visits, and a post-assessment. Volunteers conduct breeding season surveys in the mornings during April – July.
Non-breeding Season Surveys (NBS)
Our community science team monitors birds at 13 sites in the Salt Lake valley to help inform bird-friendly management, restoration, and habitat conservation. During the non-breeding season (August through February), we visit each site once per month to do a non-breeding survey bird walk. A staff person leads a small group of volunteers on a walking survey through our site, identifying and counting birds. Generally, these surveys last approximately 2-5 hours, and you can choose how often you attend. Volunteers interested in joining this project can sign up to join the group online. The day before the survey, we will send an email with directions to the site, and recommendations for what to wear/bring.
Alta Nest Box Project
As part of this project to gather information about high-elevation cavity-nesting birds, volunteers will join a Tracy Aviary staff member or community science nest box leader to do nest box monitoring surveys at our 40+ boxes at Alta. During March – July, we snowshoe or hike out to nest box locations as a group, conduct a 5-minute behavioral observation, then check the contents of each box with a camera mounted on a painter pole. We can lend out snowshoes and binoculars on a first-come, first-served basis.
Owl Walk Surveys
Tracy Aviary’s community science team studies birds in 12 parks and natural areas around Salt Lake. Because owls are elusive and nocturnal, they are difficult to survey using our traditional bird survey methods. Instead, we lead groups of volunteers on nighttime surveys where we walk through the site and stop periodically to play owl calls and listen for any responses by resident owls. These surveys help us learn more about how owls use habitat in urban areas and along the Jordan River. Owl walks take place weekly from mid-February to May. This is a family friendly project appropriate for children ages 12 yrs and older.
Rosy-finch Project
Rosy-finches are some of the least-studied birds in North America, and we are trying to fill data gaps for these colorful birds with the help of community scientists. Volunteers will conduct 20-minute bird feeder counts for Rosy-finches once every three weeks throughout the winter and early spring (December – April). You can choose to do surveys at publicly accessible bird feeder locations, or at your own bird feeders in your backyard. We train volunteers via a live zoom training session, and then have a recorded online training available for those who are unable to attend the live session. To learn more and sign up, visit https://wildutahproject.org/rosy-finch
Birds & Beavers // Castores y Comunidad
This bilingual community science project explores the connections between beaver activity and bird habitat. We want to know: How does beaver activity affect bird habitat? For Phase 1 of our Birds & Beavers program, we are asking members of the community to report any beaver activity or trees affected by beavers that they find along the Jordan River. When volunteers see gnawed or fallen trees, they send a photo to the Conservation Science Program at 801-381-6349 or submit photos to our online form. This program takes place year-round and anyone can participate.
Salt Lake Avian Collision Survey (SLACS)
This project investigates the interaction between light pollution and bird-building collisions. A majority of migratory birds travel at night, and light pollution can disorient them and cause them to fly into bright urban areas where they collide with windows before finding their way back out again. During April – May and September-October, SLACS volunteers conduct early morning surveys (dawn to ~8:30am) around buildings in downtown Salt Lake City looking for birds that have collided with buildings. Injured birds are taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center, and dead birds are collected to be donated to the Natural History Museum of Utah. These surveys are done alone or with members of your household. Volunteers are trained via an online training session and can sign up to complete surveys on any morning that is convenient for them.
Project Broadtail
Community Scientists can help document Broad-tailed Hummingbird distributions and population trends throughout Utah through Project Broadtail. This project is free to all, and is operated through inaturalist.org. Anyone can join and submit observations – just make an inaturalist account and record hummingbird observations in your own backyard or while hiking! The observation period is April through September.
North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS)
The North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) is the nation’s largest and longest running community science project. Since it began in 1966, BBS has provided important information on avian population trends across the continent; it is also instrumental for statewide bird conservation and management in Utah. To participate, experienced birders sign up to complete a BBS survey route one time per year during the breeding season. Volunteers drive a 25 mile route and with 50 stops where they do a 3-minute point count survey. Tracy Aviary helps with coordination and recruitment of new volunteers to the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) in Utah as part of a partnership project with the Utah Division of Wildlife (UDWR).
Currently a volunteer? You can access resources and login to your volunteer portal by clicking the button below.