Citizen science is not only interesting and useful – it’s fun! Anyone can do citizen science and make a difference. The mission of The Ridges Sanctuary depends on citizen science, with volunteers engaging in real-world research that informs conservation decisions. Current citizen science projects that utilize Ridges volunteers include: 

Bald Eagle Nest Watch

A program in partnership with the DNR and the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance. It seeks to better understand how Bald Eagles are doing in Wisconsin. Participants are matched with a Bald Eagle nest and visit once per week for an hour. They observe and document the presence of young and other notes. Weekly visits continue until the young fledge. February – August

Sucker Monitoring 

A collaborative effort through the Shedd Aquarium where volunteers monitor Great Lakes sucker migration into streams during the spring. March – May

Dwarf Lake Iris Research

An effort to determine abiotic and biotic conditions needed for maximum flower production, seed production and seedling recruitment of the federally threatened Iris lacustris to enhance the population in the Sanctuary. April – September

Orchid Restoration 

Orchid research and activities include trekking, plot monitoring, statistical work, tending to the shade house, inventory of our current orchid populations, germination techniques, and identifying the ongoing threats to these populations.  April – October

Plant Inventory 

A collaboration effort including UWGB staff and a volunteer cohort. Goals are to develop and implement a photographic record and comprehensive plant inventory of The Ridges Sanctuary properties. April – October

Christmas Bird and Crane Counts 

A partnership with the National Audubon Society where volunteers take one day in December to document bird species. Every spring, volunteers are assigned a site to observe and record crane numbers and behaviors for the International Crane Foundation. Crane Count: April; Christmas Bird Count: December

Water Action Volunteers Stream Monitoring 

A UW-Extension program where teams of two volunteers are assigned to local streams to measure several variables that monitor stream health. May – October

Monarch Watch 

An international monarch tagging event that The Ridges celebrates by hosting a local tagging event every August. Citizens can sponsor a tag and track individual monarch butterflies.  August

Budburst Phenology 

A collection of valuable information about seasonal plant cycles in a consistent way across the country through Project Budburst. Data is used to learn more about the responsiveness of individual plant species to changes in climate locally, regionally, and nationally. Ongoing

Boreal Climate & Sustainability (BCS) Project: A multi-year project to significantly accelerate existing public tree-planting efforts to protect Door County’s forests for the future. Involves tree planting, monitoring, watering, stewardship care, and species counting and monitoring of mammals, birds, amphibians, flora, etc. Ongoing

Volunteers can choose a project of their interest to get involved in at The Ridges. Or they can participate in multiple programs based on availability. The more interest garnered from the area’s citizens, the more opportunities conservation organizations like The Ridges can provide.  

If you have interest in participating in current or future citizen science programs or want to learn more, contact Tony Kiszonas at tony@ridgessanctuary.org or call 920-839-2802.