WAUKESHA COUNTY PARKS
CONSERVATION IN THE PARKS CITIZEN SCIENCE PROGRAMS
20 19 YE AR IN R EV IE W
THE NUMBERS
382 VOLUNTEERS 2,402 HOURS
In 2019, the Waukesha County Park System kicked off the inaugural Conservation in the Parks citizen science programs. The goal was to engage volunteers to become citizen scientists in their communities. The volunteers worked with park staff to help monitor wetlands, birds, small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, dragonflies, and more! The data collected will guide land management decisions for restoration and preservation of parkland.
waukeshacount y.gov/conservationintheparks
PROJECT H WETLAND MONITORING • 84 Volunteers • 1,318 Hours Donated • 43 Wetlands Surveyed • 20+ Species Recorded
INVERTEBRATE MONITORING • 78 Volunteers • 127 Hours Donated • 40 Odonate Species Recorded • 6 Bumble Bee Species Recorded • 26 Butterfly Species Recorded
REPTILE MONITORING
TURTLE TRAPPING • 39 Volunteers • 63 Hours Donated • 3 Species Recorded
REPTILE MONITORING
SNAKE SURVEYS • 55 Volunteers • 213 Hours Donated • 5 Species Recorded
HIGHLIGHTS N OTA B LE FI N D IN G S
RU ST Y PA TC HE D BU M BL E BE E
FEDERAL LY E N D A NGERED Citizen scientists discovered ! the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, a federally endangered species in the United States! The Rusty Patched was the first species of bumble bee to be listed unde r the Endangered Species Act back in 2017. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Servi ce estimates that Rusty Patch ed Bumble Bee populations have declined by 87% in the last 20 years. We were thrilled that several of them were found du rin our first survey in the native prairie plantings that our parks g team and volunteers work so hard to restore and maintain !
THE DATA
238
SPECIES RECORDED
MORE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
The data collected through the Conservation in the Parks programs provides Waukesha County with valuable information that enables us to ensure that species that are common remain common on the landscape. It also allows us to be proactive in preserving species that are rare, threatened, or endangered. Data helps shape our park and habitat management plans. Many species are indicators and are closely associated with plant community type, quality, and structure. Having this data recorded also allows us to apply for special grants and other funding opportunities. The data is also submitted to other organizations throughout the region, the state, and also nationally.
DISCOV ER US AT Wi ld In Wa u ke s h
SH AR I N G K NOW L ED G E
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The number of users, species, and observations on Waukesha County’s iNaturalist project page has greatly increased over the year!
• 428 -----> 918 users • 1,206 ---> 1,976 species • 3,669 ---> 8,644 observations iNaturalist is one of the most popular nature apps that can connect you with a community of over 400,000 scientists and naturalists who can help you learn more about nature! Check out our project and submit your observations:
www.inaturalist.org/projects/wild-in-waukesha
making sure that common species remain common and that rare, t hr e at en e d, and endangered species are protected