Community Science
What Birds, Wildflowers, or Insects Will You Find?
This page is dedicated to make community science more accessible by showcasing several apps and websites in one spot to get you started.
Tallgrass Prairie Center is a partner and committee member of Monarch Joint Venture that works in conjunction with the North American Monarch Conservation Plan to address research, education, and restorative efforts for habitat. The Tallgrass Prairie Center is also a member of the Iowa Monarch Conservation Consortium. Head over to TPC's Pollinator Conservation page for more information!
Additionally, there are many monarch programs out there besides Monarch Watch and Journey North. It can be difficult to determine which program could best suit your needs. Reference the following document to discover which monarch program is right for you!
Community Science Apps and Websites
Monarch Watch
- Tagging information, datasheet, ordering tag kits, and migration information found here: Tagging Monarchs.
- Just want to report you found a tagged Monarch? Tag Recovery.
- About the organization: About and Contact Info.
- Click the logo to explore further!
Journey North
- Monarch butterfly migration and Info: Journey North Monarchs.
- Register to report your monarch sightings.
- Teaching resources for educators.
- Interested in other migrators or wildlife? Click the logo and explore!
eBird!
- World’s largest birding community and community science platform — user- friendly features to find, explore, and share.
- Register today to start sharing your sights/sounds! Create account.
- Click the logo for the website and ‘Explore’ to learn more by region, species, hotspots, bar charts, & more.
- Download the mobile phone app and head out to your closest prairie!
Bumble Bee Watch
- Bumble Bee Watch — click the logo for easy steps on identifying and reporting our beloved pollinators!
- Bumble Bee Watch Sign Up page.
- About and Contact page.
- Tips for how to take good bee photos.
- The mobile phone app is managed by ‘Birds in the Hand, LLC’; Download today and go see what you can find!
Insects of Iowa
- Submit a sighting by adding a photo, date, and location.
- Identify an insect from Iowa by uploading your photos.
- Mobile app is called ‘Mobile Mapper.’
Seek
- A mobile phone app by iNaturalist that creates challenges and the ability to earn badges in friendly competition.
- From kids to adults, it’s fun for the entire family to get outside and ID wildlife, plants, or fungi.
- The Seek User Guide.
- No registration is required and no user data is collected.
BirdNET
- “What if I’m hearing a bird and I cannot see it?”
- BirdNET is a free mobile app developed by The Cornell Lab of Ornithology & the Chemnitz University of Technology that allows you to record bird call or song, the app analyzes the recording, and gives you immediate match results.
- The app also gives one weblinks to learn more about the match results that were provided.
Birdcast
- Birdcast: Bird migration forecasting in real time using weather surveillance radar.
- Migration forecasting tools will resume March 1, 2021: Live Bird Migration Map.
- Use their migration tools to help decide when to get outside and check on your local activity!
