The Grange Insurance Audubon Center partners with citizens in the community to help us work towards our conservation goals. We participate in a variety of projects suitable for all skill levels, where anyone can learn about birds, science and conservation. By helping to collect data for ongoing scientific studies, you become part of the research team working to answer local, national and worldwide questions.

Project Feederwatch: We monitor our feeder stations from November through April as part of Project Feederwatch, a program through Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology! This winter-long survey helps scientists track movements and long-term trends in winter bird distribution and abundance.  Become a citizen scientist, and come spend a cozy morning watching our feeders and recording data on what birds we attract. All ages and skill levels are welcome, and it is a great family activity!

Great Backyard Bird Count: The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is an annual four day event developed by a partnership between The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Audubon and Bird Studies Canada. The count is in its 17th year, and went international in 2013. It takes place in February and provides a snapshot of where bird species occur globally. As bird populations fluctuate due to natural cycles, climate change and habitat loss, scientists and bird enthusiasts can learn a lot just by knowing where the birds are year to year. The 2014 GBBC will take place Friday, February 14, through Monday, February 17. Please join us at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center on Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th to participate in two days of fun, learning, and most of all, counting! Everyone is welcome, and the event allows people of all ages and birdwatching experience to become citizen scientists.

Scioto River– Greenlawn Important Bird Area (IBA) Restoration: Participants will be involved in projects to reduce the threats to the IBA and increase biodiversity. We are actively removing invasive plants from our IBA, and restoring native plants. Citizen scientists will assist in monitoring bird and wildlife populations, as well as plant and insect communities, to determine the response to our habitat restoration. Please come join us for lots of fun, hard work and see the difference even a day makes!

Butterfly Monitoring: Come be a part of a new (for us) long-term monitoring program aimed at understanding Ohio’s butterfly species. Starting in spring of 2014, we will conduct a standardized transect count weekly following the protocol developed by The Ohio Lepidopterists. The counts are done across the state as a way to detect and monitor population changes due to factors such as habitat changes and pesticide use.So put on your walking shoes, grab a guide book, and join us on this fun project!

And there’s MORE!

Contact Amy Boyd, 614-545-5486 aboyd@audubon.org