Citizen scientists can play a vital role in habitat preservation and restoration. Lake Forest Open Lands guides and trains volunteers to participate in various local and national monitoring efforts. The data that volunteers collect offer a "snapshot" of an ecosystem’s health by monitoring current trends and/or distributions of rare, threatened, and indicator species on our preserves. Understanding these patterns is import to larger conservation efforts as well as providing  insight into ecosystem allows our land managers to identify ecological problems and find solutions.

Rare Bird Monitoring Opportunities

 

Bluebird Monitoring

In an effort to increase native species within the Lake Forest Open Lands preserves, several stations of Bluebird boxes have been established. To get involved in our Bluebird monitoring program, contact Michael Hahn. 

 

 

Help land managers practice effective conservation by monitoring butterfly activity in our nature preserves. Data that is collected is shared regionally through the Illinois Butterfly Monitoring Network. Click here for more information and training dates.

Dragonfly Monitoring
Explore the effects of restoration activities on Dragonfly and Damselfly species by tracking their abundance and distribution in our nature preserves. Click here to sign up for a Dragonfly Monitor Workshop.

Amphibians are like canaries in the coal mines: indicator species that respond quickly to changes in ecosystem health and therefore act as early signs of ecosystem improvement or deterioration. For information on how to monitor Frogs, please visit Chicago Wilderness Habitat Project or contact Michael Hahn.

Rare and Endangered Plants

Plants of Concern
Help Lake Forest Open Lands and the Chicago Botanic Garden conserve Chicagoland’s shrinking flora communities. Monitoring our preserve’s rarest plant species will provide scientists with important data needed to determine long-term distribution patterns and population responses to management activities. Click here for more information and training dates.

River Watch
Monitor stream flora, fauna, and chemistry in a statewide effort to increase the quality and health of Illinois’ flowing bodies of water. Help local researchers gain important knowledge by monitoring a stream at Open Lands. Visit The National Great Rivers Research & Education Center  to learn more about the River Watch initiative or contact Michael Hahn.