Monitor

 

Citizen scientists play a vital role in habitat preservation and restoration. Open Lands offers opportunities for volunteers to take a “snapshot” of an ecosystem’s health by monitoring current trends and distributions of rare, threatened, and indicator species on our preserves. Understanding these patterns is important to conservation efforts because insight into ecosystem dynamics allows our land managers to identify ecological problems and find solutions.

 

There are many different aspects of an ecosystem that need monitoring. Below you can find all of the programs that Open Lands offers to its Citizen Scientists.

 

For questions regarding any of the following monitoring programs, please email Michael Hahn, Restoration Ecologist, at mhahn@lfola.org or call 847.707.9878.

 

Bluebird Monitoring

In an effort to preserve 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 at mhahn@lfola.org. 

 

Butterfly Monitoring

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.

 

Frog Monitoring

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 at mhahn@lfola.org.

 

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 at mhahn@lfola.org.