Citizen Science Efforts in Metro Detroit Region Striving to integrate and aggregate results for planning and tracking

Metro Detroit Nature Network Regional partnership of NGO’s, public agencies and academic institutions formed to enhance partnerships, reduce duplication and serve as magnet for funding Seeking to replicate efforts like those in Chesapeake Bay, Chicago and other major metropolitan regions across the country Begun with regional forum of environmental interests in 2015, formalized MDNN in 2016 32 Current partners including local, state, national organizations MDNR provides leadership support, U of M Dearborn provides admin support

Metro Detroit Nature Network Objectives: Develop a structure that encourages productive working relationships among members; Implement the Network's vision through a blueprint of strategic actions; Be an inter-disciplinary forum for governmental agencies, nonprofits, businesses, academic institutions and other organizations to coordinate plans and shared interests; Add value to existing organizations and avoid duplication of efforts already in place; Advance education about and advocacy for nature and conservation; Share knowledge and best practices; and Select projects for collaborative action that advance the Network's regional vision, build a strong sense of place, and increase participation in conservation throughout the region.

Metro Detroit Nature Network Currently Selected Projects/Focus areas: Youth Career Pathways—offering training and opportunities to get more youth exposed to and involved in conservation as a career interest Citizen Science— Promote and expand citizen science opportunities in metro Detroit Aggregate, synthesize data from ongoing programming for assessment, planning uses First initiative—Urban Bird Agenda, leading to designation as Urban Bird Treaty City, providing access to resources supporting bird conservation in the region

Urban Bird Treaty program A unique collaboration between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and participating U.S. cities to conserve migratory birds The Service provides technical assistance to city partners to develop and carry out conservation projects Priority for grant funding (NFWF’s Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program) Currently, there are 26 Urban Bird Treaty cities in the U.S. What makes Metropolitan Detroit unique? Situated at the intersection of the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways Over 350 species of birds identified in corridor 30 species of waterfowl have been documented using the corridor More than 300,000 diving ducks use the lower Detroit River as stopover habitat during migration The lower Detroit River is one of the three best places to watch raptor migrations in the U.S., with 23 species of raptors migrating across the river

Citizen Science Programs Compiling long-term, citizen science, trend data on peregrine falcon and osprey in southeast Michigan and broadly disseminate this information Expanding peregrine falcon and osprey monitoring through citizen science to ensure long-term sustainability of these programs Expanding black tern and grassland bird monitoring programs under the leadership of Detroit Audubon Expanding participation in Christmas Bird Counts Expanding backyard feeder watch program Expanding monitoring under the Safe Passage Program

Detroit River Hawk Watch Established 1983 - Lake Erie Metropark Photo by Jerry Jourdan

Why here?

When? Mid-August to late November-during peak migration Photo by Jerry Jourdan

Daily data Protocol-Naked eye, binoculars, and spotting scopes. Landmarks Volunteer spotters assist official counter and to fill in when official counter is off Rules! View is approximately 4 miles wide from South (Lake Erie) to North (Marsh Creek) ID techniques, shape, color, pattern, behavior Must pass west/southwest of the observer Species determines too! Image by Jerry Jourdan

Who is counting? Photo by Jerry Jourdan

Volunteer Site Assessments for prioritizing parcels for preservation to sustain water quality Derived of Huron River Watershed Council’s “Bio-Reserve” program Volunteers trained to do field assessments of property Utilized in partnership of Six Rivers and Clinton River Watershed Council in North Branch Clinton watershed prioritization Utilized in Belle River Watershed planning process Used in Huron Watershed RCPP project Provides needed data Serves as community engagement effort—builds commitment to mission and organization

Huron River Watershed Council River Roundup -April. Volunteers work together to “roundup” as many macroinvertebrates as they can. Insect ID – April. Volunteers learn to identify the macroinvertebrates that were collected. Winter Stonefly Search – Volunteers help to collect Stoneflies to determine the health of the streams. https://www.hrwc.org/ Stonefly grow in winter when most predators are sluggish.

River Monitoring- -Residents become citizen scientists by collecting data that represents the health of the watershed -Bugs -Frogs -Fish One Day vs. Long Term Projects

Jennifer Braatz, Naturalist Park Ranger jennifer_braatz@fws.gov 734-362-7736   Chris Bunch, Executive Director cbunch@sixriversrlc.org 248.601.2816