Citizen Science Supporting Seabird Conservation on Public Lands in California
James Weigand, Ecologist, Bureau of Land Management California State Office
One of the greatest resources for science on federal public lands is the people who live close to these lands. By engaging in scientific data collection, citizens are extending the scope of the public’s stewardship role in public land management. According to The State of the Birds 2011 Report on Public Lands and Waters of the United States, major threats to coastal birds include coastal development, increased human disturbance, and sea-level rise. Information being collected on seabirds by citizen scientists is helping public and private organizations alike better understand and address these challenges.