What is Community Science? It is scientific data and projects that are collected and undertaken by the public — not just scientists and biologists, but everyday people out in the field, logging what they see, helping count local wildlife populations, reporting their observations and experiences, and using various apps to share information. Some may know it as “citizen science” as well, and it can entail working with biologists to help local wildlife.

Heritage Conservancy has an active community science group and is helping organize volunteers to aid in important projects and wildlife counts. Led by Heritage Conservancy Senior Conservation Biologist Tyler Kovacs, here is a summary of our community science worked in 2024.

Appalachian bat counts

Community science volunteers counted 54 bats as they left their maternal roost at Heritage Conservancy’s Russell-Mandel Preserve. Later in the year, volunteers counted 99 bats leaving the same roost. Therefore we can assume the colony raised around 45 babies, which is great news as big brown bat populations are still struggling due to white-nose syndrome. 

Amphibian crossing program

Amphibian crossing volunteers recorded 788 amphibians crossing roads during their breeding season migrations. Unfortunately another 167 amphibians did not successfully migrate across the roads to their breeding grounds. This data helps Heritage Conservancy and the PA Fish and Boat Commission track populations of amphibians and determine what conservation measures can be taken to help these species thrive. 

Pollinator Blitz

Volunteers and staff surveyed Jackson Pond’s restored native pollinator meadow to determine what species are thriving due to the work of Heritage Conservancy’s stewardship team. The observations were recorded in the iNaturalist app so the public and scientists can help with identifying each species. This highlights the importance of habitat restoration for our struggling pollinator populations.

Christmas bird count

Volunteers surveyed Heritage Conservancy’s Quakertown Swamp Preserve during the Christmas bird count, the longest running community science project in the country! Volunteers found 24 bird species on the preserve, contributing to Heritage Conservancy’s 3rd bird count survey and Audubon’s 125th year of data collection. This data helps Audubon and other conservation organizations learn more about bird population trends and range shifts to better adapt conservation efforts for those species. 

Native plant nursery

Volunteers collected native plant seeds from 40 different species on Heritage Conservancy preserves to grow in a greenhouse at our Russell-Mandel Preserve. These plants are later planted back onto preserves that are managed by Heritage Conservancy for wildlife habitat, rare plant conservation, and the protection of natural resources. For example, this year dozens of state-threatened magnolias were planted back onto Heritage Conservancy’s preserves that were grown from seeds collected three years ago. 

Motus wildlife tracking systems

Heritage Conservancy partnered with Willistown Conservation Trust and Bucks County Community College (BCCC) to install a Motus wildlife tracking tower on the roof of BCCC’s science building. This is the second tower Heritage Conservancy has installed in Bucks County with the other located on Keystone Elementary School in Croydon, PA. So far, this newest tower has been the most active station in Bucks County. This data helps scientists determine the migratory patterns of the bird species that are being studied and helps inform conservation actions for those species. Read more about the Motus wildlife tracking system.