Community Members Explore Citizen Science During Earth Week at Indreland Audubon Preserve

On April 21, SMART FIRES and the Sacajawea Audubon Society welcomed dozens of community members to the Indreland Audubon Wetland Preserve in Bozeman for an Earth Week celebration of citizen science. With warm spring temperatures and birds active throughout the Preserve, it was a perfect evening to get outside and explore.

The evening began with short introductions to the Preserve, the SMART FIRES project, and the many ways that community members can contribute to scientific research. Participants learned how observations of birds, plants, air quality, weather, and environmental change can help scientists better understand the world around us.

Ben Goodheart (right) leads attendees in using eBird to document their bird sightings

After the welcome, attendees spread out across the Preserve to explore a variety of hands-on activities. Bird expert and MSU postdoctoral researcher Ben Goodheart led a demonstration of eBird, showing participants how bird observations can contribute to a global database used by researchers and conservationists. Matt Lavin, MSU Professor Emeritus of Plant Sciences, introduced participants to iNaturalist, helping visitors identify and document the plants and other organisms they encountered along the trails.

Matt Lavin (left) demonstrates how to leverage the capabilities of iNaturalist

At the SMART FIRES station, visitors explored air quality and fire weather monitoring equipment and learned how these tools are used to study smoke and environmental conditions. Participants also visited the Preserve’s Chronolog photo-monitoring stations, where repeat photographs help document changes in vegetation, water levels, and habitat over time.

Other participants also chose to wander and explore the Preserve on their own, binoculars in hand, enjoying the spring evening while learning about ongoing conservation and monitoring efforts.

The event highlighted an important message: you don’t need to be a professional scientist to contribute to science. Whether you’re recording a bird sighting, identifying a plant, taking a photo from a monitoring station, or tracking air quality in your neighborhood, citizen science offers meaningful ways to participate in research and stewardship.

SMART FIRES would like to thank the Sacajawea Audubon Society, our presenters and volunteers, and everyone who joined us for the evening. We hope many of the connections made at the event will lead to continued participation in citizen science projects across Montana.