Community Science with Nisqually Reach Nature Center
If you didn’t know, Nisqually Reach Nature Center partners with local organizations like the Salish Sea Guillemot Network, WA Department of Natural Resources, Pacific Northwest Crab Research Group, the Nisqually Tribe, Cascadia Research Collective, and others to support three community science projects. The data we collect helps us understand the health of our south sound ecosystem and guides real-world conservation decisions.
Community science programs like these give the public an opportunity to connect with their local environments and get on the front lines of these conservation efforts. We rely on and cherish the support of volunteers to help collect this data!
You do not need to have previous experience to become a community science volunteer – you just need to have a passion and an ability to attend the trainings in April. All of these projects are a team effort, and nobody is expected to be at every survey. We can work with your schedule.
Our team of Community Stewards help monitor the health of Puget Sound. These programs provide data for scientists and decision-makers while engaging and empowering everyday people like you. NRNC staff, volunteers, and partner organizations have been engaged in community-driven science research and monitoring efforts for more than 15 years.
We are currently involved in three different projects:
Pigeon Guillemot Breeding Surveys
Pigeon Guillemots are a delightful seabird that can be found in Washington’s waters year round. During the summer, they nest in burrows in nearshore bluffs to raise their young. Volunteers take part in monitoring the population and breeding behaviors of 15+ colonies in South Puget Sound. This project is conducted in collaboration with the Salish Sea Guillemot Network. Since Pigeon Guillemots are a designated marine bird Indicator species for Puget Sound, the data we collect will help us better understand the overall health our marine ecosystem.
- We will train you!
- Having your own transportation or ability to get to a survey site is necessary
- You will be assigned to survey one colony with a team of others
- If interested, we will also have opportunities for periodic subbing at various sites or helping with data management.
Larval Crab Monitoring
Dungeness crab are an ecologically, culturally, and economically important species throughout the Puget Sound region and Washington coast. As part of a state-wide, collaborative research network, volunteers will count and ID larval crabs (and other critters) who have been caught in our light trap at Zittel’s Marina. The data collected from this project improves our understanding of Dungeness crab population dynamics and supports research to inform recovery and climate-ready fisheries.
Volunteers collect and analyze samples once a week on a Saturday or Sunday.
- We will train you!
- Reliable transportation to Zittel’s Marina is necessary
Seal Surveys with the Cascadia Research Collective
Harbor seals are one of the most common wildlife species we see at the Nature Center! Volunteers count seals every 15 minutes over a 75-minute period, documenting how many they see both on land and in the water. Data collected from these surveys aim to identify critical haul-out areas for mother seals and pups, helping evaluate predation pressures on fish and habitat importance. These surveys take place at Nisqually Reach Nature Center and on the board walk of the Billy Frank Jr. National Wildlife Refuge. This project is a collaboration with Cascadia Research Collective.
- We will train you!
- Reliable transportation to NRNC or BFJNNWR is necessary
- Folks with spotting scopes or strong cameras encouraged, but it is not necessary for involvement