OutdoorNebraska

42 Nebraskaland • December 2019 In its fi rst two months, it accumulated more than 23,000 identifi cations. Among the various citizen science projects she coordinates, this one is particularly exciting, said Nebraska Game and Parks Watchable Wildlife Biologist Alie Mayes. Not only does it save a lot of time for Game and Parks biologists working with camera traps, Mayes said, but it's also computer-based, making it uniquely accessible. "People can do it anywhere, from their own homes," Mayes said. "Not everybody wants to walk a transect and look for butterfl ies. So it's a diff erent kind of citizen science that we're off ering." The goals of the Nebraska Wildlife Watch are to gain information that will help inform state habitat management decisions, and to help Mayes' team gain confi rmed sightings of rare and at-risk species. They also hope it will engage participants in Nebraska-based citizen science and allow people to view and recognize Nebraska's wildlife. "I think people love viewing nature, and this is a really cool and diff erent way to do that," Mayes said, when asked about the appeal of the project . "Some of the species are common, like deer and turkeys, but then every so often we get a coyote or a bobcat or a badger. And those are things people have a harder time seeing in the wild." What's Next? Citizen science in Nebraska has a bright future. No one knows for sure how many citizen science projects are out there in the state, but numbers are increasing, and the enthusiasm is infectious. And if all goes according to plan, it'll become easier and easier to fi nd projects and get involved. Last April, Lynch- O'Brien and Mayes launched Citizen Scientists of Nebraska, a statewide network aimed at increasing the presence of citizen science in Nebraska. Right now Mayes, Lynch-O'Brien and their core team are focused on connecting citizen science program facilitators, allowing them to collaborate, share resources, problem-solve and coordinate eff orts. Citizen scientists are also encouraged to join the network to connect with projects, resources and other participants across the region. "The response back was really encouraging," Mayes said. "Maybe I'm wholly optimistic, but I just think we're on the cusp of something really exciting." Meanwhile, citizen scientists across Nebraska will continue exploring, getting their hands dirty and having fun. N Zoologist Shaun Dunn shows citizen scientist Phuong Minh Tu Le a live harvest mouse that was captured during a small mammal survey at Denton Prairie. A close-up look at observations that a citizen scientist recorded on the iNaturalist app.

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