Become a Citizen Scientist!

Saratoga National Historical Park

Have you ever wondered what plants and creatures you are seeing as you traverse the park or your own backyard? Join us for a nature walk where Park Rangers will discuss park species, identification, and natural resource management. Saratoga is home to thousands of species of flora and fauna. We would like to introduce you to some of the citizen science programs that can be used for collecting observations while in the park or in your backyard.

You can become a citizen scientist by participating in programs such as: iNaturalist, Seek, eBird, Nature's Notebook under the National Phenology Network, and Audubon's Christmas Bird Count. Having observations from data collected by volunteer citizen scientists, will help inform park resources staff about invasive species, population dynamics, time-sensitive interactions, range limits, species diversity, and the changing climate. Observations that are collected in the park will be compared to existing data. Data collected can also be used at the state and national level.

Park Rangers will demonstrate how to use these applications during the program. Meet at the Visitor Center to join the hike and be prepared to walk 2 miles on uneven terrain.