Amazing Citizen Scientists

When I arrived at Brooks Camp for my first official week as the biologist I discovered a long lost program where we asked visitors to document bird and animal sightings in the park during their visit.  This isn't just for the visitors.  It is also for the staff members as they travel the park.  With 4.1 million acres I can't be everywhere at once.  I have yet to see over half the park.  This program gives me a chance to see what others are seeing.

Today I spent the day writing the end of season report on the project.  I learned some interesting things.  for instance a lot of our visitors may come to see the bears but they also do some birding as there were 287 sightings of birds.  A few of the birds were rare findings in the park which is fantastic.  One species of duck, Garganey has only been seen in what is marked as accidental.  That means you might see one every fifty years.  We saw four of them in the spring.  Another species, the black-backed woodpecker isn't even on the area species list.  We saw three this year on the falls trail.  Next year I will have to see if their nesting here.  Speaking of nesting, we found out that there is a nest of golden-crowned kinglets in Brooks Camp.  Another first as no one knew their were nesting here.

Reports show wolves located in nine different areas of the park.  How many packs are out there?  In 1912 Novarupta blew leaving hundreds of feet of ash.  Next year will be the 100th anniversary of the eruption.  Needless to say that the wildlife are not numerous out there.  But life is returning and for the first time two different people saw a hare at Novarupta.  We would have never realized that with out our citizen scientist. 

I am hoping to expand the program next year as it was such a success this year.  So if your planning a visit to Katmai National Park in the future.  Stop at the visitors desk and tell them you want to help me out and be a wildlife observationalist.  All you have to do is take your form along with you and fill it out as you visit the park.  If you were one of the very helpful people this year.  You are terrific and thank you very much.