More than a century ago, Audubon pioneered the idea of community science with the first Christmas Bird Count. Today the longest-running wildlife census in the world continues to shape and inform our approach to conservation, providing vital information about bird populations and trends, data that alerts us to environmental threats not only to birds but to the larger ecosystems we all depend on. As partners with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Audubon has helped transform community science into an everyday activity for participants of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Other Audubon created community science programs we lead are the Great Backyard Bird Count and Climate Watch. Climate Watch is a nationwide initiative focused on understanding how birds are affected by climate change. This program engages volunteers and bird enthusiasts across the country to monitor bird populations and gather data on their changing habitats.  

Additionally, every month we have our Community Science Saturdays on the 4th saturday of the month! Our goal is to involve the community in our scientific exploration, helping to inform our own habitat management as well as contributing to scientific datasets across the globe. Some records made at TRAC during these events represent the first documentation in decades of certain species living within Dallas County! Opportunities for community science cover a wide range, including: plant surveys, tracking birds that visit our feeders, identifying aquatic macroinvertebrates in our pond, attracting and documenting nocturnal insects with UV lights, and more! Check our Events page to see what opportunities are coming up!