You can participate in a worldwide community of people collecting important scientific data for conservation!
eBird
Keep track of the birds you see and contribute to important data sets tracking bird populations and migrations using a free app for your smartphone or entering data online. Your sightings contribute to hundreds of conservation decisions and peer-reviewed papers, and thousands of student projects, and help inform bird research worldwide. The video below describes how eBird data is being used to create a Breeding Bird Atlas for New York State. Click here to learn more about eBird.
iMapInvasives
iMapInvasives is an online, map-based data management system used to assist community scientists & professionals working to protect our natural resources from the threat of invasive species. Keep track of weeds and report your sightings using a free mobile app. Click here to learn more about iMapInvasives.
iNaturalist
Use your smartphone camera to observe what you see when you’re outside! INaturalist is an online community where you can submit observations which are then fact-checked by a community of experts. The app will also offer suggestions for what you’re seeing. This is perfect for when you’re hiking and wonder “What is that flower?” We’ve included an hour-long webinar below, and you can watch some quick-start videos by clicking here for iPhones, and here for Android.