Project 1 - Great Backyard Bird Count
Day: February 17 (rain date: Sunday Feb. 19)
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Capacity: 10
Location: Holliday Park Nature Center
Activity: citizen science bird count
Partner(s): Cornell Lab of Ornithology, eBird
Description: GBBC is a long-term citizen science project initiated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. For over 20 years, bird enthusiasts around the world have joined together for this mid-winter bird count. GBBC is truly a global endeavor: in excess of 300,000 people from more than 180 countries and all 7 continents take part. Data collected is used to help track bird populations; this includes looking for increases/decreases in population sizes of various species, as well as range expansions/contractions, and more. FYI: GBBC was the first community science project to display data in real time. Learn more about the GBBC.
Project 2 - Great Backyard Bird Count
Day: February 18 (rain date: Sunday Feb. 19)
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Capacity: 10
Location: Holliday Park Nature Center
Activity: citizen science bird count
Partner(s): Cornell Lab of Ornithology, eBird
Description: see Project 1
Project 3 - Environmental Remediation/Erosion Control
Day: March 3 (rain date: Sunday Mar. 5*)
Time: 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Capacity: 30
Location: Paul Ruster Park
Activity: removal of woody debris
Partner(s): Indianapolis Department of Public Works, Indy Parks
Description: A person (or persons) unknown is/are cutting trees and stacking/piling wood at Paul Ruster Park. This can contribute to erosion (especially along the streambank) and interferes with the normal decomposition process and nutrient cycling in the forest. We will break down the piles and disperse the wood throughout the forest to facilitate decomposition and hasten the return of nutrients to the soil.
*If the rain date is used, project timing switches to the morning (9:30am-12:30pm).
Project 4 - Environmental Remediation/Erosion Control
Day: March 4 (rain date: Sunday Mar. 5)
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Capacity: 30
Location: Paul Ruster Park
Activity: removal of woody debris
Partner(s): Indianapolis Department of Public Works, Indy Parks
Description: see Project 3
Project 5 - Trash Clean-up & Invasive Garlic Mustard Removal
Day: March 31 (rain date: Sunday, April 2)
Time: 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (rain date, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)
Capacity: 30
Location: Lilly ARBOR
Activity: removal of trash along the ARBOR corridor and removal of garlic mustard, an invasive species
Partner(s): White River State Park (WRSP), Urban Wilderness Trail, Reconnecting to Our Waterways (ROW)
Description: The White River floods frequently, and each flood cycle deposits some trash along the floodplain and picks up other trash from the area. Trash picked up during a flood is deposited further down stream - or may even be carried to the Gulf of Mexico! For this project, our goal is to disrupt the land-to-river-to-ocean pathway of trash, as well as clean/restore/beautify the local environment. Collected trash will be disposed of properly or recycled (as appropriate). As we search for trash, we will also remove Garlic Mustard (an invasive species) from the ARBOR.
Project 6 - Trash Clean-up & Invasive Garlic Mustard Removal
Day: April 1 (rain date: Sunday, April 2)
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Capacity: 30
Location: Lilly ARBOR
Activity: removal of trash along the ARBOR corridor and removal of garlic mustard, an invasive species
Partner(s): White River State Park (WRSP), Urban Wilderness Trail, Reconnecting to Our Waterways (ROW)
Description: see Project 5
Project 7 - Invasive Species Removal
Day: April 14 (rain date: Sunday, Apr. 16*)
Time: 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Capacity: 30
Location: Broad Ripple Park
Activity: invasive species removal (focus on bush honeysuckle)
Partner(s): Indianapolis Department of Public Works, Indy Parks
Description: We will remove Bush Honeysuckle (a highly aggressive invasive shrub) from the park, concentrating our efforts in various areas, including along the White River. Removal of honeysuckle will improve habitat for animals, open space for other plant species to become established, and improve water quality.
*If the rain date is used, project timing switches to the morning (9:30am-12:30pm).
Project 8 - Invasive Species Removal
Day: April 15 (rain date: Sunday, Apr. 16)
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Capacity: 30
Location: Broad Ripple Park
Activity: invasive species removal (focus on bush honeysuckle)
Partner(s): Indianapolis Department of Public Works, Indy Parks
Description: see Project 7
Project 9 - Invasive Species Removal
Day: April 21 (rain date: Sunday, Apr. 23*)
Time: 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Capacity: 30
Location: Holliday Park
Activity: invasive species removal (focus on bush honeysuckle)
Partner(s): Indianapolis Department of Public Works, Indy Parks
Description: see Project 7.
*If the rain date is used, project timing switches to the morning (9:30am-12:30pm).
Project 10 - Invasive Species Removal
Day: April 22 (rain date: Sunday, Apr. 23)
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Capacity: 30
Location: Holliday Park
Activity: invasive species removal (focus on bush honeysuckle)
Partner(s): Indianapolis Department of Public Works, Indy Parks
Description: see Project 7
Special Project: Bird Window Strike Survey
This is not a typical service project. The purpose of the window strike survey is to gather data relating to the occurrence of bird-window collisions on the IUPUI campus. The data collected will be used to determine whether there is a need for building modifications (to make IUPUI more bird-friendly) and to inform campus decisions relating to any such proposed modifications. By registering for this project you are commiting to a weekly survey of a particular campus location. Surveys will begin (approximately) February 13 and run through the end of the semester. Expect each survey to take about 15-20 minutes. Over the course of the semester, you will devote approximately 3-5 hours to this project. Read more about this project.
Activity: You will walk a route around one or more buildings, scanning the ground for bird strikes (birds that have struck the buildings will probably be dead): each week, you will walk your route (this should take about 15-20 minutes) and fill in an online data form. Data collected will include date, route, time, and whether any birds were found. When you find a dead bird, you will identify the bird and photograph it. No bird identification skill is needed: you will use the smart phone apps Seek and Merlin Bird ID to identify any birds you find. Dead birds will be bagged and deposited at a central collection site. In the rare event that you find an injured bird, you will not handle it: we have wildlife rehab folks available to take care of injured birds. CEES will supply the bags, gloves, etc. needed for this project. You must supply your own smart phone.
Survey Date: pick a day that suits your schedule: M, Tu, W, Th, F, Sa, Su. Remember - this is a weekly committment for the entire semester.
Survey Time: select morning or evening: walk your route between 7am and 11am (morning) or between 3pm and 7pm (evening)
Survey Routes: We will track bird strikes at multiple locations on campus. Six routes are planned: Innovation Hall; SL/LD; EL (also known as SELB); Engineering & SPEA breezeway; Library; Gateway & Blackford garages (just the glass stairwells at the corners). More routes will be added if needed. It is preferred that you walk your route with a partner (birding buddy).
Partner(s): iNaturalist, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, IUPUI Forensics, IUPUI Sustainability, CEES
Data Submission: data will be collected using this online form.
Note: You need to download both the Seek and Merlin Bird ID apps to your phone. For the Merlin app, if your phone has limited storage capacity, choose the midwest bird pack.
