2024 Community Science Report

This year end report compiles various statistics for Seatuck's Community Science outreach initiatives.

Arielle Santos

Our Community Science Work

 Seatuck  manages and participates in a range of wildlife surveys and other "community science" projects throughout the year. Some are Seatuck-initiated efforts to gather baseline information about wildlife on Long Island; others are regional, statewide or nationwide programs in which Seatuck participates, assuming responsibility for a certain location or region on Long Island. Volunteers are welcome, no experience is necessary, and training is provided. Many of these projects are suitable for incorporating educational components and can include class or private group participation.

Learn more about our programs below using our interactive story map!

Community Science Surveys

Community Science surveys encourage Long Islanders of all ages to get outside, interact with their environment, and contribute to Seatuck's wildlife conservation work by submitting their potential sightings of our priority species.

Explore the following interactive Community Science survey maps to see how volunteers all across Long Island are contributing to our wildlife conservation work!

2024 River Herring & American Eel Survey

The annual Long Island Volunteer River Herring & Eel Survey is one of Long Island’s longest running community science projects. Started in 2006, the survey engages community volunteer scientists to monitor runs of migratory river herring and American eels in rivers and streams across Long Island.

  • Number of Participants in 2024: 20 Number of Observations in 2024: 112 Date Range of Observations: February - May 2024

Clickable data points (shown in red) provide details on potential species sightings by community science volunteers. These data points do not reflect confirmed sightings of wildlife.

BatMap Long Island

BatMap Long Island is a community science project that enlists bat lovers in an effort to identify important bat foraging sites and roosts across Long Island. Participants are simply asked to submit information about their bat sightings into our data collection system.

  • Number of participants in 2024: 54 Number of Observations in 2024: 55 Date Range of Observations: March - November 2024

Clickable data points (shown in red) provide details on potential species sightings by community science volunteers. These data points do not reflect confirmed sightings of wildlife.

Otter Watch

Otter Watch is a community science project that asks individuals to help us monitor the recolonization of Long Island by river otters. Participants are simply asked to submit information about sightings of river otters or any evidence of otter activity into our data collection system.

  • Number of Participants in 2024: 9 Number of Observations in 2024: 9 Date Range of Observations: January - November 2024

Clickable data points (shown in red) provide details on potential species sightings by community science volunteers. These data points do not reflect confirmed sightings of wildlife.

Terrapin Watch

Terrapin Watch is a community science project that engages Long Islanders in an effort to monitor and record the distribution of the iconic diamondback terrapin in our region. Participants are simply asked to report any terrapin sightings or evidence of nesting through our data collection system.

  • Number of Participants in 2024: 35 Number of Observations in 2024: 50 Date Range of Observations: April - November 2024

Clickable data points (shown in red) provide details on potential species sightings by community science volunteers. These data points do not reflect confirmed sightings of wildlife.

Horseshoe Crab Tracker

Horseshoe Crab Tracker is a community science project that engages Long Islanders in an effort to expand the monitoring of horseshoe crab distribution in our region. Participants are simply asked to report sightings of horseshoe crabs or crab molts through our data collection system.

  • Number of Participants in 2024: 2 Number of Observations in 2024: 2 Date Range of Observations: May 2024

Clickable data points (shown in red) provide details on potential species sightings by community science volunteers. These data points do not reflect confirmed sightings of wildlife.

Coyote Tracker

Coyote Tracker is a community science project that engages Long Islanders in the effort to monitor the colonization of our region by Eastern Coyotes. Participants are simply asked to report any possible coyote sightings through our data collection system.

  • Number of Participants in 2024: 31 Number of Observations in 2024: 32 Date Range of Observations: January - December 2024

*Coyote Tracker Survey Site Map is not displayed to secure location specifics.

Community Science LI

Community Science LI (CSLI) is an educational webinar series that aims to highlight community science opportunities and how the data collected by the public influences local environmental management efforts.

The 2023/24 series was hosted by Seatuck, Long Island Sound Study, and New York Sea Grant with support from the Peconic Estuary Partnership and the South Shore Estuary Reserve.

*Click anywhere on the screen to interact with the CSLI webpage. Hover the mouse over these text boxes to continue scrolling through the StoryMap.

Wildlife Monitoring Network (WMNLI)

Seatuck sponsors and manages the Wildlife Monitoring Network of Long Island (WMNLI) with a host of partners from across Long Island. The Wildlife Monitoring Network website is a ‘one-stop-shop’ for wildlife monitoring surveys that are conducted for Long Island species. Whether community scientists need to record data for more than one species or want to learn about the different community science projects near their homes, these surveys are now all in one place!

  • Number of Partners in 2024: Collaboration between Seatuck, the Peconic Estuary Partnership and more than 10 other partner organizations.  Goals: The Wildlife Monitoring Network is a brand and central website where wildlife monitoring surveys that are conducted for species found throughout Long Island are housed together. The goal of this outreach initiative is to increase community awareness, which in turn should increase collaboration, community participation, and data collection – furthering our understanding about Long Island wildlife and their habitats. Website Features: Highlights all the community science programs happening on Long Island and some of their results, local events and webinars, resources on wildlife rescue or rehabilitation, and other identification & associated resources  How to Become a Partner: Contact us at  https://wildlifemonitoringnetworkli.org/contact/  Link to Website:  https://wildlifemonitoringnetworkli.org/ 

Our Partners