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Lehigh Gap Nature
Center |
Research Programs
Wildlife Research is one of the three major emphases of the Lehigh Gap Nature Center. We gather and disseminate wildlife information through a program of conservation activities, educational activities, and research. All of our research projects are directed by Center officers, and most involve volunteers who donate their time to the various projects. Many of these volunteers are not trained biologists, but ordinary people who can make a real contribution to science with their efforts. Most of these projects involve birds where "citizen scientists" have a long tradition of involvement in scientific research projects. In addition, the Center has initiated an internship program, in which students can gain academic credit or valuable experience through participation in Center projects. Contact the Center for more information on how to become involved with our research projects or internships.
Our programs:
Red-tailed
Hawk Migration Study
This research project,a joint effort between the Lehigh Gap Nature Center, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, and Little Gap Raptor Research, is studying the migration patterns of Red-tailed Hawks. See the Red-tailed Hawk Migration page for more information.
Bake Oven Knob Autumn Hawk Watch
Every fall our members are up on the mountain documenting hawk migration. See the Bake Oven Knob Hawk Count page for information.
Bake Oven Knob Area Winter Bird Survey
This survey is conducted on the third Saturday of January, weather permitting, to identify all the birds found on an auto tour route that roughly forms a rectangle around Bake Oven Knob on the Kittatinny Ridge, or Blue Mountain, in eastern Pennsylvania.
Bake Oven Knob Area Winter Bird Feeder Watch
The Feeder Watch survey is conducted by volunteers who live within approximately a 10 mile radius of Bake Oven Knob. Anyone in that geographic area with one or more bird feeders of any type in their yard, and who can identify the individual species of birds that visit the feeders is invited to participate in the Feeder Watch. Volunteers are asked to spend a few hours throughout a specified day in February observing their feeders and recording any visitors. Feeder watchers will also be asked to record weather data and feeder information.
Lehigh Valley Park Lands Biodiversity Project
This project will eventually lead to a complete biological inventory of all park lands in the Lehigh Valley area of eastern Pennsylvania. The inventories will be carried out by volunteers, at least at the beginning of the project, and we would most likely start by surveying the bird life that is found in each park at various times of the year.
This is a long-term project that we expect to continue for many years and updates will be appropriate long into the future. The results of the project will be published and made available to the park managers and municipalities for their use in managing the parks.
Kittatinny Raptor Corridor Backyard Habitat Project
This project is under construction.
Bake Oven Knob Area Bluebird Nestbox Survey
The Bake Oven Knob Bluebird Project is another long-term wildlife research project conducted by the Lehigh Gap Nature Center. Volunteers are asked to gather information on utilization of bluebird nest boxes and nesting success of bluebirds and other species during the spring and summer. The Center seeks volunteers that will be able to continue the project for a number of years.
Volunteers should have one or more bluebird nest boxes on their property and should live in one of the following municipalities in eastern Pennsylvania: Lynn, Heidelberg, or Washington Townships, Lehigh County; East Penn, Mahoning, Franklin, or western Lower Towamensing Townships, Carbon County; West Penn Township, Schuylkill County; northern Lehigh Township, Northampton County; or the Boroughs of Slatington, Lehighton, Palmerton, Parryville, or Bowmanstown.
Volunteers will be asked to monitor use of their bluebird boxes and report that information to the Lehigh Gap Nature Center. Data collected will include the nesting activity of any bird species using the bluebird boxes, including whether or not the nesting was successful and how many young fledged. Any competitive interactions between bluebirds and other species can be reported as well.
