Wildlife Field Research

(Cancelled) was Monday, May 9th, 2022 from 8:00am to Saturday, May 13th, 2023 12:00pm
This event has been cancelled.

About

Scroll down to individual dates/events to see any notices of survey cancellations.

Wildlife Field Research is a week long bioblitz conducted every spring and fall at the Cibolo Nature Center & Herff Farm. During this research event, teams of Community Scientists combine their experience, knowledge, and enthusiasm to survey the The Cibolo's ecology.

Community Science engages citizens in the task of recording observations of the environment and its many inhabitants. These observations are used to make scientific assessments that inform land management decisions and to learn how human behaviors impact our environment. No past experience is required -  team leaders will provide instruction and guidance on how to conduct the surveys and record information.

Master Naturalists, college students, teenagers, parents with young kids, along with other nature enthusiasts all participate in this event. This brings their own interests into the mix and creates a colorful and fun community science community.  For some, the camaraderie and fun that is had during Wildlife Field Research brings them back year after year.

Visit this STORY MAP to learn more. 

Surveys:  ants, amphibian, aquatic, butterfly, dragonfly and damselfly, prairie vegetation photo points, prairie vegetation, small mammal, reptiles, and water snakes

Registration
Registration Opened
Registration Closes
Any time before each shift starts or when space runs out.
Age Limit
All Ages
Requirement Details

Must be willing to learn and have fun!

Parking Details
Park in the Cibolo Nature Center and Farm parking lot

Shifts (20)

1 - 1 of 1 Shifts
ShiftStart TimeEnd TimeDescriptionRegistrants Needed
 
Riparian exotic plant removal8:00am (CT)12:00pm (CT) The exotic plant removal team is only scheduled during the Spring WFR events. The team will remove exotic invasive and sometimes opportunistic native plants that are encroaching areas where they don't belong. Bring loppers if you have them. Other tools may be requested by the team leaders.Must be able to...7/15

1 - 1 of 1 Shifts
ShiftStart TimeEnd TimeDescriptionRegistrants Needed
 
Prairie Vegetation Photo Points10:00am (CT)12:00pm (CT)A team of photographers and nature enthusiasts take photos to document changes in the prairie structure over time. By comparing photos from successive years, CNC land managers and researchers have a visual reference that help to inform management practices and data interpretation.2/3

1 - 4 of 4 Shifts
ShiftStart TimeEnd TimeDescriptionRegistrants Needed
 
Dragonfly & Damselfly Photo Survey10:00am (CT)12:00pm (CT) Participants in the Dragonfly and Damselfly (Odonate) Survey, will walk in specified areas looking for odonates to photograph for later identification. Photos are submitted to WFR data manager after the event. The photos should not be enhanced or modified in any way and are considered raw data. Experienced nature photographers...2/3
Ant Survey1:00pm (CT)3:00pm (CT) To survey ants, Citizen Scientists place bait on small plastic dishes along a transect. This bait is left out for a minimum of 30 minutes up to several hours. The trays are then collected in plastic bags and then refrigerated. The ants are then taken to the lab where they...7/8
Reptile Search4:00pm (CT)6:00pm (CT) Citizen Scientists search for reptiles under rocks, within tall grass, throughout the woodland and in Cibolo Creek. Anoles, skinks, whiptails, and other lizards, as well as ribbon snakes, blotched and diamond back watersnakes and many other species are recorded during this survey. The water snakes are caught when possible, then...8/10
Small Mammal Survey4:00pm (CT)6:00pm (CT) Citizen Scientists set and bait small (Sherman live) traps along transects in the tall grass prairie and woodland at the Nature Center. The following morning, the traps are checked for small mammals. Captured mammals are documented and a small clipping of hair is removed from the animal to mark that...4/8

1 - 8 of 8 Shifts
ShiftStart TimeEnd TimeDescriptionRegistrants Needed
 
Sustenance Management7:00am (CT)2:00pm (CT)The Sustenance Management Team is responsible for feeding the Citizen Science Teams on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday morning of the WFR event. Breakfast and lunch on Thursday and Friday, breakfast only on Saturday.0/4
Aquatic survey; Fish, flow and macro-invertebrates8:00am (CT)12:00pm (CT) A team of Citizen Scientists assess stream flow and sample macro-invertebrates, fish and other aquatic organisms alongside biologists from the San Antonio River Authority (SARA). The macro-invertebrate samples are taken to the CNC lab where they are identified and counted using microscopes at a later date. Macro-invertebrates are biological indicators...9/15
Prairie Vegetation Survey8:00am (CT)12:00pm (CT) Plant enthusiasts and beginners alike survey several transects in the prairie to determine vegetation type, including forbs and grasses, and to assess ground cover. Using this data, researchers can assess changes in plant composition over time. Requirements: None, however it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that participants attend the Prairie Vegetation Review...3/6
Small mammal survey8:00am (CT)12:00pm (CT) Citizen Scientists set and bait small (Sherman live) traps along transects in the tall grass prairie and woodland at the Nature Center. The following morning, the traps are checked for small mammals. Captured mammals are documented and a small clipping of hair is removed from the animal to mark that...4/8
Water snake survey (time-constrained search)8:00am (CT)12:00pm (CT) Citizen Scientists search for blotched and diamond back watersnakes. The water snakes are caught when possible, then pit-tagged and released on Saturday. This survey helps researchers monitor the diversity, dispersion and health of the watersnake population. Requirements: None. If you have a fear of snakes, this survey will help you...0/10
Ant survey1:00pm (CT)3:00pm (CT) To survey ants, Citizen Scientists place bait on small plastic dishes along a transect. This bait is left out for a minimum of 30 minutes up to several hours. The trays are collected in plastic bags and then refrigerated. The ants are then taken to the lab where they are...3/8
Water snake survey (time-constrained search)2:00pm (CT)4:00pm (CT) Citizen Scientists search for blotched and diamond back watersnakes. The water snakes are caught when possible, then pit-tagged and released on Saturday. This survey helps researchers monitor the diversity, dispersion and health of the watersnake population. Requirements: None. If you have a fear of snakes, this survey will help you...11/11
Amphibian Watch8:00pm (CT)9:30pm (CT) To conduct this survey, a group of Citizen Scientists head out to the creek after dusk to listen to frog calls, identify the species present and rank the chorus according to the quantity of calls that are heard. This helps researchers monitor amphibian populations, which also provide an indication of...6/6

1 - 4 of 4 Shifts
ShiftStart TimeEnd TimeDescriptionRegistrants Needed
 
Small mammal survey8:00am (CT)12:00pm (CT) Citizen Scientists set and bait small (Sherman live) traps along transects in the tall grass prairie and woodland at the Nature Center. The following morning, the traps are checked for small mammals. Captured mammals are documented and a small clipping of hair is removed from the animal to mark that...7/8
Water snake survey8:00am (CT)12:00pm (CT) Citizen Scientists search for blotched and diamond back watersnakes. The water snakes are caught when possible, then pit-tagged and released on Saturday. This survey helps researchers monitor the diversity, dispersion and health of the reptile population. None. If you have a fear of snakes, this survey will help you to...2/10
Ant survey Identification9:00am (CT)12:00pm (CT)Team will identify and count the ant species retrieved during the Wednesday and Thursday collections.1/3
Water Snake Survey (time-constrained search)2:00pm (CT)4:00pm (CT) Citizen Scientists search for blotched and diamond back watersnakes. The water snakes are caught when possible, then pit-tagged and released on Saturday. This survey helps researchers monitor the diversity, dispersion and health of the watersnake population. Requirements: None. If you have a fear of snakes, this survey will help you...6/10

1 - 1 of 1 Shifts
ShiftStart TimeEnd TimeDescriptionRegistrants Needed
 
Small mammal survey8:00am (CT)10:00am (CT) Citizen Scientists will check traps for small mammals. Captured mammals are documented and released unharmed. As the last date of this survey, the traps will be picked up and returned to storage. This survey enables researchers to monitor the diversity and health of the small mammal population. Must be able...3/7

1 - 1 of 1 Shifts
ShiftStart TimeEnd TimeDescriptionRegistrants Needed
 
iNaturalist Wildlife Field Research Bioblitz12:00am (CT)12:00pm (CT) The Wildlife Field Research iNaturalist Bioblitz is intended to fill in the gaps of species not included in our Wildlife Field Research formalized surveys. Participants are invited to submit observations of any critters or plants of interest at any time during the week. This is an on-your-own survey and can...3/30