Citizen science affords anyone who cares about nature the opportunity to provide valuable data to help safeguard it. Observations by amateurs and professionals alike help scientists detect long-term trends, understand how species are impacted by factors like climate change, and inform management plans. If you already enjoy spending time outdoors, make it count twice – enjoy all the physical and spiritual benefits of spending time in nature while helping to protect natural communities.

Project FeederWatch

Project FeederWatch tracks winter bird populations in backyards, parks and nature centers throughout North America, providing valuable insight for scientists. Observations by bird enthusiasts are compiled into the annual Winter Bird Highlights report. Mount St. John hosts two monitoring sites – one at the Marianist Mission, which is monitored by their staff, and one in the John Soehnel Meditation Grove, monitored by MEEC staff. If you are a birder, or would like to become one, we’d love you to join us! Read more

Butterfly monitoring

Since 2011 MEEC has monitored two butterfly transects weekly from April – October, logging population and diversity. We’ve recorded 58 species on the property, from American snouts to Zabulon skippers! Our data joins that of other monitoring organizations across the state and is compiled by the Ohio Lepidopterists. This allows problems in population trends to be detected early, before populations reach critical numbers. We also identify new state species, detect breeding populations of sub-tropical butterflies and track how species respond to management efforts. Read more