Forschen im Almtal (Research in the Almtal)

Visitors of the Cumberland game park in Grünau im Amtal (Upper Austria) were invited to use an app to enter sightings and behavioural observations of greylag geese, common ravens and northern bald ibises and thus support research projects and the long-term monitoring of the Konrad Lorenz Research Center (KLF).

Since its foundation in 1973, the KLF (nowadays a core facility of the University of Vienna) has been dedicated to research on the social systems of free-flying birds. Especially three bird species are used as models: greylag goose, raven and northern bald ibis. As some aviaries of the KLF are located in the game park (e.g. free flight aviary of the northern bald ibises), the two institution share a close cooperation.

What was it all about?

The aim of this project was to monitor the spatio-temporal patterns of three model bird species (greylag goose, common raven, northern bald ibis). We wanted to find out, when and where which animals can be found. Do they have preferences for certain places within the game park or do they prefer the company of conspecifics? The free-flying birds of the KLF are individually marked (leg rings, wing tags), which makes it possible for Citizen Scientists to recognize the birds individually. 

Who could participate in the research?

Everyone who owns a smartphone and downloads the app "Forschen im Almtal". 

How could one participate?

To participate, you needed to download the app "Forschen im Almtal" to a mobile device and log in/register. When visiting the game park in Grünau im Almtal and seeing one of the three bird species (greylag goose, northern bald ibis, raven) citizens could create a spot on a map. Further information could be obtained from the app manual or by contacting the research team. 

For school classes and groups of 7 people or more, there was the possibility for a workshop and accompaniment during data recording; more information at: https://naturschauspiel.at/naturschauspiele-startseite/flattern-und-schnattern-im-almtal---buerger-schaffen-wissen-188984.

Publications

Pühringer-Sturmayr V, Rittenschober J, Gegendorfer G, Kleindorfer S, Frigerio D (2023). Assessing quality of contributions to avian monitoring by non-scientists: a case study on individually banded wild birds. Environ. Res. Lett. 18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/acd073

Hirschenhauser, K., Frigerio, D., & Neuböck-Hubinger, B. (2022). Science Education and Beyond: Citizen Science in Primary School Potentially Affects Conceptual Learning and Socio-emotional Development. In A. Volvlas (Hrsg.), Citizen Science - Methods, Approaches and New Perspectives. Intechopen. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.107532

Links

Project on the website of Uni Vienna

Proceedings of the Citizen Science Conference 2019