Everyday people and researchers work on scientific studies collaboratively to benefit the preservation of natural habitat and animal species at the 15 Oakland County parks. Participants gather valuable information about birds, water quality, invasive species, butterflies and more. Citizen science allows the public to assist scientists' understanding of the complexities of nature.

OCP is re-evaluating Citizen Science programming and offerings in 2024 and will have new information available in early 2025. Please email parksnr@oakgov.com or call 248-343-1353 with suggestions or ideas for programs.

Interested in completing a research project on Oakland County Parks and Recreation property? Please complete the Natural Resources Research Application.

Nest Box Monitoring

The Oakland County Parks Nest Box Monitoring Program uses the efforts of dedicated volunteers to monitor 175 nest boxes at seven parks. Every year, approximately 45 volunteers dedicate hundreds of hours monitoring boxes at Addison Oaks, Groveland Oaks, Highland Oaks, Independence Oaks, Lyon Oaks, Orion Oaks and Waterford Oaks county parks.

Nest boxes are built to target four native species – Eastern Bluebirds, Tree Swallows, House Wrens and Black-Capped Chickadees.

According to studies from Cornell Nest Watch, one in four breeding birds has been lost since 1970. The North American Bluebird Society was founded to help restore the declining population of Bluebird species. This decline was largely due to habitat loss of dead and decaying trees that provide cavities for nesting.

Oakland County Parks used data collected by its volunteers and entered it into the Cornell Nest Watch website. Their efforts in 2022 revealed the following activity at its 175 nest boxes at seven parks:

• 210 nesting attempts
• 695 eggs laid in nest boxes
• 523 young hatched
• 505 fledglings left nest box

For more information, contact Nest Box Coordinator Theresa Celusta at celustat@oakgov.com.