Wildlife Research Programs

There are many opportunities for study and research in the fields of forest ecology, wildife management, vegetative management, hydrology, geology, water quality and aquatic ecology. The results from some of the current research projects are to develop a better understanding for ecological condition, determine impact from prescribed management practices and monitor and measure landscape process and change. Currently we are collecting data by monitoring the flora and fauna in our areas. For example, two projects include Avian Surveys and the Bluebird Nesting Program.

Avian Survey Program
Birds are excellent indicators of environmental quality. The Avian survey Program was initiated in 1995 to census and evaluate species populations of birds in selected areas in Dallas County. One application of this Survey is to demonstrate the cumulative effects of landscape scale management to bird population density and numbers. Two different Survey Routes are established in four Dallas County Conservation areas. Each Route is surveyed six different times during the year. Each species of bird and total number of each species are recorded. It takes about two hours to complete a Survey Route. We are fortunate to have some dedicated volunteers that help with this project. Since its inception in 1995, 176 species of birds have been recorded in the four Dallas County areas which are Forest Park Museum, Voas Nature Area, Kuehn Conservation Area, and Hanging Rock.

Bluebird Nesting Program
The Eastern Bluebird is a cavity nester. They feed largely on insects caught in grassy areas. Historically, there would have been many dead trees with cavities along the edges of these grassy areas. Today, many of the dead trees are removed from fence rows and other areas because they may be hazardous or for other reasons. Bluebird nesting boxes are a way of providing a substitute nesting cavity. Bluebirds are beautiful, have a pleasant call, and feed on many insect pests. Many people desire to have bluebirds on their property. The Dallas county Conservation Dept. has established bluebird nest box trails at the Voas Nature Area and at the Kuehn Conservation area to not only benefit the birds but to get park users interested in bluebirds as well. Data accumulated from monitoring our boxes will help others wanting to put up nesting boxes. The Bluebird Nest Project at the Kuehn Conservation Area has been administered Drake University Biology Dept. and this nest box project has been awarded the distinction as a Transcontinental Bluebird Trail.

For more information about Bluebirds, check out the web site of the North American Bluebird Society