Citizen Science

ABI Desert Watch

The mission of Anza-Borrego Institute's Desert Watch is to study and keep track of the number and condition of wildlife in and over Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. These studies will provide information about population ecology, wildlife management and biological conservation.

Wildlife Survey Project

Wildlife Survey Project volunteers monitor remote cameras in selected areas of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Remote camera wildlife surveys and inventories are used to identify wildlife populations, their home ranges, biodiversity, and habitat usage. Wildlife surveys assist with continuing protection of wildlife habitats by documenting existing conditions. Monitoring alerts us to changes and the need to identify factors having an undesirable impact on wildlife for which sensible conservation remedies may be applied.

Anza-Borrego Tracking Team

The Anza-Borrego Tracking Team conducts wildlife track and sign surveys to help ensure the protection of critical wildlife habitat. Monitoring the presence or absence of wildlife populations can evaluate the health of key species, the connection of open space areas and pathways, and reflect the health of the ecosystem.

Borrego Valley Hawkwatch

A hawkwatch provides important insights into raptor migration and significant information on the status of raptor populations to support research and environmental purposes. Data gathered by Borrego Valley Hawkwatch volunteers have already contributed valuable specifics about Swainson’s Hawks in Southern California. Beginning in February and continuing into May, the daily tally of raptors migrating through the Borrego Valley is reported to the Hawk Migration Association of North America, a scientific, educational, and conservation organization that collects data from hundreds of affiliated raptor monitoring sites throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. 

Help count migrating Swainson's Hawks.

2010 Hawkwatch: Click here to see daily reports of sightings.

2009 Hawkwatch: Click here to see daily reports of sightings.

Information collected by Desert Watch volunteers through the Wildlife Survey Project, the Anza-Borrego Tracking Team and the Borrego Valley Hawkwatch will be used to help determine policy for the use of desert landscapes, development of high voltage power lines, geothermal production, maintenance of wilderness areas, protection of wildlife and animal corridors, and other possible desert developments. Please contact Sally Theriault, Manager of the Institute, to find out how you can get involved.