Wildlife Surveys

Participation is important for turkey population management. Survey data allow the agency to determine total wild turkey productivity and compare long-term reproductive success within Pennsylvania and across states, as this is a standard methodology used across the country. Data also are used in the turkey population model to track population trends.

The incredible recovery of bald eagles means we need your help with monitoring them. Please let us know about the nests you see. By adding together everyone’s observations we can better identify all the new nests and track eagle productivity in the state.

The Atlas will be open to all volunteer birders, regardless of skill level, primarily by using the popular "eB​ird" online database to record observations. It also will be the first time a Pennsylvania Bird Atlas will incorporate winter surveys in addition to breeding season surveys, which will help refine the understanding of the year-round distribution and relative abundance of Pennsylvania's bird populations.

Join us in monitoring the health of Pennsylvania's summer bat colonies through the Appalachian Bat Count. Count bats as they exit their summer roost at dusk in June, then again later in the summer to see how the colony has grown as pups begin flying.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is seeking the assistance of volunteers in monitoring the expansion of Pennsylvania's sandhill crane population. The Eastern Population of sandhill cranes has undergone rapid expansion in recent decades, and this expansion has not gone unnoticed in Pennsylvania. 

The information collected will promote conservation efforts for this declining habitat and the birds and other wild species that depend upon it.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission gathers heron colony observations to improve its ability to monitor heron populations and distribution throughout the state. The survey focuses chiefly on the great blue heron, and the state-endangered black-crowned night-heron and yellow-crowned night-heron, which are Pennsylvania Wildlife Action Plan priority species.

As osprey populations increase in PA, you may know about nests that we don’t, and your contributions improve our understanding of osprey population health. We are concerned with the location and any information on the number of chicks present in nests as the osprey is currently listed as threatened in Pennsylvania and represents a valuable indicator of habitat quality.

Several hundred Pennsylvania grouse and/or woodcock hunters help the PGC manage these important game birds by keeping a log of their daily hunting activities. This survey helps track the status of these game bird populations as well as hunter success.

• Hunters record number of flushes and hours by county(s) hunted. 

The nation's longest-running community science bird project fuels Audubon's work throughout the year. The Christmas Bird Count occurs December 14 to January 5 every season.