Currently, Working As Project Director For Community-Based Conservation Research Project.
CurrentThe survey project will be known as, and operate as, "FireflyTRACK -- Macon County, NC." The two goals of the project are to: (1) identify every unique firefly species currently present anywhere in Macon County, NC, and (2) document the location of every discreet population of fireflies that can be observed. We will partner with the many community organizations, local businesses, and local government employees who are already focused on outdoor recreation and/or conservation-related activities. In-person presentations will be made to these community stakeholder organizations. At these presentations, the goals and objectives of the survey project will be thoroughly to explained. At these informal gathering, we will actively solicit volunteer participation commitments from those in attendance. A similar series of presentations will be made to Macon County middle school and high school students at the 6 county public schools. This project is essentially a "citizen science" effort that will greatly depend on the participation of a significant number of county residents over the course of five Spring and Summer months. We hope to engage individuals residing in all of the 11 county townships --- from one end of the county to the other. Our message to our county volunteers is very simple, "Wherever and whenever you see fireflies in the coming months, call our 24-7 firefly reporting hotline and report your firefly sighting." The hotline number is, 567-FIREFLY. It will also be possible to report firefly sightings on the survey project's official website at, www.FireflyTRACK.org, but we plan to promote the hotline primarily. Sighting data will be added to the ongoing survey project database.
