Help Us Capture Change at Prescott Park: A Community Science Project
Have you ever wondered what a landscape looks like as it changes through restoration? Now is your chance – help us create a time-lapse of that transformation!
The Klamath Siskiyou Oak Network (KSON) invites you to participate in an exciting community science project at Prescott Park in Medford. We recently installed two photo stations that allow park visitors to help us track changes in oak habitat over time as restoration efforts take place.
Oak habitats are important ecosystems that support a diversity of wildlife, including many bird species. However, these fire-adapted habitats face challenges. In the absence of fire, oak trees can get crowded by conifers that gradually shade out oak trees and alter surrounding plant communities. Through restoration, KSON and its partners are working to improve the health and resilience of these valuable habitats.
Capturing Change, One Photo at a Time
Restoration unfolds over months, years, and even decades. In slow-changing ecosystems like oak woodlands, some of the most meaningful changes can be difficult to notice from one visit to the next.
That’s where community science comes in!
A picture is worth a thousand data points. Taking photographs at the same location over time creates a visual timeline that documents the landscape before, during, and after restoration activities. These images will give us a holistic view of the location throughout the seasons and years to come.
With community contributions, we can build a more complete picture of how the landscape responds to restoration and share that story with everyone who enjoys Prescott Park.
Whether you’re a regular park visitor, an avid hiker, a bird enthusiast, or simply someone who enjoys spending time outdoors, we encourage you to take part.
How To Participate
Participating is simple, and anyone with a smartphone can contribute!
1. Find a photo station. Look for one of the two photo stations installed along the trails at Prescott Park.
2. Snap a photo. Place your smartphone in the designated holder and take a picture of the landscape.
3. Upload your photo. Follow the instructions posted at the station to submit your image to the Chronolog website.
4. Come back and participate again! Visit throughout the seasons to help document how the habitat changes over time.
Each submitted photo becomes part of a growing visual record, letting everyone see the landscape through the community’s eyes.
Be Part of the Restoration Story
Community participation is an important part of conservation. By contributing photos, you help document changes at Prescott Park and create a visual record to share with future generations.
Next time you’re exploring Prescott Park, keep an eye out for our photo stations. Together, we can capture the story of oak habitat restoration, one photo at a time!
