Jim Hess is SWTU’s Conservation Committee Chair and all around workday workhorse! At the Summit for Natural Resources Volunteer banquet, Jim was recognized for his outstanding achievement in citizen-based monitoring.  (Updated with additional information.)

SWTU members may be surprised to learn that this is work Jim does in addition to everything he does for our chapter, including maintaining his Kittleson Creek segments for our Stream Keepers program. Jim monitors bats, insects/bees, rare plants, over 25 bluebird boxes and 9 kestrel boxes,  8 of which host breeding pairs. Jim plans to add add monarch monitoring to his duties this year. He and his wife Marci are also actively involved in the Prairie Enthusiasts and in conducting prescribed burns.

Congratulations Jim! We are very lucky to have you as part of SWTU!

UPDATED with this great write-up from Marci Hess, Jim’s wife.

Jim Hess was awarded Wisconsin’s Outstanding Achievement in Citizen Monitoring Award. Jim was given this award for his years of dedicated service to various citizen science projects.

He has a bluebird trail consisting of 27 boxes; since 2008 he has fledged 757 bluebirds. The comeback of the bluebird is a great success story as they were nearly extinct in 1970. Jim is a board member of the Lafayette County Bluebird Society as well.

Jim also works with the American Kestrel Partnership. Since 2013, he has installed 9 boxes and fledged 65 American kestrels. Wisconsin is experiencing a 6.3% annual decline in our smallest falcon numbers. The cause of this decline is unknown making this data collection imperative to the understanding of what is happening.

The Wisconsin Bat Program was established in 2007 when white nose syndrome was first identified. Our state had the incredible foresight to begin data collection to ascertain baseline population numbers. Since 2013, Jim monitors 6 boxes, participates in the 2 large bat counts at Lake Yellowstone, and assists with bat banding.

The Christmas Bird Count provides data for understanding the bird populations and health and began because of a noticeable decline in bird populations in 1900. Each December, Jim participates in 2 counts and has since 2001.

His most recent project is the Monarch Larval Monitoring Program, which will begin this year. Last year there was a 15% decline in monarchs. The data collected will help researchers better understand the needs and distribution of this important insect.

Other volunteer activities include serving on the board of Southern Wisconsin Trout Unlimited and as the conservation chair, setting up their annual workdays. For The Prairie Enthusiasts, he serves on the Landowners committee.