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Citizen science alive and well in Coeymans

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By Marlene McTigue

Capital Region Independent Media

Monitoring glass eels helps scientists learn about the health of the species. Contributed photo

NEW BALTIMORE—Do you know what a glass eel is? As inhabitants of the banks of the mighty Hudson River, you may have seen them without knowing it.

The glass eel is the juvenile stage of American eel and are named for their transparent appearance. They are typically 5.5–6.5 centimeters long and can be found in many waterways, including the Hudson River and its tributaries like the Hannacroix Creek.

Last month, a group of RCS Community Library patrons played the role of citizen scientist as they joined the professional scientists of Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Department of Environmental Conservation for an end-of-season glass eel census in Hannacroix Creek.

It’s all part of the Hudson River Eel Project, a collaborative effort supported by the Hudson River Estuary Program and the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve. The project aims to address the decline of the American eel population by conducting baseline studies and engaging local communities in conservation efforts.

Librarian Jill Kobayashi, who organized the event, explained why the census is important.

“Every day’s data adds to the picture of what time of year the glass eels begin to arrive this far north in the Hudson River and how many eels there are each year,” said Kobayashi.

When she first learned of a project to help preserve the eels her interest was piqued.

“I first learned about the Hudson River Eel Project while looking for citizen science experiences in our community,” said Kobayashi. “When I heard that there were eels in the Hannacroix Creek, I was surprised and curious! Eels are mysterious creatures. There’s a lot that we don’t know about them, and in order to protect this species, which was in decline for a number of years, projects like this one are critical.”

A library event was created, and patrons signed up.

“The day was sunny and warm—perfect for spending time in the shade down by the Hannacroix Creek,” said Kobayashi.

Eight patrons (four adults and four youth) participated, which meant everyone had a chance to take part in the monitoring efforts, from taking air and water temperatures, to recording weather conditions, to looking for and counting glass eels, according to Kobayashi. 

“We were all surprised by the number of glass eels in the net that day (the final day of eel monitoring this spring)—one! This was especially surprising because on some spring days, as we learned from Lindsey (the representative from Cornell Cooperative who led the count), the net might have almost 10,000 glass eels,” said the librarian.

At the end of the program the young people explored the creek looking for other living things and with their newly acquired knowledge about eels, they found more glass eels and several tadpoles. 

The success of the event aligned with the organizers’ goals, which included daily monitoring of the eel net and the removal of equipment as the spring 2024 study concluded. Moreover, the event served as a platform to introduce the local community to the significance of citizen science in ecological research and conservation efforts.

Looking ahead, the organizers expressed interest in continuing similar initiatives in the future. While CCE welcomes individual volunteers for the Glass Eel Monitoring Project each spring, there are discussions about expanding library-organized field trips or establishing a citizen science club to further engage the community in environmental stewardship.

In addition to the Hudson River Eel Project, the library has been actively involved in other citizen science endeavors. Preceding the partial solar eclipse in April, residents participated in the “Eclipse Soundscapes: Citizen Science Project,” documenting auditory observations during the celestial event.

And that’s not all! Plans are underway for butterfly hatching at the library this summer, along with educational tours of demonstration gardens and composting demonstrations in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany County, according to Kobayashi. 

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