By identifying, locating, and measuring every tree in the forest, the team was able to establish a baseline and track how the forest changes over time.  This data can be used to better understand invasive species, species at risk, forest growth, and the local effects of climate change.

Over 22, 000 trees have been surveyed to date.

As part of their bird study projects, The Hamilton Naturalists’ Club, has multiple bird audio recorders placed around the property. The bird audio recorders serve to record bird species diversity and presence on the property.

In the tallgrass prairie and adjacent old field meadow, there are two sets of solar panel powered audio playback devices that play the calls of Bobolink and Eastern Meadowlark.

Bobolink and Eastern Meadowlark are two threatened species at risk ground nesting grassland birds. The project is led by Dr. Jim Quinn, from McMaster’s Department of Biology and aims to encourage Bobolink and Eastern Meadowlark to nest at McMaster Forests grasslands.

Undergraduate and graduate researchers from Dr. Susan Dudley’s lab, from McMasters Biology Department are conducting a study on the effects of deer browsing on sapling growth in forests. Several deer exclosure fences are set up in the forest in an effort to monitor and compare sapling growth with and without deer browsing.

Within the tallgrass prairie and adjacent old field, you may spot several blue bird boxes. This is a project led by The Hamilton Naturalists’ Club, and helps to encourage blue birds to nest on the property. Most blue bird hatchlings are tagged and nesting pairs are recorded and monitored. There are currently 7 sets of two blue bird boxes located in the area.

It’s a buzzin’! Each year since 2014 undergraduate and graduate students from Dr. Susan Dudley’s lab, from McMasters Biology Department survey the bee populations at McMaster Forest using a variety of methods, including pan traps, vane traps, and sweep netting. This project is expanding the current bee research in Hamilton and Ontario.

25 tree swallow boxes were installed by the lab of Dr. Emily Choy in the tallgrass prairie to research the interactive effects of climate change and contaminants in tree swallows. These boxes act as a “clean” reference colony to those in Hamilton Harbour near wastewater treatment plants.

Weekly surveys over the summer and early fall are conducted by Nature at McMaster staff as part of a joint collaboration with Ontario Nature’s Long-Term Monitoring Protocol for snakes. Four species have been recorded to date, including Eastern Gartersnake, Eastern Milksnake, Dekay’s Brownsnake, and Northern Red-bellied Snake.