Supporting landscape monitoring at Padre Island National Seashore
Padre Island National Seashore's Chronolog project, funded with support from Western National Parks, will allow park staff to monitor landscape changes over time. This citizen science project is also a way for visitors to connect with this Texas park.
Frequently asked questions
What is Chronolog?
Chronolog is a monitoring tool that documents changes in landscapes over time, by collecting photos submitted by participants into a timelapse.
How do I use a Chronolog station?
Place your phone in the bracket, and snap a picture of the landscape. Then follow the posted instructions on the station sign to send your picture to the Chronolog interface.
Why are Chronolog stations helpful for park staff?
Chronolog stations help park visitors contribute to landscape monitoring projects. It would be much more difficult for park staff to gather the same amount of images over different times of the year—but the collective efforts of visitors who participate in this citizen science project can provide these data points more quickly and easily.
Where are the Chronolog stations at Padre Island?
Padre Island has nine Chronolog stations, including ones at dunes near Malaquite Visitor Center, near the tidal mudflats at Bird Island Basin, on the coastal prairie, near a freshwater pond, and others.
Why should I visit Padre Island National Seashore?
Padre Island National Seashore, located on the Texas coast, protects miles of serene sandy beaches. It is a hot spot for Kemp's ridley sea turtle nesting—you can watch a hatchling release during the summer—and is also popular with birders, as many species make their homes in, or migrate through, this area.
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Using Chronologs to monitor Padre Island's landscapes
Chronolog is a monitoring tool used by parks and conservation stations throughout the world. According to the organization’s website, there are 1,500 stations throughout the world, in 48 US states and 12 countries, and in places like Big Thicket National Preserve. This citizen science initiative uses crowd-sourced images to create timelapses of different areas—allowing visitors to connect more deeply with the environment, and scientists to collect large amounts of data in a less expensive way.
In 2025, with support from WNP park staff purchased custom Chronolog station signs, phone brackets, a five-year service plan for web hosting on the Chronolog website, and construction materials. Nine Chronolog stations were installed throughout the park in December 2025, strategically placed so a variety of different habitats can be monitored. Locations include the dunes near Malaquite Visitor Center, near the tidal mudflats at Bird Island Basin, on the coastal prairie, near a freshwater pond, and others.
Those who want to participate in the project place their phone in the bracket on the sign, snap a photo of the landscape, and then email their photo to Chronolog. As of early October 2026, 395 data points have been gathered. Park staff hopes to begin a detailed analysis of the landscape changes after additional data has been collected.
Chronolog’s website allows people throughout the world to view this citizen science project.
After nearly a year of data collection, some seasonal changes are already clear in the photos. The browning of grass in the winter and the greening of the prairie in the spring and summer. Bird on the water at dawn and dusk during the fall months. Winter rainstorms. Summer sunsets. But over the years, park staff hope to identify broader patterns, such as fluctuating water levels, and even the movement of the sand dunes.
How Chronolog technology supports park staff
“Chronolog has given us a powerful way to understand how Padre Island’s landscapes evolve through time. Each visitor photo becomes a small contribution to a much larger story—one that helps us track changes in dunes, wetlands, and grasslands across seasons and years,” said Tommy Digiovannangelo, Volunteer Program Manager at Padre Island National Seashore.
“We’re still early in the project, but already we’re seeing how thousands of simple visitor actions can create a long-term record that would be impossible for staff to capture alone. It’s a perfect example of how engaging the public can deepen both stewardship and science. It will be exciting to look back at all the photos five years from now to see how much—or how little—change has occurred.”
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Why is Padre Island worth protecting?
The Chronolog project will provide important and much needed insights into the landscapes of Padre Island National Seashore, which protects several rare ecosystems. The Texas park preserves the longest undeveloped barrier island in the United States. It is one of the few places in the world where the critically endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtle lays its eggs. During the summers, park visitors have the opportunity to see hatchlings make their way to the sea at one of the park’s popular hatchling release events.
Padre Island National Seashore is also a haven for bird life. Located on the Central Flyway, over 380 bird species spend time in, or pass through, these landscapes—nearly half of all bird species that have been documented in North America. The Laguna Madre, one of the six hypersaline lagoons left in the entire world, is where many of these birds come to feed on shrimp and fish. The coastal prairies found at the park are also highly endangered. It is estimated that less than one percent of the original coastal prairie habitats remain, and many acres are protected at the seashore.
The Chronolog project is not only a way for visitors to connect with this special place in Texas but also provides valuable insight into how the landscapes may be changing. With this information, park staff can make educated decisions on how to manage Padre Island National Seashore, so that these important landscapes can be protected and enjoyed for generations to come.
Read more stories about how WNP supports parks at our Funds at Work page.
By Nikki Stavile
