Backyard citizen science opportunities

Looking for something to do while you're in isolation? Why not get into your own backyard and participate in the many citizen science activities available. It’s a great way to get outside in nature and contribute to a broader understanding of our natural environment. Below are some of the many opportunities in Mitchell Shire to get outside and get involved.

The Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) is Australia’s one-stop-shop for information on our diverse wildlife: you can look up facts, explore species in your area, and view images of species in the wild and specimens in museums.

The ALA also enables you to make real contributions to biodiversity science: you can upload observations, help digitise museum collections, and set up your own community biodiversity projects.

Share what you are seeing in response to climate change with the Australian Museums Capturing Climate Change online gallery.

FrogID is a national citizen science project that is helping us learn more about what is happening to Australia’s frogs.

Using the Australian Platypus Monitoring Network, volunteers record platypus sightings at one or more sites using a standard visual survey method. By tracking population trends, conservation action can be taken sooner rather than later to help ensure this remarkable animal’s survival.

Birds in Backyards is a research, education and conservation program of BirdLife Australia focused on the birds that live where people live. Follow the links from the website to download the birdata app.

The BirdLife Australia website also has some great resources including a parents pack with activities and colouring in.

Australia’s largest species discovery program—it takes expert taxonomists on expeditions to remote locations to record plants and animals. Now anyone can join the Bush Blitz team on a virtual expedition, from anywhere in Australia!

ClimateWatch is a national program developed by Earthwatch Australia, Bureau of Meteorology and the University of Melbourne to better understand how climate change is affecting our wildlife.

Download the ClimateWatch app or our field guides to start recording on ClimateWatch species.

Share the location, photos and details of local echidna sightings. Echidna CSI aims to learn about the distribution of echidnas across the country, the diet and gut health of echidnas, their changing hormones throughout breeding season, and so much more.

Feral Scan is a citizen surveillance program - where you can help map feral animals and the damage they cause, including rabbits, foxes, feral deer and feral pigs. The app was launched in 2009 - now hosting over 200,000 community records.

Fungimap is a not for profit, citizen-science organisation dedicated to furthering the conservation and knowledge of Australian fungi.

The iSpy Catchment Creatures app, developed by the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (GBCMA), allows users to record sightings and calls of birds, fish, reptiles and frogs which can be mapped and displayed on the GBCMA website. The information assists in better understanding the distribution, habitat preference and behaviour of species.

Get involved in Melbourne Water’s community frog monitoring program and collect data to help manage frog populations and raise awareness of waterway health issues.

Nature Blitz is an app developed by the North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA) which covers the regions of Mitchell Shire that drain to the Campaspe River including Tooborac, Mia-Mia and Glenhope.

This is a citizen science monitoring tool that allows the community to collect important information about our region's biodiversity including birds, fish, mammals, frogs and reptiles.

Waterwatch is a citizen science program for monitoring waterway health. Connecting local communities with waterways and catchment management.

The Wild Pollinator Count provides an opportunity to contribute to wild pollinator insect conservation in Australia, including butterfly, wasp, fly, moth, beetle, thrips and ant species, some of which are documented pollinators. We invite you to count wild pollinators in your local environment and help us build a database on wild pollinator activity. Special events - Autumn: 12 – 19 April Spring: 8 – 15 November