Get involved in citizen science

Citizen scientists can play an important role in helping to save many of our threatened species across NSW.

By taking part in threatened species research, your work will support the Saving our Species conservation program. The Saving our Species program aims to secure threatened species in the wild for 100 years.

Depending on the project, you could go out into the field to take images on your smartphone or work from home to share your findings using your home computer. You can take part whatever your age or background. All you need is an interest in saving threatened species.

We’d also like to hear from potential partners and researchers interested in working with us on future projects. Please email citizen.science@environment.nsw.gov.au.

Here are some projects you can get involved in:

• Survey koalas
• Saving our Species on DigiVol
• Count flying foxes across the state
• Monitor threatened marine turtles through NSW TurtleWatch
• Monitor threatened shorebirds and protect shorebird nesting habitat
• Support the recovery efforts of the critically endangered Bellingen River Snapping Turtle

There are many ways you can get hands-on experience with animal and plant surveys. Citizen scientists work alongside our staff to create a snapshot of the number, type and distribution of species in a particular area. You can survey threatened species, other native animals and plants, even weeds.

We use that information in our monitoring programs to support our decision-making.

Here are some projects you can be involved in:

• survey birds in the Warrumbungle National Park
• monitor wombats at Bents Basin State Conservation Area
• hunt for orange hawkweed in Kosciuszko National Park
• collect information on our iconic waterbirds in the Waterbird Tracker Project
• join or run a BioBlitz.

You can put your smartphone, home computer or tablet to good use as a citizen scientist. Digital technology has revolutionised the way you can participate in citizen science.

You can take photos and videos to survey wildlife or monitor landscapes or analyse images from home and identify threatened species.

You can also report sightings of plants and animals with BioNet, regardless of whether or not you’re taking part in a citizen science project.

Here are some digital projects you can be involved in:

• Saving our Species on DigiVol
• Take photos in the Warrumbungles to monitor the area’s recovery from bushfire
• Snap while at the beach CoastSnap beach monitoring.

Citizen scientists can help monitor wind erosion, share what they know about soils or report dust storms. Your work will help protect our land and soil for future generations.

Land and soil citizen science projects include:

• SoilWatch and NSW Soil Knowledge Network
• DustWatch