CCWA Citizen Science

17/04/2026

Did you know that bats provide pest control by eating insects, tree planting by spreading seeds, and pollination by transferring pollen between flowers?

Today, on Bat Appreciation Day, it’s a fitting time to reflect on everything bats do, as well as how community involvement can drive meaningful conservation outcomes.

Joker’s Tunnel, a historic gold mining structure near Yalgoo, has become an important roosting site for insectivorous bats in Western Australia’s semi-arid interior.

Initial visits to the site identified clear signs of regular human access, raising concerns about potential disturbance to roosting bats.

These observations prompted discussions with the local shire and led to broader collaboration with researchers and Conservation Council of WA (CCWA) volunteers.

Citizen scientists became central to the project. Through acoustic monitoring and field observations, volunteers contributed valuable data that helped build a clearer picture of bat activity and site use.

This community-led effort not only strengthened the evidence base, but also fostered local engagement, including with the Yalgoo community and primary school.

To learn more about the project, you can read the blog post and Kelly's paper: https://www.ccwa.org.au/from_heritage_site_to_bat_refuge_how_citizen_science_helped_spotlight_joker_s_tunnel

13/04/2026

🐝 Citizen science opportunity for bee lovers! 🌿

Our friend Dr Kit (Bee Babette) has launched a fantastic citizen science project exploring something many of us have probably noticed in the garden — the neat little cuts that native leafcutter bees make in leaves and petals.

Rather than focusing on identifying the bees themselves (which can be small, fast and tricky to ID), this project invites people to record the plants that Megachile “leafcutter bees” use to build their nests. 🌸🍃

Why does this matter?
We know surprisingly little about the non-food resources native bees rely on. For leafcutter bees, leaves and petals are essential construction materials for their nests. By documenting which plants they use, this project will help researchers better understand the resources these bees need — and help ensure they’re considered in habitat and garden design.

It’s also a great reminder that those neat little cut-outs in leaves aren’t a pest problem — they’re often a sign that a native bee is making a home nearby. 🏡🐝

If you spot leaves or petals with those characteristic circular or oval cuts, you can contribute observations here 👉 https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/australian-megachile-leafcutter-bee-leaves-and-petals

You can also check out Kit’s post explaining the project here 👉 https://www.instagram.com/p/DVuPiFpk-P-/

A simple and accessible way for anyone to contribute to native bee research in Australia while getting out and looking closely at the plants around them. 🌿🔍

09/04/2026

🌳 A weekend among giants in the Warren region 🦇

We spent the weekend searching for and measuring old-growth Marri, Jarrah and Karri in Jane National Park.

These remarkable trees are more than just impressive in size — they’re vital wildlife habitat. During our surveys we found signs of phascogale, bush rats, and bat roosts tucked away in hollows and cracks.

Some of the Jarrah we measured are estimated to be over 500 years old — living witnesses to centuries of forest history. 🌿

Old trees like these are incredibly important for wildlife that rely on hollows for shelter and breeding, and they take hundreds of years to form.

16/03/2026

WIN:

After years of work by citizen scientists and campaign groups, Australia's pesticide regulator has restricted the sale of rat baits that are known to kill owls in alarming numbers.

This means that soon, they could be banned from shop shelves, and owls and other native wildlife will be significantly safer. Congratulations to everyone involved!

22/11/2025

If you’re keen to get involved in hands-on conservation work, there’s an exciting chance to join a citizen science drone project in Dawesville!

All the details, including how to take part, are in the flyer attached below.

A great opportunity for anyone interested in wildlife, tech, or community science.

20/11/2025

🌿 Balijup Citizen Science Eco-Camp — January 2026
📍 Near Cranbrook, WA
🗓 1pm Thurs 15 Jan – 12pm Mon 19 Jan 2026

Keen to get hands-on with real conservation work this summer? You’re invited to join us at the Balijup Citizen Science Eco-Camp, part of the incredible Gondwana Link project!

Spend four days exploring and surveying wildlife on a stunning 111ha fenced conservation sanctuary. We’ll be monitoring bandicoots, phascogales, birds, bats, and bushland across Balijup — and you can be part of the team.

✨ What’s happening?
You’ll work alongside ecologists and wildlife specialists to carry out fauna monitoring.

🛖 Where?
Balijup Sanctuary (near Tenterden). Camping and facilities provided on a neighbouring farm. Full details sent to registered participants.

💵 Cost: $55 on arrival (covers facilities/resources).
🍃 BYO food & camping gear.
⏱ Come for all 4 days or chat with us about partial attendance.

🎟 Register now:
https://events.humanitix.com/bandicoots-birds-bats-and-eco-surveying-your-invitation-to-participate-in-a-balijup-citizen-science-eco-camp-near-cranbrook-wa

📞 Questions? Contact Green Skills Denmark on 0429 481 019

Come camp, connect, and help contribute to real on-ground conservation. 🌱🦇🦘🪶

10/10/2025

🌿 Join the Great Southern BioBlitz! 🌿
📅 24–27 October 2025

Get ready to explore, discover, and celebrate your local biodiversity! The Great Southern BioBlitz is an international citizen science event where communities across the Southern Hemisphere record as many species as possible over one exciting weekend. 🌎✨

Whether you’re snapping photos of plants, insects, fungi, or wildlife — every observation helps scientists learn more about the amazing biodiversity around us.

📲 Simply download the iNaturalist app, join your local project, and start recording what you see from 24–27 October.

🌱 You can take part yourself or join an organised event happening near you!
No experience needed – just curiosity and a love for nature.

Let’s show off the incredible species that call our region home. 💚

Australian Citizen Science Assoc - WA Great Southern Bioblitz Conservation Council of WA

02/10/2025

🌿 Join the Great Southern BioBlitz 2025! 🦎🐝

We’re thrilled to be supporting this year’s Great Southern BioBlitz, running from October 24–27!

📱 Anyone can take part - whether you're exploring a local reserve or observing wildlife in your own backyard. Just download the iNaturalist app and start recording what you see!

👀 New to iNaturalist? Check out the fantastic how-to video created by our intern, Shaelee 👇

🌏 BioBlitz events are happening across Perth (and the whole southern hemisphere)!
Find one near you - or even add your own - via the interactive map (link in the comments)

🔍 Want to know more about the Great Southern BioBlitz?
Visit 👉 www.greatsouthernbioblitz.org

Let’s get outside, get curious, and discover the incredible biodiversity around us! 🌱📸

09/09/2025

🌿🦉💧 When community, science, and Country come together - incredible things happen 🌿🦉💧

Last weekend, 94 passionate people gathered in Julimar Forest for an immersive BioBlitz, taking part in 25 surveys across this extraordinary landscape. Despite muddy tracks, patchy signal and unpredictable weather, the spirit and determination of everyone involved made it a weekend to remember.

Over the course of the event, we recorded over 1,200 observations and 268 species (so far!) on iNaturalist: from critically endangered species like the woylie (Bettongia penicillata), to rarely seen velvet worms (Occiperipatoides gilesii) and the mysterious smooth cage fungus (Ileodictyon gracile). We even documented the ancient Carolina hornwort (Phaeoceros carolinianus), a plant that’s been around for millions of years.

Julimar Forest is a biodiversity treasure trove, home to jarrah, marri, and wandoo woodlands, and plays a vital role in regional and global ecological health. Yet, it's still at risk from mining, fire, invasive species, and the impacts of climate change.

This BioBlitz not only contributed valuable species data - it strengthened the call to protect Julimar as a national park and deepened connections between people and place.

💚 We’re incredibly grateful to the experts, ecologists, naturalists, citizen scientists, and Traditional Custodians who shared their time, skills and knowledge to make this event possible.

With special thanks to: Robert Miles (Noongar Kaartdijin Aboriginal Corporation Chair / Yued Maaman), Uncle Ben (Cuimara) Taylor, and Ballardong Elder Sharmaine Miles for the Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony, Helen Shanks (NKAC) for cultural guidance and support and Mel and Sharon (Julimar Conservation and Forest Alliance) for co-organising the event.

🔗 You can explore the observations and species logged here:
https://lnkd.in/gnpUsneU

This BioBlitz showed us what’s possible when we combine knowledge, culture, and care for nature. Let’s keep the momentum going. 🌏💫

🙏 This event was proudly supported by the Bupa Foundation – thank you for backing community-led conservation in action.

Thanks to Amber Bateup for the photos.

26/08/2025

Environment Matters Forum: Spotlight on Julimar Join us for a special evening dedicated to the unique biodiversity of Julimar State Forest and the official launch of the Julimar BioBlitz 2025!

· When: Friday, 5 September 2025

· Time: 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM

· Where: Toodyay Community Recreation Centre, Burt Park Way

· Who’s it for: Citizen scientists, nature lovers, conservationists – everyone’s welcome!

This 4th Environment Matters Forum of 2025 will bring together scientists, local groups, and community members to explore one of WA’s most ecologically rich and increasingly threatened landscapes.

What to expect:

· Dr Kit Prendergast – Hands-on workshop: How to survey native bees

· Julianne Waldock – Fascinating talk on the spiders of Julimar

· Jason Fowler (WAFA) – The key threats facing Julimar

· Max Howard – Discover the birdlife of the forest

· Daniel Heald – What exactly is a BioBlitz (and how you can get involved!)

Whether you're taking part in the BioBlitz or just want to learn more about Julimar’s incredible wildlife and why it needs protecting, this forum is the perfect place to start.

Conservation Council of WA WA Forest Alliance WA Museum Boola Bardip BirdLife Western Australia Kit Prendergast

Bioblitz supported by Bupa Foundation

Join us in Toodyay on the evening of Friday, September 5, for a special event kicking off the 2025 Julimar Bioblitz. Held in the heart of Julimar country, in partnership with the Julimar Conservation Alliance, this two-hour forum will bring together scientists, conservationists, and community member...