The Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) is a national collaborative project hosted by the CSIRO and supported by the Australian Government to create a biodiversity open access data portal.

It provides the largest database on biodiversity in Australia, using records collected from researchers, conservation groups, government agencies and communities.

Users can search for plant and animal species found in their local area, or from anywhere across Australia with help from the interactive map.

To contribute, you can record a sighting using one of the many apps that the ALA collects biodiversity data from such as iNaturalist or BioCollect.

Learn more by clicking here.

Birdlife Australia hosted the Aussie Bird Count during National Bird Week from the 14th to 20th of October 2024. You are encouraged to join other members of your community to observe, count and record birds in your local area. You can participate by spending 20 minutes at your local park, home garden, nature reserve or town centre and record the number of birds and different species that you see. You can then submit your count via the online form or via the free Aussie Bird Count app.

Camden Council is also hosting two bird watching events this October to celebrate the Aussie Bird Count. Join Council’s Natural Areas Project Officer, local birding enthusiast Brett Mezen, and Mark Fuller from Avianation, for an hour and a half of bird watching at Camden Town Farm and Kings Bush Reserve. You'll get to learn about and see many local birds as well as make a valued contribution to the Aussie Bird Count. To register your interest in attending click here. 

This valuable data is reviewed by expert ornithologists before being used to understand the common species living around us. Because the count occurs in October each year, trends in bird communities can be examined and compared to previous years.

To register, click here.

The Duck-billed Platypus (Ornithorynchus anitinus) is only 1 of 3 living monotreme species and inhabits lakes, creeks and rivers across east-coast Australia. Platypus are considered to be elusive due to their predominantly nocturnal behaviour.

The Australian Platypus Monitoring Network (APMN) is a citizen science driven program to detect and monitor platypus populations using visual survey methods. This data is used to analyse trends in population sizes and range across geographic areas over time, providing the latest data for the development of conservation strategies and actions to protect this species.

The APMN program is designed to be flexible so that volunteers can integrate platypus surveys into their everyday activities. Surveys typically take only 5 - 10 minutes per site and can be recorded using the iNaturalist app or via the online submission form.

To register, click here.

Insect-eating bats play an important role in our ecosystem by eating insects like cockroaches and mosquitoes, however of the 34 species recorded in NSW, 18 are listed as threatened or thought to be extinct due to habitat loss, human activities and climate change. 

Bats in Backyards aims to close the gap on known habitat requirements and distribution of these threatened species to help protect and secure populations in NSW.

Researchers are interested in sampling a range of different habitats in parts of the Cumberland Plain. Anyone who owns their land, house or even apartment in the target areas are encouraged to participate in surveying insect-eating bats on their property. 

Participants are provided with a bat detector device to record echolocation calls over 3 to 5 days and will receive a full report detailing each bat species detected, their preferred habitat and food, and recommended actions for bat protection and conservation.

To register, click here.

Birds in Backyards is a program developed by Birdlife Australia which incorporates citizen science surveys, education and conservation efforts to better understand the interactions of birds with our growing urban landscape.

Surveys are completed four times a year, during each season. To participate, you just need to spend 20 minutes in your backyard or garden and count the number of birds and different species that you see. Then upload your results using the Birdata website or app.

The data generated through these surveys is used to monitor changes in diversity and abundance of bird species in urban areas and content for e-News, seminars and workshops. Some survey results are used to inform ongoing monitoring projects and education programs by Birdlife Australia and other organisations like universities and councils.

To register, click here.

There are over 240 native frog species in Australia, and 19 of these species have been recorded in the Camden Local Government Area. Some frog populations are in good health however, others have been in decline since the 1980's and some species are now declared extinct.

FrogID is a national citizen science project coordinated by the Australian Museum which aims to develop a better understanding of the species diversity, distribution and breeding habitats of native frogs. To get involved, you can download the FrogID app and begin recording unique frog sounds and calls from anywhere across Australia. These recordings are then analysed by experts to match each frog call to the individual species. 

Want to know how you can make frogs much hoppier around your home? FrogID Project Coordinator, Nadiah Roslan, presents on the FrogID citizen science project, guiding us on how to support local frogs, and help us better understand these toadly awesome amphibians.

Hook, Line & Measure is a new citizen science project developed by Council that encourages the community to identify and record the species, size and distribution of fish caught in the Nepean River and other local waterways in the Camden area.

This project helps the community to identify areas for recreational fishing activities and assists Council in collecting baseline data to better understand our waterways and inform the delivery of future waterway projects.

To submit your catch or view the information dashboard, click HERE.

Did you know that November is Turtle Month?

It’s a time to celebrate and get involved in helping our freshwater turtles as much as we can during their peak nesting season. If you are near water bodies such as lakes, ponds or rivers – keep your eyes peeled for turtles (especially after rain!). They may be basking on logs or rocks, swimming in the water or even nesting.

If you have seen a turtle, report your sightings to TurtleSAT a citizen science mapping tool that collates data on freshwater turtles from around Australia. There are other ways you can get involved in helping our freshwater turtles, 1 Million Turtles is a national citizen science program aimed at conserving threatened Australian freshwater turtle species, by promoting collaboration between scientists and the community.

River Snap is a citizen science project dedicated to promoting awareness and advocacy for healthy freshwater ecosystems. Using photos sent in by the community, the program monitors the Hawkesbury-Nepean River system over time at key sites along the river, including one in Camden on the Nepean River. This long-term monitoring provides information on environmental indicators, such as water quality, riparian health, bank morphology, patterns of engagement and recreational use.

To submit your photograph, click here.