Citizen Science on the Sunshine Coast
How to get involved with citizen science activities within the Sunshine Coast.
So what’s citizen science? It’s when people volunteer their time to partner with researchers to increase scientific knowledge and collect data about their natural environment.
Citizen science gives people a chance to explore a passion outside of their day job, expand on an interest, learn a new skill, meet like-minded people and provide valuable knowledge about our local environment.
Council leads, partners and supports other organisations to deliver citizen science programs you can get involved with. Click here to find out more about what activities Sunshine Coast Council facilitate.
| Program | Lead Organisation(s) | About |
| Big Butterfly Count - Sunshine Coast | Sunshine Coast Council | Join us in counting the Sunshine Coast’s butterflies.
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| Bird in Backyards | Birdlife Australia | A research, education and conservation program focused on the birds that live where people live. Get involved by becoming a member and taking part in online surveys. For more information. |
| ClimateWatch Trails | Sunshine Coast Council & Earthwatch | Collect and record data on the seasonal behaviour of plants and animals along three popular walking trails. For more information. |
| CoastSnap | Sunshine Coast Council | CoastSnap monitors/maps the way the coast changes over time by taking photos of our local beaches over time. Download the free CoastSnap app and visit a CoastSnap station at Coolum, Alexandra Headland, Buddina or Moffat Beach and start snapping. For more information. |
| ECOllaboration citizen science | ECOllaboration | Offer activities including water quality, frog and platypus monitoring. For more information. |
| Find a frog in February | Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee | A citizen science program that enables the community to help close the knowledge gaps that exist for our local frogs. It covers the Mary, Noosa and Burrum River catchments and coastal areas from Peregian to Burrum Heads, including Fraser Island. For more information. |
| Glossy Black Cockatoo monitoring | Glossy Black Conservancy | Annual birding day in May or October in alternating years. For more information. |
| iNaturalist Australia | California Academy of Sciences & National Geographic Society | Provides a place to record and organise nature findings, meet other nature enthusiasts, and learn about the natural world. Observations submitted are added to the global iNaturalist database and shared with the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility to help scientists find and use your data. For more information. |
| Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve citizen science | Sunshine Coast Council | Get involved in seasonal activities such as butterfly counts, bird and pademelon surveys. For more information. |
| TurtleCare | Sunshine Coast Council | A marine turtle monitoring program for nesting activity on the Coast’s beaches. For more information. |