NatureWatch Sunshine Coast

NatureWatch Sunshine Coast is a citizen science program being developed to assist council in monitoring and maintaining our environment reserves through community participation.

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 likeminded 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. We are continually growing the program, so regularly check back here for new opportunities.

Program	Lead organisation(s)	About
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.
Big Butterfly Count - Sunshine Coast	Sunshine Coast Council	Join us in counting the Sunshine Coast’s butterflies. Keep an eye out here for upcoming dates.
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.