Citizen Science
From time to time the Tasmanian Field Naturalists Club is asked if members can send observations or carry out more active research into a topic about the natural world.
This page provides contact details and some descriptions for citizen science opportunities. They are listed in chronological order as they are received.
Australasian Bittern Survey
Australasian Bitterns are classified as internationally endangered with an estimated only 1,000 to 3,000 individuals remaining. In spring, male Australasian Bitterns begin establishing their territories in freshwater habitats comprising dense reedbeds, and producing a distinct, low frequency call referred to as a ‘boom’.
The Birdlife Protection Network wants listeners from across the Australasian Bittern’s range to undertake coordinated listening surveys and help identify this season’s breeding sites. Ideally, volunteers should be available once over these date ranges:
- September 8 - 12th
- October 8 - 12th
- November 6th - 10th
- December 6th - 10th
If you are interested in participating, more information can be found here: https://www.networkbirdlife.org/volunteer-opportunities/keep-an-ear-out-for-australasian-bitterns-at-your-local-wetland
Posted 28 July 2022
Community Rainbow Lorikeet trapping program
Rainbow Lorikeets are classed as an invasive species, they are not protected and landowners are able to safely and humanely destroy them.
The Environmental and Invasive Biosecurity Branch of NRE have a community Rainbow Lorikeet trapping program running in the Kingston and Hobart areas, where they have a bird trap near a feeder and euthanise any Rainbow Lorikeets when they are caught. It is hoped that the same program can be set up on the north of the state, when they can get more traps made.
They are asking if any of our members know of any locations where Rainbow Lorikeets frequently feed AND that the landowners are happy to work in a trapping program, if so please contact
Toni Furlonge, Environmental and Invasive Biosecurity Program Co-ordinator (NRE) either by mobile: 0439 446 738 or email: toni.furlonge@nre.tas.gov.au
NatureMapr citizen science platform now Australia wide
Check out the NatureMapr citizen science platform. With the recent inclusion of Tasmania, the NT, SA and WA, it now provides the ability for anyone, via web or smartphone, to quickly upload their fauna and flora sightings from across Australia and shortly thereafter receive expert identification. This in turn provides important knowledge sharing of historic and current records and observations about the presence and distributions of native and introduced species to raise public awareness and to assist organisations that need to know about them.
Posted 28 April, 2022
Evolutionary ecology of black rats, a super-invasive species
One of our members, Kawinwit Kittipalawattanapol, is currently undertaking PhD research into the impact of the introduction of black rats into Tasmania titled “Evolutionary ecology of black rats, a super-invasive species”. He is looking to collect additional black rat specimen from people’s culling efforts of black rats to supplement my landscape genetics study to understand their local adaptations and movements through time on mainland Tasmania.
If you are culling black rats in bushland habitats you are invited to save specimens for collection by Kawinwit (Ink) Kittipalawattanapol.
The black rat is one of the world’s most destructive alien invasive species and is known to displace native small mammals in Tasmania. From camera images, 90% of all small mammal records are now comprised of black rats. Knowledge gaps are how the decline of the native apex predator, the Tasmanian devil, and the subsequent increase of feral cats, affects populations of black rats, and the impact that black rats have on native small mammals. The project will attempt to close these research gaps by addressing the following questions:
How does devil decline influence the ecological interactions amongst devils, feral cats, quolls, and black and native swamp rats? What are the effects of environment and devil decline on gene flow in black rats?
The researcher will trap small mammals, particularly black rats, to collect genetic samples, with additional samples from the public to supplement the sample size, and use a landscape genetics approach to identify the factors that influence dispersal of black rats across the devil-decline gradient.
The project will increase the ecological knowledge of black rats in Tasmania, where they are understudied. Your contribution will greatly contribute to the conservation of native small mammals in Tasmania.
Contact Kawinwit for more information and if you have any questions.
Kawinwit (Ink) Kittipalawattanapol
School of Natural Sciences
University of Tasmania
kawinwit.kittipalawattanapol@utas.edu.au
Phone: +61 431 343 03
Posted 5 December 2021
Instructions for using iNaturalist
iNaturalist is used around the world to record observations of nature. It is widely used by citizen scientists.
Find out more here: https://www.inaturalist.org/
Here is a pdf of step by step instructions written by Clare Hawkins for using iNaturalist.
Added 24 September 2020
Nature Trackers website
Nature Trackers is the Bookend Trust's overall site of citizen science projects: https://naturetrackers.com.au/
Flame Robins Survey
Call for observations from Central North Field Naturalists.
To find out and to participate, visit:
https://www.disjunctnaturalists.com/robins/index.htm
BushBlitz Backyard Species Discovery
https://www.facebook.com/EarthwatchAustralia/photos/a.149758055050679/3501333483226436/?type=3
(Added 25 April 2020)
Earthwatch Australia
https://www.facebook.com/EarthwatchAustralia/
(Added 25 April 2020)
Save our Seabirds
Appeal from the Pennicott Foundation l Pennicot Foundation website
(Added 17 December 2018, updated 20 August 2019)
Help to eliminate European Wasps from Mt Wellington Park
Recently while enjoying a walk on Mt Wellington, two of our members met one of the Park Rangers who was eradicating European Wasp nests. The Ranger requests that anyone who comes across a nest should contact him, and provide information on location of the next, by a GPS reading if available.
Wellington Park Ranger:
Ben Masterman
Email: ben.masterman@wellingtonpark.org.au
Phone: 6238 2976, 0408 517 534