Citizen Science Activities

Tree planting

Find out about our current Citizen Science projects and discover how you can get involved and contribute.

Citizen Science programs provide a very important source of data about biodiversity. Data and insights gained through the efforts of citizen scientists enable us to learn more about our environments by creating additional data sources.

Gang Gang Nests - Tree Hollows Search

Become a citizen scientist and help us preserve our gang-gang cockatoo population in Campbelltown.

Last year we conducted a survey asking people to report sightings of gang gang cockatoos in Campbelltown. Thank you to everyone who participated, we’re happy to share that we have now determined there is a local breeding population in Campbelltown.

Gang-gang cockatoos are listed as a threatened species under state and commonwealth legislation with the key threats to their survival being the removal of old growth hollow bearing trees and foraging habitat from the landscape.

Spot a gang-gang

You can now help us learn more about where the cockatoos live by recording where you’ve seen them, whether they were male (bright red head) or female (dark grey head), what the cockatoos were doing and if they’re regular visitors to the location.

Take the survey

Anyone interested in taking action to help preserve gang gang cockatoos in Campbelltown can join Birdlife Australia’s Gang Gang Recovery Project which provides opportunities to learn and support conservation efforts.

Gang Gang Cockatoos, photo by Kathy O'Connor

Hollows as homes

The Hollows as homes team need your help to identify as many hollows as possible that are being used by our wildlife throughout our urban and agricultural areas.

The information you provide will be used to build a picture of the location, type and number of hollows and nest boxes available in your local area, as well as the wildlife using them.

It will also form part of Council’s plans to retain important habitat trees, plant future habitat trees and supplement missing habitat (e.g. small, medium or large hollows) through the installation of cut in hollows or nest boxes.

Looking out for koalas

Koala Spotting is a great activity to take the family into one of the many bushland reserves located within koala habitat.

Find all the information you need to know about where to look for koalas and what to look out for that will increase your chances of spotting one in the wild.

Download the iSpy koala app to record your koala sightings.

Backyard Species Discovery

Bush Blitz is coordinating a virtual expedition that everyone can join!

This citizen science project will enable you to discover some amazing plants and animals living in your own backyard, whilst contributing valuable data to Australia’s biodiversity databases.

Discover Backyard Species Discovery – Earthwatch Australia to get involved.

Find a science project

The Australian Citizen Science Project Finder is a place to discover and connect with citizen science projects in Australia.

Developed in partnership with the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA), the project finder has been designed to help members of the citizen science community learn about each other’s projects, and provide opportunities to volunteer from your home!

Have you seen some of our tree planting projects?

We have planted over 5,000 trees through our community planting days in critical koala habitat over the past 5 years.

Help us monitor how the trees grow over time by visiting Smiths Creek Reserve which extends all the way through to Cook Park Reserve.

You'll see on the sign at Cook Park Reserve there's instructions on how to send your photos of how the tree growth changes over time.

What bird is that?

Birds in Backyards is a research, education and conservation program of BirdLife Australia focused on the birds that live where people live.

Download the Birds of Western Sydney Field Guide to help you learn about what birds are in our backyard.

Get involved by taking part in their online surveys and learn how you can create bird-friendly spaces in your garden and local community.

Have you seen or heard a Powerful Owl?

You can help us learn more about Powerful Owls on the Birdlife Australia Website.

Let us know if you see or hear one in Campbelltown and report your sightings on Birdata.