CCWA Citizen Science

Did you know that bats provide pest control by eating insects, tree planting by spreading seeds, and pollination by transferring pollen between flowers?

Today, on Bat Appreciation Day, it’s a fitting time to reflect on everything bats do, as well as how community involvement can drive meaningful conservation outcomes.

Joker’s Tunnel, a historic gold mining structure near Yalgoo, has become an important roosting site for insectivorous bats in Western Australia’s semi-arid interior.

Initial visits to the site identified clear signs of regular human access, raising concerns about potential disturbance to roosting bats.

These observations prompted discussions with the local shire and led to broader collaboration with researchers and Conservation Council of WA (CCWA) volunteers.

Citizen scientists became central to the project. Through acoustic monitoring and field observations, volunteers contributed valuable data that helped build a clearer picture of bat activity and site use.

This community-led effort not only strengthened the evidence base, but also fostered local engagement, including with the Yalgoo community and primary school.

To learn more about the project, you can read the blog post and Kelly's paper: https://www.ccwa.org.au/from_heritage_site_to_bat_refuge_how_citizen_science_helped_spotlight_joker_s_tunnel

🐝 Citizen science opportunity for bee lovers! 🌿

Our friend Dr Kit (Bee Babette) has launched a fantastic citizen science project exploring something many of us have probably noticed in the garden — the neat little cuts that native leafcutter bees make in leaves and petals.

Rather than focusing on identifying the bees themselves (which can be small, fast and tricky to ID), this project invites people to record the plants that Megachile “leafcutter bees” use to build their nests. 🌸🍃

Why does this matter?
We know surprisingly little about the non-food resources native bees rely on. For leafcutter bees, leaves and petals are essential construction materials for their nests. By documenting which plants they use, this project will help researchers better understand the resources these bees need — and help ensure they’re considered in habitat and garden design.

It’s also a great reminder that those neat little cut-outs in leaves aren’t a pest problem — they’re often a sign that a native bee is making a home nearby. 🏡🐝

If you spot leaves or petals with those characteristic circular or oval cuts, you can contribute observations here 👉 https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/australian-megachile-leafcutter-bee-leaves-and-petals

You can also check out Kit’s post explaining the project here 👉 https://www.instagram.com/p/DVuPiFpk-P-/

A simple and accessible way for anyone to contribute to native bee research in Australia while getting out and looking closely at the plants around them. 🌿🔍

🌳 A weekend among giants in the Warren region 🦇

We spent the weekend searching for and measuring old-growth Marri, Jarrah and Karri in Jane National Park.

These remarkable trees are more than just impressive in size — they’re vital wildlife habitat. During our surveys we found signs of phascogale, bush rats, and bat roosts tucked away in hollows and cracks.

Some of the Jarrah we measured are estimated to be over 500 years old — living witnesses to centuries of forest history. 🌿

Old trees like these are incredibly important for wildlife that rely on hollows for shelter and breeding, and they take hundreds of years to form.

🌿 Join the Great Southern BioBlitz! 🌿
📅 24–27 October 2025

Get ready to explore, discover, and celebrate your local biodiversity! The Great Southern BioBlitz is an international citizen science event where communities across the Southern Hemisphere record as many species as possible over one exciting weekend. 🌎✨

Whether you’re snapping photos of plants, insects, fungi, or wildlife — every observation helps scientists learn more about the amazing biodiversity around us.

📲 Simply download the iNaturalist app, join your local project, and start recording what you see from 24–27 October.

🌱 You can take part yourself or join an organised event happening near you!
No experience needed – just curiosity and a love for nature.

Let’s show off the incredible species that call our region home. 💚

Australian Citizen Science Assoc - WA Great Southern Bioblitz Conservation Council of WA