For the entire month of October, West Gippsland CMA is inviting community members to become citizen scientists and help document the remarkable biodiversity in our backyards, school grounds, favourite patches of bush and wetlands across the region.
The first ever West Gippy Bio-Blitz is a community-wide effort to capture a snapshot of the plants and animals living across West Gippsland, including birds, bats, mammals, frogs and native flora. Every observation recorded contributes to a growing picture of the region's ecological richness. .
Participating is straightforward. Head to the West Gippy Bio-Blitz project page on iNaturalist (the free citizen science app and platform used by naturalists worldwide) and start recording what you find wherever you are. You can photograph a bird in your garden, spot a frog at your local wetland or document a native plant at your school, and your observation becomes part of the regional dataset.
The Bio-Blitz is flexible and accessible. There are no minimum requirements and no specialist knowledge needed, just curiosity and a phone. Whether you are an experienced naturalist or someone who has never thought much about what lives in your garden, your contribution matters. To get started, visit inaturalist.org/projects/west-gippy-bio-blitz. For more information, contact Marnie on 5175 7846.
