As we look back over the year that was 2018, we would like to say a big thank you to all volunteers, landholders, experts, partners and sponsors of the Natural Resources SA Murray-Darling Basin Citizen Science program. Together we have achieved so much this year!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and safe and happy holidays, and looking forward to working with you again in 2019.

From
Katie and Sylvia

Waterbug Bioblitzes

Thank you to the hardworking citizen scientists and aquatic ecologists who surveyed 19 sites as part of the 2018 autumn and spring Waterbug Bioblitzes across the Angas, Finniss, Marne and Saunders catchments.

These events wouldn’t be possible without generous and enthusiastic support from the Natural Resources SAMDB Flows for the Future and Water Allocation Planning programs, Goolwa to Wellington LAP and catchment groups across the region.

We are grateful to the Marne Catchment volunteers and Finniss Catchment Group who are now monitoring sites on a monthly basis and reporting water quality information on the SAMDB Waterwatch data portal.

Science Week

Our Science Week events in August were huge this year! The Ukaria Fungi Film Festival event booked out, and the Chaffey Science Showcase was well attended.

Thank you everyone who came along to watch the Scinema films and hear about local and national citizen science projects.

We couldn’t have put on these events without our generous partners; Mount Barker District Council, Adelaide Hills Science Hub & Murray Mallee Science Hub (Inspiring SA) and The University of Adelaide Environment Institute.

Riverland Bioblitz

The Riverland Bioblitz, run in partnership with Renmark Paringa Council and Riverland Landcare, was so much fun on a beautiful Saturday morning at Martin Bend Wetland in May. Together we surveyed birds, fish, reptiles, invertebrates, and flora.

Interested in a round up of the results?  Click here to watch a video

Image credit: Myles Fauser

Bird surveys

Thanks to birding experts and citizen scientists for making the bird survey training days at Lawari Conservation Park, Tolderol Game Reserve, Gurra Gurra Creek and Laratinga Wetland, all a great success.

Thank you also to the dedicated birders who continue to submit bird sightings online throughout the year. Please remember that we will be transitioning to the Birdlife Birdata portal early in the new year.

Frogs

Thanks to the frog experts and workshop participants who attended the FrogSpotter training sessions during winter, and to those who have been submitting frog sightings and training as frog identifiers as part of the Frogwatch SA program.

Image credit: Spotted marsh frog (Litoria raniformis) Steve Walker

Mega Murray-Darling Microbat

The Mega Murray-Darling Microbat project is now in its second bat season. Bat calls are being identified and feedback sent to participants.

Analysis of species distribution and habitat associations and social surveys will be conducted by the South Australian Museum and University of South Australia and we will let you know the results.

Thank you to all participants, bat experts and Landcare staff across the region for your involvement in this first-of-a-kind citizen science project!