Citizen Science

Join Daniel and Benjamin Kurek, experienced insect and spider specialists, for a hands-on exploration of the miniature wildlife living all around us. Daniel is an entomologist and member of the Entomological Society of Victoria, while Benjamin is an Australian arachnid enthusiast and educator who enjoys sharing the fascinating world of spiders and other invertebrates with people of all ages.

Discover the incredible diversity of insects and pollinators that call our gardens, parks and reserves home, learn about the important roles they play in our gardens, and explore simple ways to create pollinator and insect-friendly habitats at home.

Perfect for families and children, this interactive event includes a guided bug hunt, searching for insects that buzz, crawl and flutter, investigating habitats, viewing spider and insect specimens up close and contributing observations to citizen science projects helping scientists monitor biodiversity.

This event is delivered by Glen Eira City Council in partnership with the National Trust of Victoria.

• Enclosed walking shoes
• Weather-appropriate clothing and sunscreen
• Magnifying glass (optional)
• A smartphone or mobile device (for adults to take pictures and make recordings)
• Feel free to bring lunch, snacks and a picnic rug to enjoy and spend some extra time exploring the Estate after the event.

To plan your visit and see access information, please visit Rippon Lea Estate's webpage. Contact us before the event if you have any enquiries or need assisted access for this event.

The bug hunt is being hosted as part of Australian Pollinator Week, a citizen science challenge encouraging communities to document and celebrate our wonderful local pollinators, from November 7 to 15. Your observations will contribute to a growing dataset that supports research and conservation both locally and globally.

We encourage adults attending to download the free iNaturalist app before the event and create an account. We will also have observation equipment available for children and families that will not require a device.

Learn more about iNaturalist below.

Learn about the incredible native bats that call Melbourne home, including the iconic Grey-headed Flying Fox, their important role in supporting healthy ecosystems, and how simple actions such as wildlife-friendly netting and responsible lighting can help protect them.

Following the presentation, you'll head out into the grounds of Rippon Lea with bat survey equipment including thermal imaging technology and microphones to detect and identify the bats active after sunset. You'll learn how scientists and citizen scientists monitor bat populations and contribute valuable biodiversity data.

This event is delivered by Glen Eira City Council in partnership with the National Trust of Victoria.

• A smartphone or mobile device
• Enclosed walking shoes
• Weather-appropriate clothing
• A torch or headlamp

This event is being hosted as part of the Great Southern BioBlitz, a citizen science challenge across the Southern Hemisphere, encouraging communities to document and celebrate local biodiversity across the challenge period, November 27 to 30. Your observations will contribute to a growing dataset that supports research and conservation both locally and globally.

We encourage attendees to download the free iNaturalist app before the event and create an account.

Learn more about Glen Eira's Citizen Science program, how to use iNaturalist and other local projects on our website.

Photo credit: Museums Victoria (Photographer - Paul David, accessed from collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/species/12367)

Using specialist lighting equipment, Daniel will introduce participants to the remarkable diversity of moths and nocturnal insects found in urban environments. Robert will demonstrate bat survey techniques using thermal and acoustic technology to detect and identify bats flying overhead.

This citizen science event provides a unique opportunity to observe wildlife not often known to us or seen during daylight hours, while contributing valuable biodiversity records.

Many species become active after sunset, with some insects and bats appearing later in the evening. Our citizen science experts will stay until after 9pm for those interested in spotting these nocturnal species.

This event is hosted by Glen Eira City Council's Sustainability Team.

• A smartphone or mobile device
• Enclosed walking shoes
• Weather-appropriate clothing
• A torch or headlamp (optional)

This event is being hosted as part of the Great Southern BioBlitz, a citizen science challenge across the Southern Hemisphere, encouraging communities to document and celebrate local biodiversity across the challenge period, November 27 to 30. Your observations will contribute to a growing dataset that supports research and conservation both locally and globally.

We encourage attendees to download the free iNaturalist app before the event and create an account.

Learn more about iNaturalist below.

There are many great apps that make identifying wildlife and easy.

• Melbourne Water frog census: Record a frog call and add it to data collection for frog research. It has frog call recordings for easy identification.
• Birdlife Australia Aussie Birdcount: Walks you through how to identify every Australian bird you see.
• Museums Victoria Fauna App: Combines animal descriptions with photos, as well as animal calls, distribution maps, conservation status, butterfly flight times, frog calling times and depth information for marine species.
• FungID App: A free and open phone application that helps to predict and identify mushroom and fungus observations you make. Find fungus names, where they have been locally observed and other information about species.