Backyard Species Discovery – a virtual citizen science Bush Blitz

When expeditions were on hold due to COVID-19, the Bush Blitz team organised a virtual expedition to continue adding to our knowledge of Australian biodiversity while keeping everyone busy at home. The project has proved so successful, it will continue for the foreseeable future.

While we can’t promise you’ll find a new species, you will discover some amazing plants and animals living in your own backyard, learn to identify them with the help of Bush Blitz scientists and contribute valuable data to the Atlas of Living Australia.

As of 13 February 2024, we have 620 virtual expedition members, they have made 292,350 observations and 16,787 species have been identified.

Join our virtual citizen science Bush Blitz! Follow the links below to find out how:

Backyard Species Discovery introductory video

Fact sheet – Introduction to Backyard Species Discovery

Fact sheet – Make Your Observations Count

Fact sheet – Finding and photographing slugs and snails

Video – Frogs: Dr Jodi Rowley gives us tips on finding frogs

Video – Insects/spiders: How to make an aspirator or ‘pooter’

Video – Insects/spiders: How to catch ‘mini-beasts’

Video – Slugs & snails: Dr Kevin Bonham gives us tips on finding and photographing them

Resources for teachers