Earthwatch

Take note bird watchers, bushwalkers and lovers of the outdoors. Scientists need your eyes and ears to help improve Australia's understanding of how our environment is responding to climate change.

ClimateWatch is a citizen science program run by Earthwatch, a not-for-profit conservation organisation. It gives people a chance to get their hands dirty by observing nature from their own backyard, local park or bushland and recording observations at climatewatch.org.au

There are over 80 different species you can choose to watch including plants, birds, frogs, mammals, insects and reptiles. Each species has been specifically chosen by scientists as they can indicate changes in our environment.

Climate change is affecting rainfall and temperature across Australia, and is consequently triggering changes in flowering times, breeding cycles, migration movements and other phenological changes. ClimateWatch is based on phenology, the study of periodic plant and animal life cycle events and how these are influenced by seasonal and interannual variations in climate.

Andy Donnelly, Earthwatch Science Director says, "We're looking for those subtle shifts in the timing of natural cycles across the country such as the falling of leaves or the migration of birds.

"There are lots of things that bushwalkers and birdwatchers notice in nature that never get recorded, so we are encouraging them and anybody else to take part."

A similar program in the UK was launched over a decade ago and has now recorded its 3 millionth observation. Climatewatch is aiming for hundreds of thousands of observations to be recorded so that it becomes Australia's leading data resource for environmental scientists studying the effects of climate change.

ClimateWatch is something everyone in Australia can get involved in whether it's on the way to work, with a group of friends or in the backyard. To become a Climatewatcher register at www.climatewatch.org.au and keep your eyes peeled!