Penguin Island’s Little Penguin colony has undergone a precipitous decline over the past decade. Between 2007 and 2019, the number of penguins in the colony is estimated to have decreased by 80% (Cannell 2020). This strategy identifies the potential interventions that may be implemented to mitigate the effects of limited prey availability, reduced rainfall, high ambient temperatures, and reduced reproductive performance.

The Citizen Science for Ecological Monitoring handbook is in two parts.

Part A introduces citizen science and the concepts behind monitoring design and sampling, with a focus on the use of bioindicators. 

In Part B, this monitoring template has been applied to four demonstration projects that were developed through the planning and pilot stages as part of this project.

Over 5O citizen-scientists, experts and interested lay-people alike, assisted in the field work that road-tested various methodologies.

The lives of these diminutive birds interact with many coastal management issues including the health of near-shore marine habitats, shoreline stability, changing sea-level, introduced weeds, feral animals and the behavioural interactions between people and wildlife.

Fairy Terns are probably threatened, or at least conservation dependent, and require dedicated species-specific management. Beyond that, however, the continued presence of these charismatic birds stands as both an indicator and a symbol of ecological sustainability in south-western Australia’s coastal zone.

This guide supports a mentor-based training program designed to provide participants with sufficient field experience in the most common capture and sampling methods to qualify for licences to take or mark fauna in Western Australia. 

The aim of the guide and the training program is to capture and share the considerable experience that lies behind the implementation of sampling techniques, and therefore to foster the effective and ethical use of traps and other sampling techniques so that maximum conservation value is gained and minimum harm done to fauna.