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Dusk Watch Project

We’re excited for our new citizen science monitoring program pilot, Dusk Watch! 

Dusk Watch is a pilot program designed to be flexible to fit in with people’s busy schedules and doesn’t require too much training or experience to take part. Even kids can take part! 

The objective of Dusk Watch is to establish a long-term monitoring program used to identify population and environmental changes over the long term. It's a collective effort and the more people that take part, the more we'll be likely to identify trends over the long term. 

When: An hour from sunset anytime from September to November (inclusive), as many times as you like!

Spring is the most active times of year for most of our wildlife, and dusk is one of the most active times of days, thus carrying out the survey during this time should be when wildlife is most active and also most diverse. 

Where: A WA location of your choice!  You can go for an evening stroll at your local park or nature reserve or take part whilst sitting around the campfire. You can even take part in your own backyard – if you do this, we recommend also visiting a local park, so you can compare what you see and hear.

How: There are two ways you can complete your Dusk Watch surveys.

DIGITAL

  1. Download the iNaturalist app from your smart phone app store. If you haven't used iNaturalist before, you can check out this how-to guide.
  2. Search for and join 'Dusk Watch' under the Project tab in the app
  3. Download the Dusk Watch Species Guide to your phone and check which of our 13 key species can be found in your area - this list is just to help get you started. Please record all wildlife you see or hear.
  4. Grab a torch and your smart phone, head outside at sunset, keeping your eyes and ears peeled
  5. Take photos and sound recordings of wildlife you see and hear and add it directly into the iNaturalist app as you go!
  6. Once you're done with Dusk Watch for the season, be sure to fill out this optional survey form.

HARD COPY

  1. Print out a copy of the Dusk Watch survey form
  2. Print out a copy of the Dusk Watch Species Guide and find out which of our 13 key species can be found in your area - this list is just to help get you started. Please record all wildlife you see or hear.
  3. Grab a torch, a watch and a pencil, a camera or smart phone and survey forms - then head outside at sunset and get recording! 
  4. When you're all done with your survey, you can scan and email it along with any photos and sound recordings to [email protected]
  5. Once you're done with Dusk Watch for the season, be sure to fill out this optional survey form.

Dusk Watch Resources

Dusk Watch Species Guide

Dusk Watch survey form (for printing)

Puggles survey (an optional Dusk Watch survey form for kids!)

How to use iNaturalist

P.S. We’d also love to hear about any other species you see or hear during your survey too, so please add these to your survey form or let us know via the iNaturalist app.

And if you see no wildlife, that’s still important data and we'd love to hear about it! Please let us know but emailing [email protected] with your location and date of the Dusk Watch. 

 

Who can take part? No matter your age or experience, anyone can take part. No special experience or equipment is required. We only just carrying out your dusk watch in at least pairs and for children to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please also take care if walking around in the evening, watching for trips and also taking care of wildlife that might be underfoot. 

2023 our pilot year for running Dusk Watch - please share any feedback you have to improve this program and help us develop it for future years.