This year’s ABC citizen science project for National Science Week is called Wildlife Spotter and it kicks off today, Monday 1 August.

Wildlife Spotter is calling all keen citizen scientists to help identify animals captured by hidden cameras. To join in go to www.wildlifespotter.net.au.

Researchers have set up automatic cameras in tropical rainforests, dry rangelands, and cities across Australia to snap wildlife day and night. Now they need your help to analyse the millions of photographs.

You can spot wildlife for ten minutes or ten hours—every animal identified will help our scientists. Should you need extra help, you can click through a short online tutorial.

All the data collected and analysed will ultimately end up in the Atlas of Living Australia.

The project is designed to help answer questions including: how many endangered bettongs are left; how well native predators like quolls and devils are competing with cats for food; and how common are common wombats.

By participating in Wildlife Spotter, you could win one of two Go Pro Hero 4 cameras. School participants could win a visit from Dr Karl. You need to register to enter the competition, which is open until Monday 5 September.

Wildlife Spotter is the online citizen science project for National Science Week (13-21 August 2016), undertaken by ABC Science in conjunction with the Australian Museum, Deakin University, Charles Darwin University, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, Tasmanian Land Conservancy, and WWF Australia. It is supported by funding through the Australian Government Inspiring Australia strategy.

The Wildlife Spotter website is now live. Register to help identify animals across Australia.
The Wildlife Spotter website is now live. Register now to help identify animals across Australia.