Always thought you might like to be part of a NatureTrackers project, but never quite had the time to get to grips with it? Or you’re a stalwart NatureTracker, or someone who’s had a go and has a few questions. How about a catchup with the coordinators?
Supported by Inspiring Tasmania, NatureTrackers HQ are going gangbusters for National Science Week this August, enabling everyone who might be interested to help monitor our threatened, and potentially threatened, species. Together, we can research and share information on Tasmania-wide population increases or decreases in the species we’re tracking, to guide the most effective conservation action for each of them.
All the NatureTrackers projects (Where? Where? Wedgie!, Claws on the Line and CallTrackers) will feature at various events for all ages around Hobart, while CallTrackers is getting some special attention more widely around the state.
Details below. Find out more and book your spot today. It’s all free.
CallTrackers Science Week workshops
Every September to March, Tasmanians get the chance to borrow CallTrackers’ state-of-the-art recorders from a number of libraries around the state. There are options to set one up within a few kilometres of your home; or perhaps you’d like to take it off on a remote adventure. After eight days, you get to upload your recordings to the monitoring database, receive automatic suggestions on the likely species that made the recorded ultrasonic and audible calls, and perhaps explore them further.
This August, you can book into a workshop hosted by Libraries Tasmania (at five libraries, and two webinars), where NatureTrackers HQ will introduce you to the process of using them, and their incredible potential. Not every nature-lover is a tech-lover; everyone will be welcome and supported to begin exploring these amazing gadgets and the related computer wizardry at their own pace!
- Devonport Library – Monday 12 August 2024 at 10:00 am – Book tickets
- Smithton Library – Tuesday 13 August 2024 at 2:00 pm – Book tickets
- Online event – Wednesday 14 August 2024 at 2:00 pm – Book tickets
- Hobart Library – Friday 16 August 2024 at 5:30 pm – Book tickets
- Launceston Library – Monday 19 August 2024 at 3:30 pm – Book tickets
- St Helens Library – Tuesday 20 August 2024 at 10:30 am – Book tickets
- Online event – Sunday 25 August 2024 at 4:30 pm – Book tickets
NatureTrackers coordinator at the Beaker Street Festival
Come and chat to a wonderful range of scientists at Beaker Street’s Roving Scientist Bar! From 7:30 pm on 10 August 2024 you will have a chance to bend the ear of NatureTrackers coordinator Dr Clare Hawkins on all things related to threatened species and wildlife monitoring. Tasmania is home to hundreds of threatened species and hundreds more are potentially threatened. Are we succeeding in protecting these species, and helping them to recover? Do we need to do more, or something different? Through the NatureTrackers program, Clare and colleagues coordinate everyone interested to take part in annual surveys across Tasmania — to help keep track of as many species as we can, and guide everyone’s conservation efforts. The techniques involved range from a pair of binoculars to AI-trained animal call recognisers. Chat with Clare about the science, the surveys and the amazing animals!
Find the Roving Scientist Bar at the Hope & Anchor, 65 Macquarie Street, Hobart. Chat with Dr Clare Hawkins from 7:30 pm on Saturday 10 August 2024.
View the Roving Scientist Bar event details.
NatureTrackers at the Festival of Bright Ideas
Become a Nature Tracker! Learn about Tasmania’s threatened and potentially threatened species, including birds of prey, burrowing crayfish, bats and bitterns. Find out how you can be involved in researching their numbers, distribution, habitats and habits. You can also explore monitoring techniques such as observational surveys and acoustic monitoring, and discover lots of ways to get involved in NatureTracker’s projects.
- Schools Day – Friday 16 August 2024 – Register
- Public Day – Saturday 17 August 2024, 9.00am–4.30pm Hobart – Book tickets
- Princes Wharf No. 1, Castray Esplanade, Hobart
