NatureSpot
About the Program
NatureSpot biodiversity surveys is a citizen science project where anyone can contribute to catalogue plants and animals living in our city. The community has submitted over 1000 sightings of flora and fauna since November 2019 on the NatureSpot website* to help us create a comprehensive species dataset for inner-south Melbourne. Your data will help us identify important habitat areas to enhance food, shelter and refuge to support our beautiful urban biodiversity. * Submissions are deactivated during non-survey periods.
NatureSpot 2020-21
617 spots, 375 fauna, 212 flora and 30 fungi spots were submitted by 123 citizen scientists during our Spring Sep/Oct 2020 and Early Winter May 2021 surveys.
The 2020/21 surveys took place across inner-south Melbourne suburbs (Macnamara electorate map). South of the Birrarung from Port Melbourne to Caulfield East and surrounds.
Download our report here for the full list of species and survey results!
A huge thank you! to all our volunteers who helped our park surveys and those who submitted observations online during their own time! Special thanks to Saniya, Pascal, Gio, and Neil our Baykeeper for assisting with species identification.
Spring Survey: Sep/Oct 2020
279 spots, 173 fauna, 120 flora and 6 fungi were submitted by citizen scientists! Read more details in our blog.
Photo Highlights
Wandering Ringtail, Austrolestes leda 
Brisbane Orbweaver Araneus brisbanae 
Newly recorded species
We are excited to say that 30 fauna species were newly recorded in the City of Port Phillip and surrounding areas! This shows the power of citizen science and how your contributions are effective in monitoring biodiversity. The NatureSpot project is closed for now, but you can continue to submit biodiversity sightings anytime on iNaturalist.org to contribute to citizen science.
Create habitat for biodiversity
Planting native plants in your homes, streets or school will help enhance our urban ecology for animals to seek refuge, food, shelter and breeding sites. Get some inspiration from our Grow Wild! habitat gardening guide to find out what you can plant to enhance biodiversity in your neighbourhood.
Resources
• Grow Wild! Guide to native plants for backyard biodiversity (Download GrowWild!)
• NatureSpot 2020-21 Report and species list (Download 2020-21 Report)
• Port Phillip NatureSpot 2019-20 Report and species list (Download 2019-20 Report)
• Lesson Plan – NatureSpot in the classroom (Download Lesson Plan)
• Watch NatureSpot tutorial videos on YouTube (Watch videos)
Partners & Funders
NatureSpot is a partnership project with CrowdSpot.
NatureSpot 2020-21 project received grant funding from the Australian Government’s Communities Environment Program.
Port Phillip NatureSpot 2019-20 was supported by the City of Port Phillip and funded through the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning, Caring for Our Local Environment grant program.
