A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to help a citizen science project to count Tasmania’s threatened eagles.
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Previous assessments of the wedge-tailed eagle population indicated there were declining numbers and could be fewer than 1000 adult birds in the state.
The Bookend Trust, who organised the Pozible campaign, aimed to use any of the funds raised towards its new project Where Where Wedgie, which encouraged the community to help survey the endangered species.
The project needed to raise about $20,000 to run 18 community workshops and other training across the state.
Trust citizen science coordinator Dr Clare Hawkins said the success of the survey would depend on inspiring people to participate, which was why the workshops were important.
“We’re building some wonderful resources online to enthuse potential participants, explain the survey methods and get everyone’s skills up - but nothing beats talking it over face to face,” Dr Hawkins said.
The campaign offered rewards for donations, ranging from soaring wedge-tailed eagle stickers to a wilderness cruise.
The survey could be the best way to estimate the population and could become an annual event, she said.
The survey provided a snapshot of the state’s eagle population by encouraging people to survey a patch of Tasmania for the birds and log what they see.
The first survey will take place in May over three days.
People can sign up on the Where Where Wedgie - for grown-ups Pozible webpage after February 26.
Tess Brunton
I recently returned from across the ditch where I worked at New Zealand Fairfax paper The Timaru Herald and developed a love of mountains. Originally I'm a mainlander from an area known for cheese, the Bega Valley, who also dabbled in radio at ABC RCAFF before finding a place in newspapers. I can often be found hiking, caving or climbing when I'm not cursing at my work computer or technology in general.
I recently returned from across the ditch where I worked at New Zealand Fairfax paper The Timaru Herald and developed a love of mountains. Originally I'm a mainlander from an area known for cheese, the Bega Valley, who also dabbled in radio at ABC RCAFF before finding a place in newspapers. I can often be found hiking, caving or climbing when I'm not cursing at my work computer or technology in general.
