The ALA manages the Australian node of iNaturalist – the world’s leading social network for biodiversity. We recommend ALA users upload individual observations to iNaturalist Australia. The app is freely available for recording observations of flora, fauna and fungi.
Key features:
Observations made in Australia are harvested weekly to the Atlas of Living Australia
iNaturalist helps users with species identification using community expertise and AI image recognition
You can set your profile to be affiliated with iNaturalist Australia
go to iNaturalist website
download from the apple app store
download from google play
FAQs
Why did the ALA team up with iNaturalist?
We are a data aggregator and we don’t have the expertise to identify species. iNaturalist has a great species identification system. Read more about our partnership and how to create an iNaturalist account.
Where is the Record A Sighting function? Can I still use it?
Yes, you can continue to use it for now, but we plan to remove this function eventually.
Want more help?
View all ALA Help articles about iNaturalist Australia.
BioCollect
The BioCollect mobile app provides access to projects and surveys in BioCollect, the ALA’s field data collection tool. The app is currently available for citizen science projects only.
Key features:
Automatic data upload to the BioCollect database
Access all of your projects from the one app
Integrated device tools (GPS, camera, etc.) for data recording
GPS-based search – projects near me or specified location
For more information on BioCollect please contact support@ala.org.au.
go to BioCollect page
download from the apple app store
download from google play
More apps for citizen scientists
There are many apps available to help citizen scientists record species observations. We suggest using an app that contributes data to the Atlas of Living Australia. This way your observations contribute to our national biodiversity database and will be used by researchers and decision-makers in their research and management of our biodiversity and environment. Here is a selection of apps that contribute data to the ALA.
BioExpertise Engine
The BioExpertise Engine is an Artificial Collective Super-Intelligence (ACSI) platform designed to reward and score ecological expertise. It engages thousands of people, of all levels of expertise (from “beginners” to “masters”), in evaluating nature observations to map and assess biodiversity health. It uses a double-blind peer review system to eliminate bias, along with an information marketplace to motivate participants and reward on-the-ground conservation efforts. Data is shared with the ALA and GBIF.
go to Bio Expertise Engine site
Birdata
Birdata is BirdLife Australia’s new birding portal and app. It is the most convenient and efficient method of contributing to BirdLife’s numerous monitoring programs, such as the long-running Shorebird, Beach-nesting Birds, Swift Parrot and Birds in Backyard surveys.
go to Birdata site
Butterflies Australia
Butterflies Australia is a national citizen science project run by researchers at the Australian National University to encourage everybody to record butterfly sightings.
go to Butterflies Australia site
eBird Australia
eBird Australia is Australia’s portal to eBird, an app used by keen birders across the world.
go to eBird site
FrogID
FrogID is a national citizen science project developed by the Australian Museum to enable citizen scientists to record frog calls and help us learn more about what is happening to Australia’s frogs.
NatureMapr
NatureMapr is an Australian made and owned regionally focused citizen science platform that allows anybody to:
– Report a sighting anywhere across Australia and receive expert identification of their records.
– Build and maintain field guides for their local areas.
– Increase their knowledge of important species within a thriving community.
go to NatureMapr site
QuestaGame
QuestaGame is an Australian-made mobile app that connects people to nature as a way to discover, learn about and map biodiversity for research and conservation. Observations of flora, fauna and fungi are harvested regularly to the Atlas of Living Australia. It includes scoring, rewards, levels, challenges and “bioquests” designed to increase scientific value while engaging a broader audience – experts and non-experts, naturalists and non-naturalists, teachers and students, young and old alike.
go to QuestaGame site
There are also hundreds of citizen science projects listed on the Australian Citizen Science Project finder, which allows you to search by location or subject area of interest, and find the perfect project for you.