Launching the Backyard Biodiversity Blitz in Broome

What lives in our backyards?

From the curious Northern Brushtail Possum navigating suburban trees, to the elusive Greater Bilby moving quietly under cover of darkness, Broome’s neighbourhoods are home to more wildlife than many of us realise...

Even the iconic Northern Bluetongue Skink may be basking just beyond the back fence!

Yet despite living alongside us, much of this biodiversity remains unseen and unrecorded.

To help address this, Environs Kimberley is excited to soon launch a new pilot project: the Backyard Biodiversity Blitz. This citizen science project invites residents, organisations, community groups and local businesses to host a motionsensor camera in their backyard, on their property, or across spaces they manage. Cameras will be provided, along with simple instructions, and deployed for a three-week monitoring period. Volunteers won’t need prior experience - a predeployment workshop will cover everything volunteers need to know.

The goal of the project is to better understand how wildlife uses Broome’s urban and peri-urban habitats. By collecting data across residential yards, managed greenspaces and natural areas, we can build a clearer picture of where species occur, how they move through our landscapes, and what pressures they may face. Importantly, cameras also capture any other animals that wander past, helping document the broader diversity of birds, mammals and reptiles sharing our neighbourhoods.

Although Broome is known for its rich biodiversity, there is very little regular monitoring in residential areas, and habitat loss, fragmentation and predation by domestic and feral animals continue to place pressure on wildlife. By combining community participation with biodiversity monitoring, the Backyard Biodiversity Blitz helps address the knowledge gaps while encouraging practical conservation action.

In the short term, the project aims to increase awareness and collect valuable wildlife data from rarely surveyed areas. In the long term, it will support better conservation planning and long-term stewardship of Broome’s unique fauna. Just as importantly, the Backyard BioBlitz hopes to strengthen community connection to local wildlife and provide opportunities for residents to play a hands-on role in protecting the species on their doorstep.

If you’re interested in taking part, keep an eye on our website and social channels or contact [email protected].

This project is generously funded by Wettenhall Environment Trust.