Croom BioBlitz an opportunity for budding citizen scientists

This Friday and Saturday, local citizen scientists have the chance to explore and document the amazing biodiversity of Croom Reserve in Shellharbour.

Croom Reserve is a precious remnant of the Illawarra's original vegetation, a beautiful place to take time out from the rat race, and also home to several threatened species and ecological communities.

The BioBlitz, which has been organised by Shellharbour City Council, gives locals the opportunity to learn about and record the animals and plants of the reserve. Volunteers of all ages and abilities are welcome. The records collected will be used to help protect and restore the local environment across the Shellharbour area.

Experts will be on hand to help citizen scientists to learn about and record their finds. Shellharbour Council has brought on board a wide range of ecologists, botanists, and zoologists who will be available on both days of the BioBlitz. So if you've got any burning questions about local flora and fauna, there will be someone on hand to help you out.

There are eight drop-in sessions across the two days of the BioBlitz.

If you're interested in frogs, then the arvo sessions (2.30-4pm on Friday and Saturday) are your best option. For mammals and checking out animal tracks and scats (i.e. poo), there are arvo and evening sessions (from 7.30pm). There are several sessions covering the local birds, and mornings (10-12.30) are dedicated to plants, mosses and lichens. So much to explore and learn! All details are on the event website.

This is the second year of the Croom BioBlitz, organised by Shellharbour City Council, after a session in 2023 that made a total of 528 records. Citizen scientists who come along to the BioBlitz are challenged to beat that record. Who knows what we might find together this Friday and Saturday at Croom? Come along and help make history!