Discover nature

Kingston’s open space volunteers and citizen scientists are dedicated to protecting our biodiversity and identifying and preserving our beautiful flora and fauna.

There are many ways you can get involved and make a positive impact in your local environment.

Become a volunteer

Volunteer groups hold several events across Kingston reserves and foreshores.

Working bees take place at the following locations, generally on a morning for 2 hours.

Find out more about the working bees near you.

Register your interest

Become a citizen scientist

Citizen science involves the community contributing to scientific research to increase knowledge about biodiversity. People of all ages and abilities can participate in a range of citizen science projects by submitting observations of nature using smartphones.

Kingston's biodiversity reflects the diversity, quality and connectedness of the natural habitats found in our local area, so the more we can identify and record our biodiversity, the better we can protect and improve the habitats that support it.

We encourage you to become a 'citizen scientist' and discover nature in Kingston! You can record your observations of animals and plants using the iNaturalist platform.

Every observation of nature you record within Kingston using iNaturalist will appear in the iNaturalist biodiversity log.

We also participate in several citizen science initiatives, including the City Nature Challenge, Biodiversity Month, and the Great Southern BioBlitz, which encourage people to discover the nature near where they live and record their observations within a certain timeframe.

How to record observations

Download iNaturalist

To get started, download the free iNaturalist app (from Google Play or App Store) onto your smartphone and create your account.

These resources will help you download the iNaturalist App and make your first observation:

Nature challenges

City Nature Challenge

The City Nature Challenge is an international event held on iNaturalist that motivates people around the world to document the biodiversity in their own cities. City of Kingston teams up with over 20 Councils across metropolitan Melbourne, along with the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria, the Entomological Society of Victoria, Scouts Victoria, and Melbourne Water to represent Greater Melbourne on the global stage.

Month: Annually in April
Date: Friday 25 April to Monday 28 April 2025

Kingston collaborates in this friendly competition to increase our knowledge of our natural ecosystems with the help of local citizen scientists.

For more information, visit City Nature Challenge.

Biodiversity Month (Biodiversity Blitz)

Biodiversity Month acknowledges, appreciates and increases our knowledge of our unique biodiversity here in Kingston.

Month: Annually in September
Date: 1 to 30 September 

During Biodiversity Month, we encourage you to become a local citizen scientist and participate in the Biodiversity Blitz. The Biodiversity Blitz is a friendly competition between participating councils to record the most species in their area. We encourage you to contribute to our ongoing knowledge of the natural world.  

View Kingston BioBlitz 2025 page.

View the Greater Melbourne BioBlitz project page.

Aussie Bird Count

Month: Annually in October
Date: 20 to 26 October

Participating in the Aussie Bird Count is as simple as downloading the Aussie Bird Count app, spending 20 minutes in your backyard or favourite outdoor space, counting the birds you see and adding them to the app! The app has a handy “bird finder” tool built in to help you identify any birds that you are unsure of.

For more information, visit Aussie Bird Count.

Guided bird tour

Date: Sunday, 8 February 2026 

To celebrate World Wetlands Day this February and this year’s theme, “Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage,” we’ll be hosting a special event at Braeside Park. Join bird expert Angus Hamilton from Life Gone Wild for a relaxed morning exploring the park’s wetlands and birdlife. Whether you’re new to birding or a seasoned enthusiast, this guided walk offers fresh insights, memorable feathered encounters, and an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of our wetlands.

Learn more about how you can get involved and register for a guided bird tour.

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