Corridor Wildlife Tracker is a community-led citizen science project focused on recording wildlife that uses green corridors in Dawesville and the wider Peel region. These corridors include bushland remnants, road and drainage reserves, foreshore strips, parks and informal tracks that connect habitat patches across Country.

The project recognises that many animals move quietly through these spaces at night or at the edges of human activity. By documenting where and when wildlife is seen, the community helps build a clearer picture of how local species are using the landscape and where key connections are under pressure.

Project aims

• Document wildlife movement: Record sightings, tracks, scats and calls of native wildlife using corridors across Dawesville and the Peel region.
• Identify important connections: Highlight corridors that are especially important for movement between bushland, wetlands, the estuary and the ocean.
• Support local planning: Provide community-sourced evidence that can inform conversations about development, road design, lighting, fencing and revegetation.
• Build community awareness: Help residents recognise that verges, drains, paths and reserves are not empty spaces but active wildlife routes.

What participants record

Corridor Wildlife Tracker is designed so that anyone can contribute, whether they are on a daily dog walk, out birdwatching or simply looking out the window at dusk. Participants are encouraged to record:

• Species observed: Native mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs and invertebrates, as well as notable feral species.
• Type of evidence: Direct sighting, call, track, scat, diggings, feathers or other clear signs.
• Location: A simple description and, where possible, a map pin or GPS location.
• Habitat type: Verge, reserve, wetland edge, foreshore, roadside, drain, backyard boundary or park.
• Time and conditions: Date, approximate time and any relevant notes such as heavy traffic, lighting or weather.
• Photos or audio: Optional images or recordings to support identification where it is safe and practical to collect them.

How the data is used

Data from Corridor Wildlife Tracker is collated to show patterns rather than individual properties or people. Records are used to:

• Map wildlife corridors: Identify frequently used routes and pinch points where movement is constrained.
• Highlight hotspots: Show areas of high activity that may need protection, traffic calming or habitat enhancement.
• Support advocacy: Provide evidence for community groups and local government when discussing planning, lighting and verge management.
• Inform education: Create local stories, maps and resources that help residents understand who they share the neighbourhood with.

Personal details are kept separate from public-facing maps and summaries. Shared outputs focus on patterns, not individual households.

Who can take part

Corridor Wildlife Tracker is open to residents, visitors, school groups, local clubs and anyone who spends time in Dawesville and the Peel region. No specialist training is required, although participants are encouraged to:

• Be honest about uncertainty: It is acceptable to record “small grey bird” or “unknown frog” if the species is not clear.
• Use simple photos: A quick phone photo can be enough to help with later identification.
• Respect wildlife: Observations should never involve chasing, handling or disturbing animals.

Safety and respect for Country

The project encourages participants to move carefully and respectfully through all spaces. This includes:

• Staying on paths and tracks: Avoid trampling vegetation or entering sensitive areas.
• Being fire aware: Not entering bushland on high fire danger days and following local advice.
• Respecting private property: Only recording from places where the participant has a right to be.
• Listening to Traditional Owners: Acknowledging that these corridors sit on Noongar Country and that cultural knowledge of animals and movement has deep roots.

How to contribute

Participants can contribute to Corridor Wildlife Tracker by using the project’s chosen recording method, such as an online form, shared spreadsheet or dedicated app, as advised on the Connecting Corridors website or at local events. Each record, no matter how small, adds another piece to the picture of how wildlife moves through the region.

Community groups, schools and clubs are invited to adopt a local corridor, run short surveys or incorporate wildlife tracking into existing activities like walks, clean-ups or nature days.

Why Corridor Wildlife Tracker matters

As development, roads and fences reshape Dawesville and the Peel region, wildlife is forced to navigate a more fragmented landscape. Corridor Wildlife Tracker helps make those invisible journeys visible. By pooling local observations, the community can better understand which connections still work, which are failing and where small changes could make a big difference for the species that share this place.