Nature Watch

Nature unfolds with the seasons. Newcastle Nature Watch aims to encourage you to carefully observe and record what is happening in the natural environment around you, day by day throughout the year.

Most people who record natural history observations soon become fascinated by the regular and predictable sequence of happenings in nature. Experienced nature watchers can predict to the very week of the year when a certain plant will commence flowering, or a particular migratory bird is sure to be seen or heard. Yet there is always something new to discover!

Once you 'get hooked' on keeping a diary of natural events you realise what an enjoyable and rewarding activity it is. You can observe nature wherever you live, whether in a rural area, the confines of your own backyard, exploring a National Park or walking along the beach.

Recording your discoveries

What is your record

Helpful hints

Weather	Rainfall, temperature (maximum, minimum), wind strength and direction, humidity, cloud cover, bush fires. Note for the day you make a record
Plants
Observe	Fungi, moss, ferns, cycads, shrubs, vines, trees, water plants, seaweed etc.
Record	What species have buds, flowers, fruit, seeds, insect infestation, weed invasion, appearance of fungi
Animals
Observe	Fish, crustaceans, frogs, lizards, birds, mammals. Distinguish between natives and domestic, feral or introduced species
Record	Note behaviour such as migration, feeding and breeding
Insects
Observe	Beetles, bugs, spiders, dragonflies, butterflies, ants, cicadas, bees, wasps
Record	Population explosions, stages of the lifecycle, behaviour, the activities and movements of favourite spiders in your house or garden
Habitats
Observe	Your backyard, local park, a wetland, the beach, rockpools, bushland
Record	Plant communities, wildlife, the relationships between plant communities and site aspects, soils etc.
Interconnections
Observe	Linkages, relationships, the turning seasons
Record	Trigger events eg. when the wattle blooms, pardalotes start calling