Citizen Science and Wildlife Welfare Monitoring

Citizen science programmes are generating important data on wildlife welfare and population trends at scales impossible for professional researchers.

Key Facts

The RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch involves over 700,000 participants in the UK
iNaturalist has over 3 million users and has documented millions of species observations
Citizen science data has documented species range shifts due to climate change
Hedgehog Street involves thousands of volunteers monitoring urban hedgehog populations
Butterfly counts, moth recording and bat surveys all rely substantially on volunteer data
Data quality in citizen science varies and requires statistical correction for effort
Technology including acoustic monitoring and camera traps is expanding citizen science capability

Welfare Considerations

Citizen science contributes to wildlife welfare by generating population monitoring data at scales professional science cannot achieve. Without this monitoring, welfare-relevant population declines may go undetected until they reach crisis levels. The engagement of citizens in wildlife monitoring also builds public concern for wildlife welfare. Supporting and participating in citizen science is a practical welfare contribution available to everyone.

What You Can Do

Participate in citizen science programmes such as RSPB surveys, Butterfly Conservation counts or hedgehog monitoring
Record and submit wildlife observations through platforms including iNaturalist
Set up garden cameras to contribute to wildlife monitoring
Support organisations running citizen science programmes with time or donations