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When I tell children what I do for a living, I often start by saying I’m a farmer. Then, I elaborate and tell them I’m a bee farmer, beekeeper, or apiarist. But in truth, I like to think of myself as a biodiversity farmer. We have 45 acres of rural conservation land in the Pyrenees Shire of Victoria, in a little place called Amphitheatre. It’s a small slice of paradise, surrounded by hills and mountains. Best of all, it’s an incredible wildlife corridor where creatures come and go with the seasons, and the same goes for the flora and fungi and even the microorganisms in the soil. I’m always amazed at how life just magically appears as the climate and conditions and food sources change.
Over the years, I’ve been documenting these changes by taking photographs and recording observations using a wonderful app called iNaturalist. In a nutshell, iNaturalist is a social network for nature enthusiasts who want to expand their knowledge of the natural world around them. It’s also a powerful citizen science tool: the data collected by everyday people can help scientists and land managers make informed conservation decisions. It’s a seriously awesome app if you’re a nature nerd like me!
A few years ago, I had the privilege of writing the Citizen Science Toolkit for Parks Victoria. This resource offers a comprehensive overview of Citizen Science and guides people on how to record biodiversity using iNaturalist. It’s a great starting point for anyone looking to get involved in this fast growing global community.
Recently, I had an encounter with a fascinating little beetle on our farm. It was feasting on insects that were, in turn, feeding on a dead animal carcass. The beetle had a bright red head with a central black spot in the middle and a shiny blue-black body. It looked so cool and a bit sinister! Since I’d never seen this beetle before, I took multiple photos from different angles (a great tip for aiding identification) and uploaded them to my iNaturalist account.
Thanks to technology, the app quickly provided suggestions based on image recognition and data from similar species observed nearby. This distinctive creature was identified as a “Devil’s Coach Horse” beetle. How cool is that name? From there, I was able to learn more about it. The Devil’s Coach Horse is a voracious predator that feeds on a variety of invertebrates, including maggots (fly larvae), and is typically found in rotting animal carcasses. This beetle has been associated with the devil since the Middle Ages and is also known as the “Devil’s Footman.” Watching these accomplished predators in action felt like a scene from survival thriller ‘Squid Game’. Other insects feeding on the carcass were in a precarious situation, risking their lives with the prize often coming at a deadly cost!
Five kilometers up a 4WD track, on my farm, surrounded by nature’s food web, I’m able to fill my head with knowledge and truly understand the ecosystem around me with some help from iNaturalist.
If you’re intrigued by the idea of exploring and recording biodiversity in your local area, have a look at my Citizen Science Workshop. This workshop is designed to inspire and empower participants to use tools like iNaturalist to document and contribute to conservation efforts. Whether you’re a seasoned nature enthusiast or a curious beginner, this is a fantastic opportunity to deepen your understanding of the natural world while making a meaningful impact.
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