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Dugong Diaries
What are we doing?
Dugong Diaries is a citizen science project developing a picture of how dugongs utilise Bribie Island's waterways, promoting community stewardship of dugongs, and advocating for better protections of their seagrass habitat.
Why are we doing it?
Dugongs are listed as a Vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List and under Queensland's Nature Conservation Act. Moreton Bay is the southern limit of Dugong distribution, and Bribie Island's busy waterways play host to a permanet dugong population, year round.
How are we doing it?
A Bribie Island Dugong Sightings Facebook Group was launced in April 2023, and currently has over 1400 members.
Citizen Science-based observations data is being collected via the public Facebook Group (and other sources) and we encourage community members to log their dugong sightings . Team members then input these observations into a central database and produce sightings maps. Australia's leading dugong health expert, University of Queensland's Dr Janet Lanyon will use the data to inform her ongoing research and monitoring on Moreton Bay's dugong population, ad the data will also aid dugong conservation efforts.
The inaugural Bribie Island Dugong Symposium was held in August 2023. Convened by the Dugong Diaries project group, the event brought together science, art, and community to foster community stewardship of our local dugongs.
How can you help?
Join the Bribie Island Dugong Sightings Facebook Group and get out there spotting!
Here's the info we need:
Date:
Time:
Location: Share a dropped pin on Google Maps or similar, or use the location info embedded in a photo you take.
Number of animals: This helps to get an understanding of social patterns. Was there a calf present?
Photograph: Photos don't need to be pro quality, anything is helpful. If you snap a picture with your phone, even of a tiny dugong in the distance, it can help with confirming the sighting and establishing the location using the GPS/location data the phone adds to the picture.
Activity: What were the dugongs doing? Travelling (include direction), feeding, resting at surface, social interactions (splash etc), or ‘unknown’.
Distinguishing features: (pigmentation, scarring, injury, entanglement)