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Spotted an owl or wombat recently?

NSW residents are being asked to map sightings of wildlife in an online survey

NSW residents are being asked to map sightings of wildlife in an online survey which will assist scientists to learn more about the habitats of native species.

The community is encouraged to log on and share their knowledge of the animals in their neighbourhood. This is a great opportunity for the community to help us learn more about our native animals to assist us ensure their protection. This includes kangaroos and wombats as well as threatened birds such as the barking owl.

The online survey follows data gathered in a 2006 postal survey to locate animals in areas where they have not been identified before.

This may help conservation scientists determine areas where the occupied habitat is shrinking.

The online survey is fast and easy to use with questions including:

* What animals have you seen in your local neighbourhood over the last 2 years?
* Have you seen wombats, koalas, emus, kangaroos or threatened birds such as the bush stone curlew or barking owl?
* Have you seen flying-foxes or kangaroos to help establish where they live and feed?
* Have you seen pests such as feral cats or cane toads?

Two maps are provided for people to mark the locations of animal sightings

This data will inform efforts to meet NSW State Plan targets of an increase in the recovery of threatened species, populations and ecological communities and a reduction in the impact of invasive species by 2015.

FACTS

* The NSW Government introduced the Native Vegetation Act to end broadscale land clearing. As a direct result of the Act, around 250,000 hectares of native vegetation was conserved or rehabilitated between 2006 and 2008.
* There are 794 national parks
* 6.7 million hectares or 8.4% of NSW is conserved in the national parks system

* Since 1995 the Labor Government has:

* Doubled the number of national parks and reserves
* Introduced 6 marine parks comprising 345,100 hectares or 34% of NSW waters
* There are 944 threatened species and 91 endangered ecological communities in NSW
* There are 261 Voluntary Conservation Agreements protecting 53,051 hectares of high conservation value private lands on perpetuity

* 655 Wildlife Refuges protect wildlife and habitats over an area of 1.935 million hectares