University researchers have identified special traits of a bird species for the first time thanks to citizen science.
A team from the University of NSW's Centre for Ecosystem Science used citizen science databases, eBird and iNaturalist, to compile images of three individual species of the White-faced Storm Petrel.
The elusive sub-species of White-faced Storm Petrel, also referred to as the Kermadec Storm Petrel, is a breed of seabirds inhabiting an island off New Zealand's coastal regions.
Almost nothing was known about this species until now, and this is, in part, thanks to citizen science – as reported by Tom Melville for the UNSW newsroom.
According to Simon Gorta, a PhD candidate at the UNSW's Centre for Ecosystem Science, an ongoing issue faced by conservationists is their ability to reliably identify species that are difficult to distinguish from other species.
Gorta explains that the lack of data on less known or even unknown species inhabiting our world, also referred to as the ‘identification gap’, prevents scientists from identifying a large population of endangered species, which in turn, inhibits an ability to apply conservation measures.
This is why citizen science databases such as eBird and iNaturalist are so helpful in compiling larger sets and sub-sets of data to extract commonalities. Gorta's team compiled images of three individual species of the White-faced Storm Petrel and from this data, established distinguishing traits of the species for the first time.
Citizen science transitioning to ‘central pillar’
A recent report on citizen science titled: '10 recommendations for strengthening citizen science for improved societal and ecological outcomes' (PLoS One 21(7), 2026) determined that citizen science is transitioning from a 'peripheral data-collection activity to a central pillar of knowledge co-production'.
The value of citizen contribution has now been realized by researchers who believe that without the participatory efforts of the public, scientists would not have the proper resources to capture a comprehensive collection of their studied species.
High percentage of citizen science IDs are correct
Amid concerns about the accuracy and reliability of sourcing data from citizen science platforms, scientists recently conducted a review into an iNaturalist dataset (BioScience, 2025). The review found that of the 7,000 records identified as a specific species, 92 per cent of these identifications were correct.
However, researchers of science methodology found that misidentified records can majorly disrupt the order of species distribution models, conservation planning and scientists' ability to track ecological and biogeographic patterns.
Need for fast-paced ‘ID Blitzes’
To produce more accurate identification outcomes, an article from the science journal ‘Plants, People, Planet’ (2025) recommends the use of ‘ID Blitzes’ for ensuring data accuracy. ID Blitzes are fast-paced events carried out on citizen science platforms, where professionals and local experts work together to identify and verify images of species uploaded to the site by everyday citizens.
The accumulation of online data on flora and fauna since the late 90's has provided unprecedented opportunities for research and data analysis in all areas of the biodiversity studies.
Says Dr Smith from James Cook University's Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research: ‘Emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and open data platforms also offer opportunities to improve efficiency and expand participation’.
Citizen science research also finds that community participation not only benefits the field of sciences, but also the wellbeing and scientific literacy of the public – particularly those that are experiencing structural disadvantages.
The participatory nature of citizen science provides agency for people who are interested in scientific research and conservation but may not have equal access to those spaces. It also creates a space for hobbyists of birdwatching, photography, and wildlife rescue, to collaborate with scientists and each other.
So what are you waiting for? Whether you are on your way home from work/school or traipsing through your local bushland, see if you can spot any wildlife or plant that catches your eye! Take a photo of your find and post it to a citizen science platform such as iNaturalist or eBird – anything and everything counts in the science world!
Article by Lydia Koulaouzos
Image from Wikimedia Commons
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:White-faced_Storm-petrel_0A2A9606.jpg
References
10 recommendations for strengthening citizen science for improved societal and ecological outcomes: A co-produced analysis of challenges and opportunities in the 21st century. (2026) PLOS ONE, 21(7), e0331161. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0331161
Expert identification blitz: A rapid high value approach for assessing and improving iNaturalist identification accuracy and data precision and confidence. (2025) PLANTS, PEOPLE, PLANET, 7(5), 1469–1484. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.70005
Elusive seabird ID paves way for more citizen-backed discoveries. (2026). UNSW Sites. Retrieved August 4, 2026, from https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2026/04/citizen-science-cracks-century-old-seabird-mystery
The history and impact of digitization and digital data mobilization on biodiversity research. (2019) Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 374(1763), 20170391.
https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2017.0391
Citizen science as a tool for enhancing recreation research in protected areas: Applications and opportunities. (2022) Journal of Environmental Management, 305, 114353.