Did you know Dragonflies are widely considered the most successful predator in the world and can fly at 48 km/h? Want to learn more?
Get ready to grab your nets and join the fun! The Streamwatch Waterbug Blitz is returning this October, running for two weeks from October 13 to October 26. This is your chance to get up close and personal with the amazing world of aquatic macroinvertebrates, those tiny but vital creatures that tell us so much about the health of our waterways.
Week One: Training and Teamwork
During the first week, from October 13, our dedicated Streamwatch Coordinators will be visiting Streamwatch groups and schools at their monitoring sites. Whether you’re a seasoned Streamwatcher or a complete newcomer, this is a great opportunity to get hands-on training and practice your waterbug identification skills.
Our coordinators will guide you through the process, helping you feel confident in catching and classifying these important indicators of stream health. If your group is new to catching macroinvertebrates, this is the perfect time to get trained and ready for the main event.
Week Two: Catchment Crawls
The second week will be all about our Catchment Crawls. We’ve listened to your feedback and will be focusing these crawls in catchments where groups have expressed the most interest. These crawls will start in an urban location and move towards a more pristine, upstream site, offering a fascinating look at how water quality changes along a river system.
We are particularly excited to announce that the Catchment Crawl on Sunday, October 26, in the St. George and Sutherland Shire areas, will feature a special guest: Greg from Embrace Ecology. Greg is a true expert and a wealth of knowledge when it comes to aquatic ecosystems. This is an incredible opportunity to learn from one of the best and deepen your understanding of the local environment.
How to Get Involved
Don’t miss out on this fantastic event! Whether you want to arrange a site visit during the first week or join one of the Catchment Crawls, now is the time to express your interest. If your group is new and wants to learn, we encourage you to attend a training session in the first week and then join the Catchment Crawl on October 26 to put your new skills to the test!
If you and your Streamwatch group wish to participate in the 2025 Streamwatch Waterbug Blitz email Mark.Secombe@greatersydneylandcare.org.
We can’t wait to see you out there, helping us discover the hidden life within our streams.
