Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch Platypus Month 2024 - Platypus Surveys

Living in the ACT and surrounding region you might not know that we have several platypus populations in our local waterways. Platypus and Rakali are a top-level predator in our waterways and through monitoring their abundance, we can monitor our waterway health. You may not have seen one, but you've likely got a platypus living closer to you than you think.

Late winter is the ideal time for spotting platypus as they spend more time feeding and the males are more active as they prepare for the breeding season. 

Waterwatch runs group surveys throughout August on selected rivers in the ACT region to help learn more about our platypus population. Click Register to see available survey times and locations and book your spot.

You can assist at as many platypus surveys as you'd like and no experience is necessary. Each survey is a 2hr commitment which includes meeting on site, survey briefing, walking to the survey location, surveying for 1hr and then returning to the meeting point and handing in your data sheet. If numbers permit it, one or two people will be present at each survey point.

Here you can book into our surveys at Cooma Creek, Mittagang Crossing, Point Hut Crossing, Queanbeyan River, Jerrabomberra Wetlands and the Lower Molonglo. Approximate survey sites are shown below and tickets to each survey and reminder emails will include instructions on what to bring, what to wear, how to arrive and where to meet.