Discovering Moreton Bay: A Family Adventure in Shells and Citizen Science
The Great Southern Bioblitz 2026 kicks off from 27–30 November 2026, offering families across Moreton Bay and beyond the perfect excuse to step outdoors and discover the remarkable diversity of life on their doorstep.
For families exploring the region's beaches, waterways and bushland, there is an extraordinary world of fauna and flora waiting to be discovered. Sometimes, you don't have to look very far.
Take the humble seashell.
A walk along the beach can become a fascinating introduction to what lies beneath the water. Shells come in an amazing variety of shapes, colours and sizes, and each one tells a story about the creature that once lived inside it.
A magnifying glass can transform a simple beachcombing expedition into an investigation worthy of a young marine biologist. Look closely at the patterns, ridges, openings and textures, and suddenly the beach becomes a natural laboratory.
Scan the QR code to explore SEQ Shells, where you can discover more about Gastropods, Bivalves, Cephalopods, Microshells and many other fascinating molluscs found throughout South East Queensland.
A Shell Guide — and a Sandcastle Challenge
The next QR code opens A Brief Guide to Molluscs of Moreton Bay by Dr John Healy, a useful reference for curious young explorers and their families.
Why not take the guide to the beach and see how many different shells you can identify?
And once the scientific investigation is complete, there is always time for some creative construction. Shells can provide inspiration for decorating a sandcastle — perhaps the first signs of a future interior designer.
Don't forget the moat!
A carefully designed moat introduces another fascinating concept: hydrology. How does water flow? Where does it collect? What happens when the tide comes in? Perhaps today's sandcastle architect will become tomorrow's civil engineer.
The beach is, after all, a classroom without walls.
Meet Fellow Shell Enthusiasts
The adventure doesn't have to end when you leave the beach.
There is an opportunity to meet like-minded people at the next meeting of the Brisbane Shell Club in Banyo, where you can take a deeper look at the world of molluscs, learn from experienced enthusiasts and perhaps sharpen your shell photography skills along the way.
For anyone wanting to look beyond simply collecting or identifying shells, local shell clubs provide a wonderful way to connect with people who share a fascination for the natural world.
Become a Citizen Scientist
To kick-start your bioblitz experience, download the iNaturalist app onto your smartphone and start recording your observations.
That shell, bird, insect, plant or other creature you encounter on your walk could become part of a much larger picture of biodiversity across the region.
Citizen science turns an ordinary family outing into something meaningful: your observations can help build knowledge about the species living around us and contribute to a growing record of local biodiversity.
Look — But Leave the Shells Where They Are
Shell counting and beach surveys are popular activities around the world. In the Netherlands, for example, organised shell-counting projects provide an insight into how communities elsewhere are getting involved in understanding their coastal environments.
Here in Moreton Bay, however, there is an important message to remember:
Look at the shells, photograph them, identify them — but wherever possible, leave them on the beach.
An empty shell is not necessarily an abandoned object. It can provide a home or hiding place for small beach creatures and other marine life, particularly around the waterline.
So perhaps the best souvenir from your beach adventure isn't a pocket full of shells.
It is a photograph, a new species identification, a contribution to citizen science — and a little more knowledge about the remarkable natural world on your doorstep.
The President of Rotary Redcliffe Sunrise - Colin Scobie said this November, is a great time to introduce kids to beach nature and join the Great Southern Bioblitz 2026 and discover what you can find. A budding citizen scientist in the making.
The story is also is also published >>> https://thebribieislander.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/BIM-ISSUE-274.pdf page 18
