Earthcare St Kilda

Raft Count – Marina Team
2026-05-29 17:00 - 19:00, 2026-05-27 17:00 - 19:00 (Australia/Melbourne)
Join us in counting Little Penguins in St Kilda and learn from our dedicated volunteers about this unique colony!
As a citizen scientist, you’ll join one of two small teams – each made up of five participants and one team leader. You’ll help manually count the number of penguins in each raft (a group of penguins in the water) as they return home at sunset. This non‑intrusive study collects valuable long‑term data on penguin arrival patterns and population trends. Your observations directly contribute to protecting and understanding the Little Penguin colony in St Kilda.

What’s Involved

Manually count penguin rafts (groups of penguins in the water) from the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron Marina as they arrive at sunset
Contribute valuable data to long‑term monitoring of arrival patterns and population trends
Support the conservation of Melbourne’s unique Little Penguin colony through hands‑on citizen science
Experience these remarkable birds up close while learning from trained Earthcare volunteers

Program details

Duration: Approximately 2 hours
When: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings
Start Time: Begins 15 minutes before sunset (exact time varies with season)
Where: Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron Marina
What to bring: warm clothes, closed toe shoes, water, binoculars (optional).

Site Information
Location: End of the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron Marina

You’ll be stationed on a floating platform surrounded by water. The platform may move slightly due to its floating nature
From this position, you’ll get an excellent view of the penguins in the water as they make their way to the breakwater to nest.
You will also be able to spot penguins on the breakwater using a red light torch provided by your team leader

Earthcare St Kilda gratefully acknowledges the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron for providing access to the marina, enabling this important citizen science program to take place.

Requirements

No experience needed
Must be 18 years or older

Registrations through Earthcare St Kilda are ESSENTIAL.
If you have any questions, please contact research@earthcarestkilda.org.au
👉 REGISTER HERE
Registrations open 5pm, 11th May

Earthcare St Kilda acknowledges the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters where this program takes place. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Raft Count – Breakwater Team
2026-05-25 17:00 - 19:00
Join us in counting Little Penguins in St Kilda and learn from our dedicated volunteers about this unique colony!
As a citizen scientist, you’ll join one of two small teams – each made up of five participants and one team leader. You’ll help manually count the number of penguins in each raft (a group of penguins in the water) as they return home at sunset. This non‑intrusive study collects valuable long‑term data on penguin arrival patterns and population trends. Your observations directly contribute to protecting and understanding the Little Penguin colony in St Kilda.

What’s Involved

Manually count penguin rafts (groups of penguins in the water) from the St Kilda Breakwater as they arrive at sunset
Contribute valuable data to long‑term monitoring of arrival patterns and population trends
Support the conservation of Melbourne’s unique Little Penguin colony through hands‑on citizen science
Experience these remarkable birds up close while learning from trained Earthcare volunteers

Program details

Duration: Approximately 2 hours
When: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings
Start Time: Begins 15 minutes before sunset (exact time varies with season)
Where: St Kilda Breakwater
What to bring: warm clothes, closed toe shoes, water, binoculars (optional).

Site Information
Location: End of the St Kilda Breakwater

The St Kilda Breakwater has uneven and sometimes unstable surfaces, so sturdy, closed‑toe shoes with good grip are essential.
The area is exposed to wind and changing weather conditions, especially around sunset
During the return walk after the count, you will be walking through an active Little Penguin colony. This section of the breakwater is dimly lit, and you may encounter:

– Penguins crossing the path or resting beside the rocks
– Trip hazards such as unstable rocks, branches, and narrow walkways
– Occasional wet or slippery patches from waves or penguin activity
Earthcare St Kilda gratefully acknowledges the Parks Victoria for providing access to the breakwater, enabling this important citizen science program to take place.

Requirements

No experience needed
Participants must be 8+ years (participants under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult)
Working with Children’s check required for participants aged 18+
To join this team you will need to have/create a Park Connect account

Registrations through Earthcare St Kilda and a Park Connect account are ESSENTIAL.
If you have any questions, please contact research@earthcarestkilda.org.au
Closed for Private Booking
Registrations open 5pm, 11th May

Earthcare St Kilda acknowledges the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters where this program takes place. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Raft Count - Marina Team
2026-05-25 17:00 - 19:00
Join us in counting Little Penguins in St Kilda and learn from our dedicated volunteers about this unique colony!
As a citizen scientist, you’ll join one of two small teams – each made up of five participants and one team leader. You’ll help manually count the number of penguins in each raft (a group of penguins in the water) as they return home at sunset. This non‑intrusive study collects valuable long‑term data on penguin arrival patterns and population trends. Your observations directly contribute to protecting and understanding the Little Penguin colony in St Kilda.

What’s Involved

Manually count penguin rafts (groups of penguins in the water) from the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron Marina as they arrive at sunset
Contribute valuable data to long‑term monitoring of arrival patterns and population trends
Support the conservation of Melbourne’s unique Little Penguin colony through hands‑on citizen science
Experience these remarkable birds up close while learning from trained Earthcare volunteers

Program details

Duration: Approximately 2 hours
When: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings
Start Time: Begins 15 minutes before sunset (exact time varies with season)
Where: Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron Marina
What to bring: warm clothes, closed toe shoes, water, binoculars (optional).

Site Information
Location: End of the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron Marina

You’ll be stationed on a floating platform surrounded by water. The platform may move slightly due to its floating nature
From this position, you’ll get an excellent view of the penguins in the water as they make their way to the breakwater to nest.
You will also be able to spot penguins on the breakwater using a red light torch provided by your team leader

Earthcare St Kilda gratefully acknowledges the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron for providing access to the marina, enabling this important citizen science program to take place.

Requirements

No experience needed
Must be 18 years or older

Registrations through Earthcare St Kilda are ESSENTIAL.
If you have any questions, please contact research@earthcarestkilda.org.au
Closed for Private Booking
Registrations open 5pm, 11th May

Earthcare St Kilda acknowledges the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters where this program takes place. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Raft Count – Breakwater Team
2026-05-18 17:00 - 19:00
Join us in counting Little Penguins in St Kilda and learn from our dedicated volunteers about this unique colony!
As a citizen scientist, you’ll join one of two small teams – each made up of five participants and one team leader. You’ll help manually count the number of penguins in each raft (a group of penguins in the water) as they return home at sunset. This non‑intrusive study collects valuable long‑term data on penguin arrival patterns and population trends. Your observations directly contribute to protecting and understanding the Little Penguin colony in St Kilda.

What’s Involved

Manually count penguin rafts (groups of penguins in the water) from the St Kilda Breakwater as they arrive at sunset
Contribute valuable data to long‑term monitoring of arrival patterns and population trends
Support the conservation of Melbourne’s unique Little Penguin colony through hands‑on citizen science
Experience these remarkable birds up close while learning from trained Earthcare volunteers

Program details

Duration: Approximately 2 hours
When: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings
Start Time: Begins 15 minutes before sunset (exact time varies with season)
Where: St Kilda Breakwater
What to bring: warm clothes, closed toe shoes, water, binoculars (optional).

Site Information
Location: End of the St Kilda Breakwater

The St Kilda Breakwater has uneven and sometimes unstable surfaces, so sturdy, closed‑toe shoes with good grip are essential.
The area is exposed to wind and changing weather conditions, especially around sunset
During the return walk after the count, you will be walking through an active Little Penguin colony. This section of the breakwater is dimly lit, and you may encounter:

– Penguins crossing the path or resting beside the rocks
– Trip hazards such as unstable rocks, branches, and narrow walkways
– Occasional wet or slippery patches from waves or penguin activity
Earthcare St Kilda gratefully acknowledges the Parks Victoria for providing access to the breakwater, enabling this important citizen science program to take place.

Requirements

No experience needed
Participants must be 8+ years (participants under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult)
Working with Children’s check required for participants aged 18+
To join this team you will need to have/create a Park Connect account

Registrations through Earthcare St Kilda and a Park Connect account are ESSENTIAL.
If you have any questions, please contact research@earthcarestkilda.org.au
👉 REGISTER HERE
Registrations open 5pm, 4th May

Earthcare St Kilda acknowledges the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters where this program takes place. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Raft Count - Marina Team
2026-05-18 17:00 - 19:00
Join us in counting Little Penguins in St Kilda and learn from our dedicated volunteers about this unique colony!
As a citizen scientist, you’ll join one of two small teams – each made up of five participants and one team leader. You’ll help manually count the number of penguins in each raft (a group of penguins in the water) as they return home at sunset. This non‑intrusive study collects valuable long‑term data on penguin arrival patterns and population trends. Your observations directly contribute to protecting and understanding the Little Penguin colony in St Kilda.

What’s Involved

Manually count penguin rafts (groups of penguins in the water) from the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron Marina as they arrive at sunset
Contribute valuable data to long‑term monitoring of arrival patterns and population trends
Support the conservation of Melbourne’s unique Little Penguin colony through hands‑on citizen science
Experience these remarkable birds up close while learning from trained Earthcare volunteers

Program details

Duration: Approximately 2 hours
When: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings
Start Time: Begins 15 minutes before sunset (exact time varies with season)
Where: Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron Marina
What to bring: warm clothes, closed toe shoes, water, binoculars (optional).

Site Information
Location: End of the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron Marina

You’ll be stationed on a floating platform surrounded by water. The platform may move slightly due to its floating nature
From this position, you’ll get an excellent view of the penguins in the water as they make their way to the breakwater to nest.
You will also be able to spot penguins on the breakwater using a red light torch provided by your team leader

Earthcare St Kilda gratefully acknowledges the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron for providing access to the marina, enabling this important citizen science program to take place.

Requirements

No experience needed
Must be 18 years or older

Registrations through Earthcare St Kilda are ESSENTIAL.
If you have any questions, please contact research@earthcarestkilda.org.au
👉 REGISTER HERE
Registrations open 5pm, 4th May

Earthcare St Kilda acknowledges the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters where this program takes place. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Raft Count - Breakwater Team
2026-05-15 17:10 - 19:15, 2026-05-13 17:10 - 19:15
Join us in counting Little Penguins in St Kilda and learn from our dedicated volunteers about this unique colony!
As a citizen scientist, you’ll join one of two small teams – each made up of five participants and one team leader. You’ll help manually count the number of penguins in each raft (a group of penguins in the water) as they return home at sunset. This non‑intrusive study collects valuable long‑term data on penguin arrival patterns and population trends. Your observations directly contribute to protecting and understanding the Little Penguin colony in St Kilda.

What’s Involved

Manually count penguin rafts (groups of penguins in the water) from the St Kilda Breakwater as they arrive at sunset
Contribute valuable data to long‑term monitoring of arrival patterns and population trends
Support the conservation of Melbourne’s unique Little Penguin colony through hands‑on citizen science
Experience these remarkable birds up close while learning from trained Earthcare volunteers

Program details

Duration: Approximately 2 hours
When: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings
Start Time: Begins 15 minutes before sunset (exact time varies with season)
Where: St Kilda Breakwater
What to bring: warm clothes, closed toe shoes, water, binoculars (optional).

Site Information
Location: End of the St Kilda Breakwater

The St Kilda Breakwater has uneven and sometimes unstable surfaces, so sturdy, closed‑toe shoes with good grip are essential.
The area is exposed to wind and changing weather conditions, especially around sunset
During the return walk after the count, you will be walking through an active Little Penguin colony. This section of the breakwater is dimly lit, and you may encounter:

– Penguins crossing the path or resting beside the rocks
– Trip hazards such as unstable rocks, branches, and narrow walkways
– Occasional wet or slippery patches from waves or penguin activity
Earthcare St Kilda gratefully acknowledges the Parks Victoria for providing access to the breakwater, enabling this important citizen science program to take place.

Requirements

No experience needed
Participants must be 8+ years (participants under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult)
Working with Children’s check required for participants aged 18+
To join this team you will need to have/create a Park Connect account

Registrations through Earthcare St Kilda and a Park Connect account are ESSENTIAL.
If you have any questions, please contact research@earthcarestkilda.org.au
👉 REGISTER HERE
Registrations open 5pm, 27th April

Earthcare St Kilda acknowledges the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters where this program takes place. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Raft Count - Marina Team
2026-05-15 17:10 - 19:15
Join us in counting Little Penguins in St Kilda and learn from our dedicated volunteers about this unique colony!
As a citizen scientist, you’ll join one of two small teams – each made up of five participants and one team leader. You’ll help manually count the number of penguins in each raft (a group of penguins in the water) as they return home at sunset. This non‑intrusive study collects valuable long‑term data on penguin arrival patterns and population trends. Your observations directly contribute to protecting and understanding the Little Penguin colony in St Kilda.

What’s Involved

Manually count penguin rafts (groups of penguins in the water) from the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron Marina as they arrive at sunset
Contribute valuable data to long‑term monitoring of arrival patterns and population trends
Support the conservation of Melbourne’s unique Little Penguin colony through hands‑on citizen science
Experience these remarkable birds up close while learning from trained Earthcare volunteers

Program details

Duration: Approximately 2 hours
When: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings
Start Time: Begins 15 minutes before sunset (exact time varies with season)
Where: Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron Marina
What to bring: warm clothes, closed toe shoes, water, binoculars (optional).

Site Information
Location: End of the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron Marina

You’ll be stationed on a floating platform surrounded by water. The platform may move slightly due to its floating nature
From this position, you’ll get an excellent view of the penguins in the water as they make their way to the breakwater to nest.
You will also be able to spot penguins on the breakwater using a red light torch provided by your team leader

Earthcare St Kilda gratefully acknowledges the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron for providing access to the marina, enabling this important citizen science program to take place.

Requirements

No experience needed
Must be 18 years or older

Registrations through Earthcare St Kilda are ESSENTIAL.
If you have any questions, please contact research@earthcarestkilda.org.au
👉 REGISTER HERE
Registrations open 5pm, 27th April

Earthcare St Kilda acknowledges the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters where this program takes place. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Raft Count - Breakwater Team
2025-11-10 19:45 - 21:15
Raft Count -Join us in counting little penguins in St Kilda and learn from dedicated volunteers all about the colony! As a citizen scientist, you’ll join one of two dedicated teams – each made up of five citizen scientists and one team leader. You will help manually count the number of penguins in each raft (group of penguins in the water) as they return home. This non-intrusive study is designed to collect valuable data on penguin arrival patterns and population trends over time. Your observations will directly contribute to protecting and understanding the Little Penguin colony in St Kilda.
REGISTER HERE

What’s Involved:

Be part of a team of citizen scientists observing penguins from the St Kilda Breakwater and St Kilda Marina
Manually count penguin rafts as the penguins return home from feeding at sea
Help collect long-term data on penguin arrival patterns and population trends
Contribute to the conservation of Melbourne’s unique Little Penguin colony
Get the chance to see and learn about a unique colony of Little Penguins

Program details:

Duration: Approximately 2 hours
When: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings
Start Time: Begins 15 minutes before sunset (exact time varies with the season)
Where: St Kilda Breakwater
What to bring: warm clothes, water, binoculars (if you have them).

Site details:
Location: End of the St Kilda Breakwater

The breakwater is an uneven surface, so sturdy, closed toe shoes are essential
One of the highlights of this location is that, after the counts are done, you’ll walk back through the breakwater colony, experiencing the penguins up-close as they return to their burrows.

Requirements:

No experience needed
Must be aged 8 years or older (participants under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult)
Working with Children’s check (if over the age of 18)
To join this team you will need to create a Park Connect account and register for the relevant activity

Registrations through Earthcare St Kilda and Park Connect are ESSENTIAL.
If you have any questions please contact tia@earthcarestkilda.org.au
REGISTER HERE
