Nest Boxes & Hollows
Hollow Watch Australia
A free, national citizen science initiative to record, monitor, and learn from every nest box and tree hollow across Australia. Built on ProofSafe - open to everyone.
Hollow-dependent species are running out of homes
Across Australia, hundreds of species depend on tree hollows that take generations to form. As trees are lost, so are the hollows. Nest boxes help - but we don't know enough about what works.
Hollows take 100+ years to form
Between development, land clearing, logging and fires we have lost millions (possibly billions) of hollow bearing trees, these old trees are an essential part of the ecological mix.
Nest boxes and introduced hollows can help however we need to learn and ensure these actions are effective.
Data is scattered and lost
Councils, community groups, researchers, and backyard enthusiasts all install nest boxes - but the data stays in spreadsheets, field notebooks, or nowhere at all. No one can learn from it.
We don't know what works
What box design works for which species? How long do they last? What orientation is best? How do host trees react? Without aggregated, long-term data, we're guessing.
One national dataset. Built by everyone.
Hollow Watch Australia uses ProofSafe to create a single, searchable, long-term dataset of nest boxes and tree hollows across Australia.
Record from the field
Use the free ProofSafe app to log nest box and hollow details - species, dimensions, aspect, height, host tree, GPS location, photos.
Works offline
Deep in the bush with no signal? No problem. The app works fully offline and syncs everything when you're back in range.
Come back in 1 year or 10
Navigate back to the exact tree using GPS. Record new observations - occupancy, condition, damage, species changes. Build a long-term picture.
Aggregated national data
Every record feeds into a single national dataset. Researchers, councils, and PhD candidates get access to a massive, broad evidence base.
Sensitive data protection
Sensitive species or locations? Obfuscation features let you protect exact locations and species data while still contributing to the broader dataset.
Map everything
View all nest boxes and hollows on a map. See patterns, identify gaps, plan new installations, and navigate to any recorded location.
For everyone who cares
This is open citizen science. Anyone can contribute. The more people recording, the better the dataset.
What you record
Simple, structured data that adds up over time.
Box or hollow details
Type, design, material, dimensions, entrance size, aspect, height, installation date. For natural hollows: cavity type, opening size, depth.
Host tree data
Species, DBH, health, structure. Track how the tree responds to the installation over time.
Occupancy & species
What moved in? What moved out? Breeding activity, competition between species, seasonal patterns. The data that drives real research.
Photos & evidence
Capture photos of boxes, hollows, occupants, and conditions. Annotate with markup. All timestamped and GPS-tagged.
GPS location
Every record pinned to an exact location. Navigate back to any tree, any time. View installations on a map across your area or the whole country.
Condition & maintenance
Damage, weathering, repairs needed. Track how long different designs last in different environments. Real data for real improvements.
Data that grows more valuable every year
A nest box recorded today becomes a data point. Revisited in a year, it becomes a trend. In ten years, it's part of a dataset that can drive real conservation outcomes.
Hollow Watch Australia isn't just about recording - it's about building something that researchers, councils, and environmental groups can use to make better decisions for hollow-dependent species for decades to come.
- Drive innovation in nest box design and placement
- Understand which species use which box types
- Track long-term durability of materials and designs
- Measure real outcomes for endangered species
- Provide evidence for funding and policy decisions
- Support PhD research with a broad, aggregated dataset
100% free. For everyone. Forever.
Hollow Watch Australia is a citizen science initiative. ProofSafe provides the app and platform at no cost. No subscriptions, no usage fees, no paywalls. Record one box or a thousand - it's free because the data belongs to everyone.
How to get started
Three steps. Five minutes. You're contributing to national research.
1. Get the app
Register your organisation (can be just you) on ProofSafe.
It’s free, download the mobile app for iOS or Android.
Using the mobile app there is a ‘Research’ folder with the ‘Hollow Watch Australia' form ready to go.
2. Record what you see
Out in the field on the mobile app enter a new box or edit an existing record.
Create a new record or bring existing nest box data to your phone ('lookup') and then update that information. Each box or hollow is a living ‘Asset’ on the system that you update over time.
Enter details, dimensions, target species, photos, GPS and even innovations. This all works offline.
3. Upload & Learn
When you upload from the mobile app your data is then safely stored in your project.
You can then go to the Web Portal and see your map of boxes / hollows, photos and history.
You can also make any changes and share your data with others.