Dragonfly Watch

Enjoy spotting dragonflies and damselflies, or interested to learn more about them?

Join us for Dragonfly Watch to collect valuable data about dragonflies and damselflies, which contributes to their conservation.

Dragonfly Watch March 2025

Survey period: 9 to 17 March 2025
Registration deadline: 16 February 2025
Training: Not provided. This session is only for returning volunteers.
What you need: You need an account with Volunteer.gov.sg to register.

*Registration will open on 1st February 2025. Do note that registration is open to experienced volunteers only.

About Dragonfly Watch

Dragonfly Watch is a citizen science project where volunteers help monitor Singapore’s dragonfly and damselfly populations. Participants observe, count and record the flying predators across various parks and nature reserves.

It is organised biannually as part of NParks' Community in Nature initiative.

Why this matters

The data you collect helps us track patterns in dragonfly and damselfly populations over time. This information helps NParks to develop better park management and conservation measures to sustain and enhance these populations.

Who can participate

All volunteers must go through an online training.

If you are new to Dragonfly Watch, you must also attend a practical training workshop before you can participate.

You will learn basic survey and dragonfly-watching techniques, as well as how to identify of 23 common dragonflies and damselflies in Singapore.

The training programme includes:

Online training video (about 2 hours long)

The recordings will be sent to you upon confirmation of your registration.

Practical training workshop at the Singapore Botanic Gardens (about 1 hour long)

This short field session allows you to try out the techniques taught in the online video.
You will be assigned a one-hour slot for the practical training. You can view the dates and indicate your preference in the registration form.

Slots will be assigned on a first-come-first-serve basis, with priority given to new volunteers.

Children under 12

Children under 12 can join the survey, but they must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

What you need

No special equipment is required to take part. All you need is either:

A datasheet and pen, or
A smartphone with the SGBioAtlas app.

Although not required, a camera or binoculars can help you better observe and record the species.

What to expect

This is the typical process of taking part in Dragonfly Watch:

After you have registered, you will receive a confirmation email with more details.
View a theory training video and attend a practical training if you are new to dragonfly watching or wish to have a refresher. Find out more about the training.
A few days before the Dragonfly Watch, we will send you information about your assigned survey site and transect locations.
Head down to your site on any day within the survey period and conduct the survey at your assigned location. The survey should take no longer than three hours and can be conducted any time from 9am to 5pm. The following windows are recommended: 9am to 12pm, 2pm to 5pm.
Submit your survey results via the SGBioAtlas app.

Download SGBioAtlas to share your biodiversity sightings!

Frequently asked questions

There are 23 species in total for you to identify:

Damselflies

Variable Wisp (Agriocnemis femina)
Ornate Coraltail (Ceriagrion cerinorubellum)
Common Bluetail (Ischnura senegalensis)
Blue Sprite (Pseudagrion microcephalum)

Dragonflies

Common Flangetail (Ictinogomphus decoratus)
Trumpet Tail (Acisoma panorpoides)
Grenadier (Agrionoptera insignis)
Blue Dasher (Brachydiplax chalybea)
Common Amberwing (Brachythemis contaminata)
Common Scarlet (Crocothemis servilia)
Common Parasol (Neurothemis fluctuans)
Spine-tufted Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysis)
Blue Skimmer (Orthetrum glaucum)
Variegated Green Skimmer (Orthetrum sabina)
Scarlet Skimmer (Orthetrum testaceum)
Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens)
Common Chaser (Potamarcha congener)
Banded Skimmer (Pseudothemis jorina)
Common Redbolt (Rhodothemis rufa)
Yellow-barred Flutterer (Rhyothemis phyllis)
White-barred Duskhawk (Tholymis tillarga)
Crimson Dropwing (Trithemis aurora)
Scarlet Basker (Urothemis signata insignata)

If you spot any species not listed here, you should record it under "Other species sighted".

No, the survey takes no more than three hours and can be done any time between 9am and 5pm during the survey period. We recommend you conduct the survey between 9am to 2pm or 2pm to 5pm.

If you volunteer to do counts at more than one site, you may need to spend more time, but it is flexible according to your availability.

The training workshops are compulsory for first-time participants. Returning volunteers do not need to attend, but they can opt to attend as a refresher.

Find out more about the training workshops.

When you sign up, the registration form will require you to indicate your preferred location to carry out the survey at. Our team will then assign you a location that is within or close to your preference.

Alternatively, if you do not have a preference or would like to have a location that is further from your home, please either indicate the zone that you would prefer to conduct the survey at, or no preference in the registration form.

Yes, you can register online for groups of up to 5 people. When registering on Volunteer.gov.sg, look out for the question "Group Code" and input the same code for all members in your group. (e.g. DragonflyWatch123 – please think of your own unique code).

Large groups should contact cin@nparks.gov.sg for more information on registration.

Contact us

For enquiries, please email cin@nparks.gov.sg with "Dragonfly Watch" in the email subject

Dragonfly Watch

Dragonfly Watch March 2025

About Dragonfly Watch

Why this matters