Tara Murray
Frog enthusiasts and watchers get ready to be on the hunt for frogs in your local area as part of the Frog Census.
The Frog Census is a community-based frog monitoring program established in 2001, which uses data submitted by citizen scientists to help Melbourne Water teams track the health of the city’s frog populations, protect frog habitat areas and improve waterway health.
Hundreds of frog loving volunteers have visited ponds, creeks, rivers and wetlands across Greater Melbourne to record a cacophony of frog calls – sharing their important data with Melbourne Water.
Six different frog types have been identified in Brimbank, according to the Atlas of Living Australia website.
Melbourne Water’s Waterwatch co-ordinator James Frazer said almost 14,000 frog reports have been submitted by dedicated volunteers.
“Importantly, this amazing group of people have detected rare and endangered frogs such as the growling grass frog, southern toadlet and bibron’s toadlet at a number of Melbourne sites.
“Our communities have also been instrumental in helping identify priority locations for conservation efforts including improving habitat and water quality,” Mr Frazer said.
As well as the census there is an app and Facebook group for the frog count.
Mr Frazer said the app has made the program even more accessible to the community as it allows volunteers to simply open the app and press record to capture the sounds of frogs enjoying their habitats.”
