News
Health Check for Frogs in Bushfire Affected Areas
This year the Frog Census will focus on bushfire-affected areas. Join in the effort with your friends and family and record the frog calls that you can hear. Return to sites you have recorded before, or places that were dry or fire affected over summer, giving us important data on our froggie friends. Sign up here
Frog News around Australia
Use these links to find out what is happening for frogs around Australia:
Western Wildlife Frogs www.westernwildlife.com.au/frogs
Frogs of Tasmania www.parks.tas.gov.au/wildlife/frogs/frogs.html
Western Australia Museum Alcoa Frogwatch www.museum.wa.gov.au/frogwatch
Australian Amphibian Disease Website www.jcu.edu.au/school/phtm/PHTM/frogs/ampdis.htm
The Action Plan for Australian Frogs www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/action/frogs
Australian Herpetological Directory www.jcu.edu.au/school/tbiol/zoology/herp/herp2.shtml
Tropical North Queensland Frogs www.wildlife-australia.com/frogs.htm
Frog Census Update
At Melbourne Water’s Frog Census we are happy to receive frog call recording and data sheets throughout the year. We prefer digital recordings, to reduce our impact on the environment. The participation page gives you all the information you need to be involved in collecting.
Frog Census Activities and Events
- Melbourne Water’s Frog Census is launched annually in September. Those registered as Frog Census volunteers are invited to an annual exciting free event
- Melbourne Water’s Frog Census manager may be able to visit your group to help you recognise local frog calls. Email frogs@melbournewater.com.au with any requests
- Register yourself or your group to receive email updates on frog events throughout greater Melbourne. Registering does not mean you are obliged to submit frog call recordings
- Waterwatch Coordinators are skilled environmental educators, active across the region. Waterwatch provides in class frog activities as part of the partnership with the Frog Census. Check out the Waterwatch Melbourne website to access this program.
Frog Census Annual Report
Our ecologists, Ecology Partners, completed an annual report detailing Frog Census results from mid 2007 to September 2008. During this time over 500 call recordings were received, with 12 species represented. It is well worth having a read of the Melbourne Water Frog Census Analysis: Annual Report (PDF, 2.2mb).
Zoos South Australia Frog Atlas
- South Australia Zoo is developing the Australian Frog Atlas. Melbourne Water is a partner of the project
- The Frog Atlas allows you to learn about some of Australia’s frogs while helping to build an interactive map of distributions
- It is hoped that in time all of Australia’s frog monitoring are part if the Atlas
- Frog Atlas members in some parts of Australia are already uploading their digital frog calls
- In the next stage of development volunteers will take part in on-line frog call recognition training, and verify the recordings of other Frog Atlas members
- View the Frog Atlas website to follow its development
- Continue to send your calls to frogs@melbournewater.com.au for now.
FROG CENSUS QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Can I still record my frog calls on a cassette?
Yes. We understand not everyone has internet access and access to digital recording equipment.
Will Melbourne Water still send a frog census kit to me in autumn and spring?
No. You will need to email frogs@melbournewater.com.au to request a kit, including a cassette, datasheet and return address sticker. This is more sustainable.
Will you still hold evening frog census information sessions?
No. We no longer hold evening information sessions, as no training is needed to take part in the Frog Census. If you are registered as a volunteer you will receive email notifications about frog events around Melbourne. Melbourne Water’s Frog Census manager may be available to present to your group, or you may be able to take part in a Waterwatch program or session. Email frogs@melbournewater.com.au at any time with requests
How will I know how to make a frog census recording without attending a session?
The participation page of this website gives you all the information you need to make a frog call recording. You do not need to know your frog calls to be involved in the Census, but it is exciting to recognise you local frogs. To learn to recognise frog calls go to the Frogs of Australia website. Detailed distribution and spotting characteristic information can be found on the site, as well pictures and frog call sound files.
How can I meet other people to go out and make recordings with?
There may be a ‘friends of’ group who meet to undertake conservation activities in your local parkland or waterway. You can find friends of groups by calling your local council, searching on your local council’s website or visiting the Victorian Environment Friends Network site.
Not all Friends groups participate in the Frog Census so when you call ask the contact person if they know anyone in the group who is interested in frogs.