News
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
Targeting Frog Population Dynamics
This year the Melbourne Water Frog Census will be working with researchers to establish an exciting frog monitoring program to record frog distribution and population dynamics over time. We will soon be contacting all Frog Census participants to offer specialised training in conducting a targeted monitoring program which will help to give us important data on our froggie friends.
Frog Census Update
At Melbourne Water 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 or a Healthy Waterways Waterwatch Coordinator 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 obligated to submit frog call recordings.
- • Waterwatch Coordinators are skilled environmental educators, active across the region. Waterwatch provides frog activities as part of the partnership with the Frog Census. Check out the Healthy Waterways Waterwatch website to access this program.
Frog Census Annual Report
Our ecologists, Ecology Partners, completed an analysis report detailing Frog Census results from mid spring to autumn 2009. During this time nearly 400 individual records of frogs was received from over 90 sites, with 12 species represented. For more information, please download the report: Melbourne Water Frog Census Analysis Annual Report (PDF, 2.2mb).
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.