Residents across the Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands are being encouraged to lend an ear to Australia’s frog population as one of the nation’s largest citizen science projects gets under way.
The Australian Museum’s annual FrogID Week runs from November 6 to 15, with people asked to record frog calls in their backyards, local parks, waterways and bushland using the free FrogID smartphone app. The recordings are used to build a national database that helps scientists track frog species and monitor environmental health.
The call for participants comes as researchers reveal the important role everyday Australians play in conservation efforts. An analysis of almost 500,000 FrogID records found 86 per cent were collected on private property, with 20 of Australia’s 24 threatened frog species identified on private land.
Lead scientist for FrogID Week, Dr Jodi Rowley, said many people would be surprised by the diversity of frog life living close to home. She said residents often discover there is far more frog activity in their local environment than they realise.
On the South Coast, participants are being encouraged to record frog calls wherever they hear them, from suburban backyards in Nowra and Ulladulla to creeks, wetlands and bushland areas throughout the Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands. The information gathered will help researchers better understand frog populations and identify areas where threatened species may be living.
Scientists hope strong community participation will provide valuable data to support frog conservation efforts across Australia while helping people connect with wildlife in their own neighbourhoods.
