Do you hear the sounds of frogs calling your backyard?
Frog ID week is here and this is a chance for you to join in Australia’s biggest frog count! The count starts on the 6th November and runs to the 15th November 2020.
What is FrogID week?
The Australian Museum’s FrogID Week is back for 2020 and Australians are asked to become involved to help understand the impact of summer bushfires and drought on our fragile frog population from 6 November to 15 November.
Now in its third year, FrogID is designed to collect audio recordings of frog calls across the nation – at a moment in time – to monitor frog populations and help save Australia’s threatened frog species. So far, FrogID has identified more than 240,000 frog calls and identified 199 of the known 241 Australian frog species. During FrogID Week last year, Australians recorded more than 5,400 frogs from 71 species.
FrogID Week aims to build on the critical data gathered over the past two years. This is a crucial year for FrogID Week, as the data collected will help scientists determine the impact of climate change, drought, and bushfires on the frog population.
How to get involved and count frogs
It’s easy to take part – simply download the free FrogID app on your phone and, during FrogID Week 6-15 November 2020, head outside to listen for frogs. When you hear a frog, record the sound with the FrogID app and submit it to the FrogID program. Find out more at www.frogid.net.au
How the frogs are identified
Each frog species has a unique call, which is an accurate way to identify different frog species. Recording and uploading frog calls, via the FrogID app, will identify different frog species, along with time and location data, using GPS technology. A team of frog experts will verify calls submitted by the public. This data will help map frog populations across Australia and identify areas and
species under threat.
What happens with the data you collect?
Dr Jodi Rowley, Lead Scientist of FrogID and the Curator of Amphibian & Reptile Conservation Biology at the Australian Museum said calls recorded to date by people all around the country are helping scientists better understand how to keep our frogs safe.
We need the help of people all around the nation to gather audio of frogs in city parks, suburban backyards, regional properties, remote locations – everywhere!” said Jodi. “This year, the data is absolutely vital in helping us understand how frogs adapt to climate change and weather patterns like drought and the bushfires we have experienced over the last year.
Get outside, listen for frogs and send us their calls – it’s simple to do and you’ll be helping to save Australia’s frogs.”
In less than three years, FrogID has produced more than 30% of all the frog records in Australia over the last 240 years – crucial information which helps scientists learn more about our frogs in order to protect them.
To find out more about the most wanted frogs and frogs near you head to www.frogid.net.au. This is definitely an activity to involve the kids and impress on them how important all the creatures are from the biggest blue whale to tiniest green tree frog.
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