Listen up, Frogtober is near

VICTORIANS are being invited to connect with nature in their neighbourhood by recording frog calls throughout October as part of Frog Month Victoria, also known as Frogtober.

Using the Frog Census App (available free for Android and iOS smartphones), participants can record the sounds of frogs and contribute to vital conservation research.

The recordings will help protect local frog species such as the threatened growling grass frog.

They will also help researchers understand more about the eastern dwarf sedge frog, a small tree frog common in Queensland and New South Wales that has recently been introduced to Victoria.

Professor Kirsten Parris from the University of Melbourne said Frog Month Victoria had been designed with both citizen scientists and researchers in mind.

“We’re calling on all frog and nature enthusiasts: kids, teens, adults, Landcare and environment groups, anyone who has an interest in our amazing frog species, to get involved.

“Through collaboration with researchers, citizen scientists, and Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) across Victoria, the recordings will help to map the locations where our frogs are thriving.

“The more information we can collect, the better we will understand the habitat of frog species across Victoria and tailor conservation strategies to protect them,” Professor Parris said.

She said taking part was as easy as downloading the Frog Census app and heading out at dusk to your local garden pond, farm dam, local creek or river.

“Even if you don’t hear any frogs, we still want to know.

“While our research will focus on threatened species, we are keen to receive recordings of all frogs calling around the state.”

Frog Month Victoria is an initiative of EstuaryWatch and WaterWatch Victoria, with the support of Melbourne Water and the University of Melbourne.

Data collected during Frog Month Victoria will be shared with the University of Melbourne, Victorian CMAs, participants and the broader public.

This project is part of the Victorian government’s $248 million investment over four years (2024-2028) to improve catchment and waterway health across regional Victoria.

For more information, head to kirstenparris.com/frog-month-victoria