Speaker: Priya Crawford-Wilson, Melbourne Water Waterwatch Coordinator

[On-screen text: Frog Census]

[Melbourne Water logo – Enhancing Life and Liveability]

[Music]

Frogs can be found all over Melbourne, from bushland, parks and gardens, to urban areas as well. Frogs perform a range of useful services like pest control, but they can be sensitive to changes in the environment from things like habitat loss, pollution and drought.

Melbourne Water works together with citizen scientists to monitor frog populations and to keep track of the health of our waterways and ecosystems.

This video is to show you how easy it is to get involved in the Frog Census. Using your smartphone you can download Melbourne Water’s Frog Census app and become a citizen scientist. The data that you collect through the app will help to manage Melbourne’s frog populations and raise awareness of waterway issues.

The Frog Census app allows you to submit recordings of frog calls. Frogs are often well-camouflaged so recording calls is a reliable way to monitor frogs and identify the species present without having to see them.

To use the app you first need to know how to find frogs. Frogs can be found in wet habitats, such as creeks, wetlands and even gardens.

The Frog Census app has a handy field guide and ‘refine search’ function based on your location. Have a listen to the calls. Do any sound familiar?

Each species of frog in Melbourne also has its own unique call, so we can identify any number of species from a single recording.

Once you’ve heard frogs calling, making a recording and submitting the report is four easy steps.

First, go to your phone settings and ensure you turn on mobile data and location services. On the home screen of the app press the red record icon and record the frog calls via your phone’s microphone for between one and five minutes. Try to avoid places with too much background noise. Once you’re happy you’ve recorded all the species you’ve heard press stop.

The second step is to take a photo of the site to show others the habitat you recorded your frogs in.

The third step is to tell us where you heard the frogs. You can do this by either selecting it from the map or using your current location. Don’t forget you need mobile data and location services activated.

The final step is to tell us what frogs you think you heard and enter the species and number. If you don’t know what species you heard, no need to worry – our expert ecologist will verify for you.

Now, you’re ready to submit your report.

Your report will now appear on the map function of the Frog Census app. The report will initially appear as a black and white frog icon. However, it will turn green when our expert ecologists confirm your report. You can also explore the hundreds of other frog reports made across Melbourne and find out what species are being reported near you. You can also go back and view your reports at any time.

Thank you. You’ve now joined the hundreds of other citizen scientists helping Melbourne Water to understand and protect the frog populations of Melbourne. If you’re interested in learning more about frogs in your local area and would like to get involved in the Frog Census, check out the Melbourne Water Frog Census website.

[On-screen text: Frog Census]

[melbournewater.com.au/frogcensus]

[Melbourne Water logo – Enhancing Life and Liveability]

[Frog recordings by Ed McNabb, Ninox Pursuits. Photography by Peter Robertson. Produced by ©Room3.com.au for Melbourne Water Waterwatch.]