Did you Find a Frog in February?

Frog Finder army

Frogs are endearing, non-threatening and relatively easy to observe. Many are key indicators of a healthy environment. Therefore, humans could do well to take an interest in this animal group to ensure we know where they are and to keep their populations healthy.

February 2022 was the 6th year of the The Find a Frog in February citizen science program, building community awareness of frogs and their needs, and helping people monitor one or more sites every year during February.

The Mary River catchment is home to over 40 frog species; nine of these are listed as threatened or have disappeared – that’s nearly ¼!  Frogs are easily affected by changes in the air, water and land.  Collecting information on their whereabouts and the habitats they use means we can better manage the environment to protect them into the future. Here are some ideas to help our frogs:

• Keep records of frogs you observe. Take photos and record thier calls.
• Keep some areas ‘messy’ – logs and branches, leaf litter, rock piles, tall grass – a high-rise building houses more beings than a single story dwelling.
• Provide water – ponds, dams, swamps, low areas that fill when it rains, creeks – all with a variety of vegetation and some bare areas.
• Don’t move eggs, tadpoles or frogs about – risk of disease spread.
• Keep pollutants out of the environment – chemicals travel easily with water that flows across the land and along drains. Soap is a frog’s enemy!
• Keep your cats indoors at night as they hunt frogs and other wildlife.
• Know the difference between cane toads and look-alikes.
• Promote the protection of waterways and wetlands in your area.

People in the Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Gympie and Fraser Coast council regions were invited to get out and about to find frogs and submit their sightings and recordings.  FFF frog finders have contributed to our knowledge of 32 species from 550 locations (over 13,000 records!). Every record counts – even common species like the Green treefrog as the famous ‘toilet frog’ can be affected by changing environmental conditions too.

This year, Frog finders were encouraged to use the iNaturalist phone app to submit records. A report on the records collected will be released in coming weeks.

Find a Frog in February is proudly supported by the Sunshine Coast Council, Noosa Shire Council, Gympie Regional Council and the Fraser Coast Council, and delivered by the Mary River catchment Coordinating Committee.

Contact for more information: findafrog@mrccc.org.au or 07 5482 4766

Find a Frog in February Team

Cover image: Emerald spotted tree frog courtesy of Shanna Bignell