BACK TO NATURE - Hop on to Find a Frog in February!

The Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee (MRCCC) is ready to jump-start their ninth annual ‘Find a Frog in February’ Citizen Science program!

“The more frogs that are looked for and reported to Find a Frog in February, the better we can look after them,” Ollie Scully from the MRCCC said.

“Frogs are very likeable and easy to observe but, more importantly, they tell us how our environment is faring.”

With the wet and hot summer conditions that we have been having over the past several months, frogs are actively feeding and breeding. The best time to find them is after dark, and the best places are where there is temporary or permanent water and lots of complex habitat.

Frogs are relatively small and very edible for many animals. Their survival depends on the availability of small spaces to hide in during the day, and colours to blend into their surroundings at night.

However, the males need to make a noise to attract a female and at this time they are most vulnerable. By calling at night, frogs can avoid many of the daylight predators, such as birds. Luckily for us, their often loud calls help us to find them.

Why Find a Frog February? 

Unfortunately, one third of frogs worldwide, and one quarter in our local region, are threatened with extinction. If we want to ensure frogs continue to exist in our environment, we need to keep an eye on where they are and how many there are. Then we can make decisions that ensure their ongoing survival, and maybe understand what causes distribution or population changes.

“‘If we look after our frogs, we look after ourselves and our future,” Ollie said.

The MRCCC is encouraging everyone to contribute time to be part of Find a Frog in February by taking photos and/or recordings of frogs and their location. This information can be submitted to the MRCCC to have them identified and the data stored.

Visit the MRCCC’s website to download a datasheet and be in the running for a frog book gift!

Community frog workshops and surveys are happening in February at Rainbow Beach, Cooroy, Imbil, and Burrum Heads. All the information you need can be found at - mrccc.org.au/frog-in-february/ or call the MRCCC on 07 5482 4766.

The program covers the Mary, Mooloola, Maroochy, Noosa and Burrum River catchments and adjacent coastal catchments in southern Queensland (see map). It is funded each year by the four local councils; Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Gympie and Fraser Coast, that have foresight to support biodiversity research that contributes to improvements in ecological understanding and better management decisions.

The program provides educational material and support to the broad community, schools, community groups and agencies to help improve our knowledge of local frogs; their location, population trends, habitat needs, and threats.

Participants and technical supporters provide in-kind contributions 4 times the funding provided. Involvement encourages an ethic of care for frogs and for all species and systems they interact with and depend on. The MRCCC and the frogs are immensely grateful!

All frog records that are submitted are rigorously identified and provided to the Queensland Government’s WildNet database for safe-keeping and for access.

Evening frog workshop and frog survey dates (bookings essential):

• Wednesday February 19 – Cooroy Library, Cooroy (RSVP MRCCC)

• Tuesday February 25 – Yabba Creek ‘Frog Hop’ (RSVP MRCCC)

• Thursday February 27 – Burrum Heads (RSVP MRCCC)