Frog Identification and Ecology Workshop - a citizen scientist training program

Horsham District Landcare Network is bringing passionate frog expert and environmental educator David De Angelis out to Horsham to teach citizen scientists about frog identification, ecology and monitoring. Volunteer citizen scientists will be trained to conduct frog surveys using a smartphone app. This program will monitor local frog populations, including the vulnerable Growling Grass Frog (pictured) and help inform understanding and biodiversity conservation efforts.

Please read the following information and expectations on participants of this citizen science program before booking a limited spot on the workshop.

Expectations on participants:

After this workshop, you will conduct 2x evenings of frog surveys during the month of October (aka Frogtober). Estimated volunteer commitment: 2-6 hours depending on travel time to frogging sites.
You will work in pairs to conduct surveys (for safety reasons) - you can work with someone you know (who is also attending the workshop) or we will pair you up with another volunteer.
We will allocate frogging sites to each volunteer pair - we have a range of sites around the Horsham district so there is sure to be one near you. If you have a good frogging site on your property or nearby that you would like to be part of the survey program, please let us know. You can indicate site preferences in the checkout questions upon registration for this event.

Participants will need:

Availability and willingness to volunteer 2x evenings of frog surveys during the month of October with a buddy (estimated 2-6 hour commitment depending on travel time to frogging sites)
Smart phone or smart device for recording frog surveys using the Frog Census app
Water bottle
Headtorch for night-time field session
Weather appropriate clothing including closed toe shoes (ideally waterproof boots), wet weather gear and warm clothes for the night-time field session
A roadworthy, registered vehicle between each volunteer pair to access frogging sites - we encourage carpooling *please note travel will be at the cost of volunteers

We will provide:

Classroom and field-based training in this 4-hour workshop and support throughout the program
A "Glovebox Guide to Wimmera Frogs" booklet with CD of frog calls included
A light evening meal during the workshop

About David De Angelis and the workshop:

David is the current president of Frogs Victoria and works as an environmental educator and zoological consultant, having particular interests in the identification, conservation and ecology of frogs. He also maintains involvement in surveying and monitoring for frogs through La Trobe University, Holmesglen Institute and The Field Naturalists Club of Victoria, and has previously done in the greater Wimmera region including the Northern Grampians and Little Desert.
David will introduce the frogs of Horsham and the surrounding region, including those species most commonly encountered, some that are threatened, and others that have established through introductions. Hear the calls of each species and learn about some of the key features used to identify them, as well as how we can go about recording their calls for Victoria’s Frog Census program run by Melbourne Water in collaboration with other Catchment Management Authorities.
Afterwards we will make our way to a local wetland in an attempt to hear some of the local frogs and demonstrate recording their calls for the Frog Census. We will also cover hygiene procedures to minimise the risk of spreading the Amphibian Chytrid Fungus, and other important considerations to avoid disturbing frog habitats while doing surveys. This workshop is intended to better prepare members of the Landcare Network and other interested members of the local community to monitor frogs in the region, improving our understanding of which species occur in the region and where they are found locally. This has the potential to inform how we can better protect frog habitats.

This project is supported by Wimmera CMA and funding from Victorian Landcare Grants.

Horsham District Landcare Network is a not-for-profit group that supports Landcare across the Horsham district and contributes to large scale community-led biodiversity and sustainable agriculture outcomes.

For more information on what we do, visit our website: www.hdln.org.au or follow us on social media:

(1) Facebook

https://www.instagram.com/horshamdistrictlandcare/

If you have any questions about this program, please contact Jen, Landcare Facilitator, at facilitator@hdln.org.au or 0407914498.