ENVIRONMENT

Finding frogs

The Find a Frog in February citizen science program is entering its 9th year and has a large community of over 1,800 people from the Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Gympie and Fraser Coast council regions, who have been looking for frogs and submitting their observations. The program increases awareness of frogs and their needs and lets people know how to go about looking for frogs and how to make sure we give frogs the best chance. Until now, ‘Froggers’ have sent in 23,400 records of 39 species.

The program area is home to over 45 frog species with 10 of these listed as threatened or having disappeared – that’s nearly a quarter of frogs in our area! The Sunshine Coast is home to several threatened frog species, each playing a vital role in the ecosystem. Among these are the wallum sedgefrog, known for its unique habitat in coastal heathlands, and the green-thighed frog, which is often found in wet sclerophyll

forests. The giant barred frog and Fleay's barred frog are also on the list, both requiring pristine streams for survival. Other notable species include the tusked frog, the great barred frog and the southern barred frog. Conservation efforts are crucial to protect these species and their habitats from further decline.

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. Many are key indicators of a healthy environment. To participate in the program or for more information visit: mrccc. org.au/frog-in-february. Happy frogging!