FROGS are in focus for a new citizen scientist program that uses people's phones to monitor the health of our region's environmental water pools.
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Conservation group The Frogs Are Calling You have commissioned the new program in partnership with the Australian Museum, in which participants use an app to record and track frog calls.
Australian Museum experts then identify the species and send it back to the citizen scientist.
Project coordinator Lynette Plenderleith said the project highlighted how science was accessible to all and was free, fun, and easy.
"Some people want to find out what kind of frog species they have got on their property. Others want to explore their local wetlands and make a difference. Some people are looking for something to do on the school holidays," she said.
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"Science is in every part of all our lives, but there is a feeling of separation between research and people.
"Citizen science projects are a great tool for everyone to get involved in research, contribute to science and help inform policy and practice."
Ms Plenderleith said the data collected from the program would be used in a wetlands monitoring and assessment program, which tracks the efficacy of environmental water flows in the region.
Sites of interest include the Carapunga wetlands between Birchip and Warracknabeal and Crow Swamp, north east of Tarranyurk.
"We are particularly interested in wetlands that receive environmental water, which is water that is being controlled released into wetlands. We are interested in what the frogs think of it but it is a wider program involving other animals and plants as well," she said.
"We are trying to make sure the environmental watering program delivers the right amount of water in the right place at the right time. That work is already in progress. There has been a report just released.
"What we want to know is where the frogs are living and breeding, when, and how they respond to environmental watering and natural water regimes. That will help us to further manage enviromental water for the right reasons really."
Ms Plenderleith said the Australian Museum's FrogID app was easy to use, and would make a fun, kid-friendly activity for the up-coming school holidays.
"The app is really intuitive, really easy to use. The only thing you need to remember is that you have to record on the app, you can't submit a recording afterwards, you have to use the app to make a recording.
"It is dead easy, simple to use and user friendly. It is absolutely the thing that kids would be able to do and get a lot our of."
For more information, visit https://www.frogscalling.org/.
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