Are you being serenaded by a frog chorus at unwelcome hours? You might be able to help save the world.
Australia has 240 different species of frogs, many of which are under threat. Hundreds of frog species have already disappeared around the world and many more are on the edge of extinction.
Declining frog populations have serious impacts on the health of Australia’s waterways and ecosystems.
Frogs are also early indicators of the effects of climate change on our environment.
FrogID is a new app developed by the Australian Museum in partnership with IBM. The free app is at the heart of Australia’s first national frog count.
The app identifies frog species by the special sounds they make – from croaks and chirps, to whistles, ribbits, peeps, barks and grunts. The app has been designed for Australians to record frog calls in their backyard and at nearby parks, creeks, dams, streams and wetlands.
Recording and uploading these unique calls via the app will help identify different frog species across the country, and map where they are most at risk from habitat loss, disease, climate change and urbanisation.
FrogID is run by the Australian Museum’s Centre for Citizen Science, with support from the Federal Government’s Citizen Science Grants and IBM Australia’s Impact Grants program.
Natural Science Museums from every state and territory are also teaming up with the Australian Museum on FrogID, to help conserve frog species across the country. The app will be launched on Friday, November 10, in Sydney.
