Sloane’s Champions – Citizen Science Monitoring Program

Sloane’s Champions – Citizen Science Monitoring Program

Sloane’s froglet (Crinia sloanei) is a small (15-25 mm) threatened frog now only known from four areas in NSW. Two of the largest populations are located in the Thurgoona-Wirlinga area of Sloane's froglet - David HunterAlbury, and in and around the town of Corowa. The NSW Government recently funded a Saving our Species conservation program for this tiny frog. The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) is working closely with groups to secure Sloane’s froglet in NSW.

OEH, Woolshed Thurgoona Landcare Group, and Corowa Landcare Group are coordinating a community-based Sloane’s froglet survey and monitoring program. We are asking community members to help us survey and monitor Sloane’s froglet. The data you collect will help us to plan and prioritise conservation work for this tiny frog to secure its long-term future in Thurgoona-Wirlinga and Corowa.

How do I survey for Sloane’s froglet?

Shallow vegetated wetlands provide excellent Sloane's froglet breeding habitat in winter - Helen P. WaudbySurveying for Sloane’s froglet involves listening for calling male frogs at wetlands in the Thurgoona-Wirlinga and Corowa areas. The main survey period for Sloane’s froglet is from around June to late August because the species calls most strongly in winter (when it breeds), but we encourage Sloane’s Champions to submit their data at any time of the year!

If Sloane’s froglets are present at a wetland, they are usually heard right away. However, sometimes they stop calling for a while, or other factors may influence our ability to hear them, so it is best to listen for calling males for a minimum of five minutes. It’s a good idea to survey a wetland more than once during the main survey period, and especially if the first survey did not detect Sloane’s froglet.

 

In 2018, we have partnered with the Australian Museum’s FrogID program to make frog identification and survey even easier. Below are some easy steps to follow for surveying for Sloane’s froglet:

  • Download the Australian Museum’s FrogID smartphone app.
  • Create an account on FrogID and join the Sloane’s Champions group (easiest to do from the official FrogID website)
  • Use FrogID to record calling frogs at local wetlands!

Data that you record using the app are sent to the Australian Museum. Experts listen to the calls to confirm the species calling, and will send you an email letting you know exactly what species were calling! Some of the benefits of using FrogID include:

  • Provides you with information on over 240 Australian frog species (including their calls)
  • Helps you work out what species might be calling at a site based on your location and local habitat
  • Recording data is quick and easy, and experts send you an email confirming what species you heard
  • You can get competitive! Check out the “Top Froggers” and “Top Groups” on the FrogID website. Let’s put Sloane’s Champions at the top of the list!
  • You are contributing data not only to the local Sloane’s Champions project, but also to our broader understanding of the health and distribution of Australia’s frog species

If you’d prefer not to use the app. or don’t have a smartphone then please feel free to record your data on a datasheet (we’ve included an example below) or in a notebook, and email the information to your Landcare Support Officer who will forward it to OEH. We’ve included some handy resources below:

  1. Sloane’s Froglet Monitoring Guide – June 2018
  2. Monitoring data sheet
  3. A Guide to Frogs of South-west NSW

Useful web links