Hop to it! Join Australia’s biggest frog count
When you hear frogs calling after rain, you’re listening to one of nature’s best health checks. Frogs are sensitive to pollution, temperature changes and habitat loss, so when they are calling it’s usually an indicator that our local ecosystems are doing okay too.
Australian Museum’s FrogID Week (7–16 November 2025) is an important annual event to check the frogs are calling.
FrogID Week invites everyone across Australia to become a citizen scientist by recording frog calls using the free FrogID app. Each recording helps scientists identify species, track their distribution and monitor how frogs are coping with pressures like climate change and urban development. Since its launch, more than a million frog calls have been logged, creating an invaluable national database that continues to grow every year.
You don’t need to be an expert or travel far to join in. Frogs are found in surprising places: suburban gardens, roadside drains, golf course ponds and local creeks. Even recoding a single call from your backyard or somewhere close to home can make a real difference. The Australian Museum’s experts verify every submission, so your observations contribute directly to scientific research.
Participating is also a great way to connect with nature. Heading outside on a mild spring evening, listening for croaks and trills, and tuning into your surroundings can be calming and rewarding—especially knowing you’re helping protect Australia’s unique amphibians.
How to take part:
- Download the free FrogID app from the App Store or Google Play and create a profile.
- Head outdoors between Friday 7 and Sunday 16 November, ideally after rain or at dusk, when frogs are most active.
- Record the calls you hear using the app. You don’t need to see the frog—just capture the sound.
- Submit your recordings through the app so the experts can identify the species.
You’ll be able to see your results and add to the national tally in real time.
Every frog call recorded helps researchers understand how our wetlands, creeks and backyards are changing – and which species most need our protection.
So grab your phone, step outside this November, and join thousands of Australians making a difference for frogs and for the future of our environment.
Find out more at www.frogid.net.au
Written by Jen Willis
Image of Peron’s Tree Frog (Litoria peronii) by LiquidGhoul is licensed under CC by 3.0