Results from the summer season of frog monitoring in the Gippsland Lakes have been verified by the Australian Museum to show the highest number of individuals ever recorded in one place at both main frog breeding sites. 

“Greening Australia undertook the summer surveys as part of the Gippsland Lakes Ramsar Site monitoring and the Love Our Lakes program,” said Bec Hemming, CEO of East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (CMA).  

“We’re delighted to report that the team found that the endangered Growling Grass Frogs are doing well in Clydebank Morass – an important fringing wetland of Lake Wellington.”  

“On one night, the survey detected hundreds of individual frogs – the highest number ever recorded for this site.”  

“Recordings made on the night were submitted to the Australian Museum via the Frog ID App who verified the results.” 

Metamorphs (juvenile frogs) were also recorded in Clydebank Morass found in both the main site and in another wetland site to the north-west.  

In Macleod Morass, Green and Golden Bell frogs were also heard calling and undergoing breeding for a second year in a row.  

The Love our Lakes program is currently supporting its project partner Greening Australia to construct ten ‘frog bogs’ on private land. The program is enhancing  highest priority wetlands within the Lower Avon/Perry River and also Macleod Morass as identified through the Ramsar Monitoring Program. 

The frog bogs create important refuge areas for frogs and these tailor-made frog habitats seem to be making a difference. 

Studies in 2016 recorded that Growling Grass Frogs were down to 80 individuals in the Gippsland Lakes Ramsar wetlands system. These latest surveys show that the population is now known to be in the hundreds. 

The frog monitoring undertaken as part of the Ramsar Site monitoring helps the team to identify areas of prime frog habitat and inform where works can be directed to have the greatest impact. The frog bogs will link with other prime habitat so frogs can disperse into fringing wetlands of the Gippsland Lakes and is part of our ‘Gippsland Lakes Room to Move’ concept. 

“Great news for frogs and great news for all Lake lovers to know that the projects we are working on are making a difference,” said Bec.  

The programs are part of the Victorian Government’s investment of $7.5 million towards the Gippsland Lakes over three years (2021-24) to support to the Gippsland Lakes Coordinating Committee to deliver these critical on-ground works.