Listening for frogs in the Organ Pipes National Park

In the quiet expanse of Organ Pipes National Park, a team of dedicated conservationists, the Friends of the Organ Pipes National Park are working to preserve one of Australia's most vulnerable amphibian species – the Growling Grass Frog.

Friends of the Organ Pipes National Park received funding last year as part of our Thriving Communities grants and sponsorships program. This funding helped to purchase audio recorders to record frog calls in the Organ Pipes National Park. This consistent audio monitoring will help establish the location of the Growling Grass Frogs, and other frog species within the park, as well as to estimate population sizes.

Once they have this information, Friends of the Organ Pipes National Park, together with community volunteers can create a habitat restoration plan to protect the Growling Grass Frog and other frog species in the park.

The frog monitoring program at the Organ Pipes National Park began in 2005 with Terry Lane, who noticed a gap in the park's wildlife data. Terry’s initial monitoring efforts started with simple analog equipment, like tape recorders and paper forms.

"It was very clumsy. I carried two recorders, one with frog calls to try and tempt them to call, and the other to do the recording," Terry explains.

Although it was once one of southeastern Australia's most common frogs, the Growling Grass Frog has dramatically declined in recent decades due to habitat loss and disease. As a key predator of insects and smaller frogs, while also serving as prey for wetland birds, the Growling Grass Frog plays a vital role in maintaining ecological balance.

After monitoring was restarted in 2020 following a brief hiatus, the Friends of the Organ Pipes have observed troubling changes in frog populations, with a decline in all frog species in the park.

By combining citizen science, modern technology, and dedicated volunteers, the Friends of Organ Pipes are working to ensure that the unique call of the Growling Grass Frog continues to echo through the park for generations to come.

Visit our Thriving Communities page to learn more about the types of funding available and apply now.