Now’s the time to build a frog hotel and provide habitat for the Peron’s tree frog, as part of Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority’s Year of the Frog community awareness campaign.
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Goulburn Broken CMA project officer Janice Mentiplay-Smith said with yellow patches on its legs, star-shaped pupils and little webbed fingers and toes, the Peron’s tree frog was familiar to many people.
“This endearing little frog is often found in the urban environment. They like to climb up windows on warm nights, feasting on moths and insects attracted to indoor lights,” Ms Mentiplay-Smith said.
“Like all frogs, Peron’s tree frogs are important insect controllers — they will eat practically any insect they are able to catch, so are a vital link in nature’s food chain.”
Peron’s tree frogs have partially webbed fingers and fully webbed toes, with each digit sporting large disks which enable them to climb.
“Because of this, Peron’s tree frogs are at home in a purpose-built frog hotel, which cost almost nothing to build, and is a great way to add to the biodiversity in your backyard,” Ms Mentiplay-Smith said.
“Perfect for using up scrap materials, frog hotels provide safe habitat for these little frogs, giving them more real estate options and provides a safe haven from cats, which prey on defenceless native frogs.
“All you need is a small trough, large bucket or similar type of dish to arrange pipes of varying diameters and sizes. By placing water, rocks and even some vegetation at the base, you can create a five-star frog hotel.”
Ms Mentiplay-Smith said the Peron’s tree frog female laid either single eggs or eggs in small clumps, attached to sticks or pieces of vegetation beneath the water’s surface, often during spring and summer after rain.
“This frog loves to venture inside pipes, drains and water tanks. From within these man-made echo chambers, the Peron’s tree frog can amplify its croak, so it can be heard by females far and wide,” she said.
A range of websites provide information on building frog hotels, including Australian Geographic’s.
The Peron’s tree frog is a common inhabitant of the Goulburn Broken Catchment’s grey box grassy woodlands, which are a focus of the Goulburn Broken CMA Linking Landscapes and Communities Project, which works with landowners, communities and Traditional Owners to improve this critical habitat.
Throughout 2022, as part of the project, Goulburn Broken CMA and partners will focus on a different frog species each month.
For more information, phone Janice Mentiplay-Smith on 0418 316 169 or email: janicem@gbcma.vic.gov.au