Melbourne Water invites community to help discover animals living in Moonee Ponds Creek

CITIZEN scientists will have a ribbeting time this Thursday discovering the frogs and water bugs living in Moonee Ponds Creek.

Waterwatch co-ordinator Yvonne Cabuang at Westemeadows Reserve. Picture: Luis Ascui

CITIZEN scientists will have a ribbeting time this Thursday discovering the frogs and water bugs living in Moonee Ponds Creek.

Melbourne Water’s waterwatch team is inviting the community to join them in Westmeadows to help identify and record the animals that call the creek home.

Attendees will be taken on a guided walk to learn about frogs and how they indicate the health of our waterways.

Waterwatch co-ordinator Yvonne Cabuan said the amphibians played a vital role in the waterway ecosystem and were easily affected by changes to their environment.

“Frogs have a water-dependent life cycle and can breathe and drink through their skin,” she said. “This makes frogs highly sensitive to drought, pollution, habitat modification and climate change.”

Those with a smart phone can learn how to take live recordings of frog calls and discover more about the Frog Census program.

The census in November helps the authority focus its efforts, protect frog habitat areas and improve waterway health.

Striped marsh frog. Picture: Stanley and Kaisa Breedon

Growling Grass Frog.

Eastern Banjo Frog found on the road heading back from Barham.

Ms Cabuan said the striped marsh frog, growling grass frog, whistling tree frog, and eastern banjo frog were among those recorded in the Moonee Ponds Creek catchment in the past decade.

The free event will take place at Westmeadows Reserve off Ardlie St from 6-8pm.

A light dinner will be provided.

CLICK HERE to join in the event.