Increase in Citizen Scientists
During COVID-19
Australian Museum Centre for Citizen Science breaks new records
FrogID Surpasses 200,000 Records and DigiVol’s Wildlife Spotter Completes More than 500,000 Transcriptions
FrogID’s 200,000 validated frog record, the threatened Red-crowned Toadlet (Pseudophryne australis) Image: Jodi Rowley
Australian Museum (AM) citizen science projects FrogID and DigiVol’s Wildlife Spotter have broken new records during the COVID-19 pandemic, as people become involved from their homes and backyards.
This month, the Australian Museum’s FrogID program surpassed 200,000 validated frog records. The incredible milestone was reached with the recording of the threatened Red-crowned Toadlet (Pseudophryne australis), documented by a citizen scientist in southern Sydney named Tom.
Frogs are one of the planet’s most threatened groups of animals and are often an indicator of environmental health. FrogID is a citizen science project that enables anyone to record and upload frog calls, along with time and location data, using a free app. More than 30,000 people across Australia are currently registered with FrogID.
“It’s incredible that since launching FrogID just under three years ago, we’ve been able to work with thousands of citizen scientists to record and validate more than 200,000 frog calls. The data collected from these recordings will help us understand the distribution, habitat and conservation needs of this incredibly significant animal group, as well as monitor the health of our ecosystems.
“I’d like to thank everyone who has helped us reach this exciting milestone and encourage even more people to get involved by
