Conservation biologists with NSW’s Saving our Species program have recorded hundreds of endangered Southern Bell Frogs croaking in chorus in the south west of the State.
Project Officer with Saving our Species, Helen Waudby said survey results indicated that the green and bronze amphibian, one of Australia’s largest frog species, had thrived over summer with carefully managed environmental water flows.
“The highlight of this season’s survey was the amorous clamour of ‘waaa waaa waaa’ mating calls heard at wetlands around Hay, Balranald, Coleambally and Moulamein,” Dr Waudby said.
“Bell frogs were calling in their hundreds at several sites near Hay and the presence of metamorph (young) frogs at several sites indicates that it’s been a successful breeding season,” she said.
“Not only have we heard the frogs calling from most of our 42 priority conservation sites this season, they have also turned up at wetlands on private properties near Coleambally and Balranald where they have never been heard before.”
Dr Waudby said the southern bell frog required wetlands that filled over spring and summer and held water for several months in order to breed successfully.
“Water for the environment filled wetlands in the Murrumbidgee and Murray Valleys in spring last year, just in time to kick off the Southern Bell Frog’s breeding season,” she said.
“Thanks to these well-timed flows, environmental water managers, irrigators and private landholders have been able to replicate the optimum breeding conditions for this endangered species.”
Dr Waudby said it was with the support of landholders that Saving our Species was able to build a network of good quality wetlands which allowed the iconic species to breed, move around the landscape and thrive.
