Recent surveys by the North Central Catchment Management Authority's (CMA) Waterwatch volunteers have found the Bribons Toadlet is coping well despite the long drought.

According to Melanie Barrot, Avoca/Avon-Richardson Waterwatch facilitator for the North Central CMA, the recent findings are encouraging, particularly in light of the current dry conditions.

"It's great that we have found good populations of the Bibrons Toadlet in our surveys around the Catchment, particularly in local bushland areas around Tarnagulla and Dunolly," she said.

The Bibrons Toadlet, so called because of its toad-like appearance and its tendency to walk instead of hop, is listed as a threatened species in Victoria. Small and secretive, the Toadlet lives in dry bushland. It finds low lying moist leaf litter where water will collect during the wetter months of the year. Eggs are laid directly onto the soil, and when it rains the tadpoles develop in the resultant puddles or are washed into larger ponds to grow.

"Once the Bibrons Toadlet was quite common in Victoria, but they are now considered in decline. And the drought really hasn't helped. That's why it is so encouraging to find good populations in our recent surveys," Melanie said.

"Frog Monitoring is the most popular project with North Central Waterwatch and other local volunteers. We have set up many strategic sites around Tarnagulla, Dunolly and St Arnaud where we're using GPS information to help with ongoing tracking and data collection.

"We have been surveying the Bibrons Toadlet and other threatened species over the past two seasons with the information we gather assisting Parks Victoria with their planning, especially in relation to controlled burns."

The surveys involve listening rather than looking. All volunteers are fully trained and provided with recording equipment to listen for the different calls of each species. Once a call is recorded, it is verified by an ecologist to confirm a correct identification. 

The Waterwatch and Frog Monitoring volunteers represent all walks of life from students to land managers, and the age range is just as diverse.

"We currently have some TAFE students involved in the program as part of their studies. One of them was very excited to actually find four of the Bibrons Toadlet populations. Other volunteers we have are in their 80s and 90s, and we also work with local school groups.

"It's about increasing awareness within the local community about the importance and value of biodiversity.

Anyone interested in being involved with the Frog Monitoring Project or Waterwatch can contact Melanie Barrot at the North Central CMA on 5448 7124.

For further information please contact: 

Communications Officer, North Central CMA
PO Box 18, Huntly VIC 3551
t: 03 5448 7124
e: info@nccma.vic.gov.au