Step 1: What is your project goal?
Pick the goal that best matches your project. You may be prompted to select a target species. Once selected, click 'Continue' to move forward.
Step 2: Prepare your project site map
Use the map tool below to create a simple monitoring map. It does not need to be perfect. The aim is to mark where frogs may breed and where your group will monitor.
1 Prepare your site map
Upload a screenshot from your favourite online map, draw a simple map or use a blank canvas to create the base map.
- Click the 'Upload base map' button to upload a previously saved map (screenshot).
- Or you can click the 'Draw' button to create a quick sketch of the area.
2 Mark possible frog breeding sites
Look for wet places where frogs may call, breed or shelter.
- Ponds, wetlands and farm dams
- Creeks, drainage lines and shallow pools
- Reeds, rushes and other wetland vegetation
- Seasonally wet areas after rain
3 Mark access routes and key features
Add details that help safely find and use the site.
- Tracks, paths and entry points
- Nearby landmarks
- Hazards such as steep banks, poor access or deep water
- Vegetation, drainage lines and other useful site notes
4 Add monitoring points
Place one monitoring pin for each location where your group will stand, listen and record observations.
- Click the 'drop monitoring pin' button and drop it where you plan to monitor (use one pin per monitoring location).
- Check each pin has a clear site name and code. You can convert or create pin names to a custom code by using the Site Code Tool, below.
- Add short notes that will help find the exact location.
What should my map include?
- All waterbodies, wetland areas or depressions
- Access point or track
- Monitoring points
- Site codes
- Safety notes, such as steep banks or poor access
- Nearby landmarks to help find the site
Prepare your project site map
Create site codes for monitoring locations
Create short unique codes for your monitoring locations. These codes will automactically be added to the map when you use the "Drop monitoring pin" button.
Map pins will use these fields to generate codes.
Build your map
Use the tools below to add habitat areas, access routes and monitoring points. Start simple, then add details as needed.
Draw habitat boundaries, paths, waterbodies, drainage lines and safety features. Switch to “Drop monitoring pin” to add site pins.
Step 3: Plan your monitoring schedule
Check the best conditions for your project species and use that information to schedule the best times to monitor.
Add planned surveys
Step 4: Prepare for monitoring
Use the Frog Census App and complete the preparation and recording checks before each survey.
Before leaving
On site checklist (repeat for each site)
Step 5: Hygiene and Habitat Protection
Follow these important hygiene protocols before stepping on and leaving each site. This helps to reduce the risk of spreading diseases that can harm wildlife.
Hygiene procedure
Habitat protection
Step 6: Safety and Weather Check
Complete this section 1-3 days before your monitoring day. Ensure you have appropriate permission to monitor your site.
Check to see if the weather is suitable for monitoring your project's species.
Enter weather conditions
Step 7: Generate Monitoring Plan
Review your generated plan. You can print it, copy it, or save your project data for later.
Glossary
Use this page to check the meaning of common frog monitoring and mapping terms.
Key terms
Access point
The place where volunteers safely enter a site, such as a gate, path, track or car park.
Aquatic vegetation
Plants that grow in or very close to water, including submerged, floating and emergent plants.
Beaufort scale
A simple scale used to estimate wind strength by observing conditions such as moving leaves, branches or water ripples. For more information please refer to the Frog Census Planner Handbook.
Breeding habitat
Areas where frogs may call from, mate or lay eggs. This includes wetlands, ponds, farm dams and drainage lines or depressions.
Calling activity
When male frogs call to attract mates. This is often the easiest way to detect frogs during surveys.
Catchment
A natural boundary or area of land where rainfall and surface water drain into a single body of water such as a creek, river, lake or reservoir.
Edge habitat
The boundary between water and land, often rich in vegetation and useful for frog movement and calling.
Emergent vegetation
Aquatic plants that grow from the water or wet soil and extend above the surface.
Field hygiene kit
Kit that contains a scrubbing brush and disinfectant spray to clean boots between separate monitoring sites. Disinfect boots when moving between wetlands separated by dry land, roads, paths or other barriers, or when travelling more than 500 m between sites.
Frog breeding site
A place where frogs may gather to call, mate and lay eggs. For most species this will be near water and/or vegetation. Ground laying frog species use depressions and drainage lines.
Frog species diversity
An estimate of the number of generalist frog species present at the site.
Habitat feature
A physical feature that may help frogs survive or breed, such as reeds, submerged plants, shallow water, logs or wet ground.
Hygiene protocol
Steps designed to reduce the risk of spreading frog pathogens, weeds or pests from one site to another.
Light rain or drizzle
Gentle rain that does not make conditions unsafe or make it hard to hear frog calls.
Monitoring point
The specific place where your group will stand, listen, record calls or collect observations.
Project area
The broader place your group is interested in, such as a park, wetland, creek reach, farm dam or reserve.
Reeds and rushes
Tall wetland plants that often grow around the edge of ponds, creeks and wetlands and can provide shelter for frogs.
Refuge
A place where frogs can hide from predators or hot dry conditions. These sites are also important for winter dormancy where some frogs rest during cold weather. Also known as overwintering.
Seasonally damp area
A place that may be dry for part of the year but holds water after rain or during wetter months.
Shallow water
Water near the edge of a wetland, pond or creek. It can be important for calling, egg-laying and tadpoles.
Shelter
Places where frogs can hide from predators or drying out, such as vegetation, leaf litter, logs, rocks or cracks in soil.
Site code
A short unique code used to identify each monitoring location on your map, field sheets and survey records.
Slow-moving water
Water that moves gently, such as slow sections of creeks, channels or drainage lines.
Still water
Water with little or no flow, such as ponds, wetlands, pools, farm dams and some drainage basins.
Submerged vegetation
Plants growing under the water. These can provide shelter, egg-laying sites and protection for tadpoles.
Survey conditions
The weather and timing conditions that affect frog activity, such as temperature, wind, rain and time after sunset.
Survey night
A planned night when your group visits the site to listen for frog calls and record observations.
Target species
The frog species your project is focusing on.
Threatened species
Frog species listed as threatened under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act) and/or the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Listing status can change over time. In this tool, threatened species refers to threatened frog species for the Greater Melbourne Region as at July 2026. Check current official lists before using this plan for approvals, permits or compliance decisions.
Waterbody
Any area of water, including ponds, wetlands, creeks, dams, pools and drainage lines.
