Community ponds

Frog Watch seeks to increase the habitat available to frogs in our communities. The most effective (and enjoyable) way to achieve this is to encourage people to establish suitable habitat on their properties, whether they be suburban back yards or expansive rural estates.

To this end, the Frog Watch team have carried out pond training at several locations around the state of Victoria. The pond training is largely practical so the added benefit of a training day is that the community is left with a relatively large pond ready for frogs to move in.

You can see some of our ponds here. We will be revisiting the ponds periodically and we hope to be able to document the progress.

Serendip Sanctuary

Serendip Sanctuary is managed by Parks Victoria and is located near Geelong at Lara. The 250 hectare sanctuary, an excellent example of the open grassy woodlands and wetlands of the volcanic Western Plains, is the perfect place to learn about wetlands ecology.

The Sanctuary is particularly important for the bird life that it supports but it is an excellent place to find frogs. In 2003, Frog Watch established a "frog immersion room" in the visitors' centre.

+ 41 kb The pond should have some deep parts and some shallow parts. At least some of the edges should be sloping.

+ 40 kb Once the shape and the size of the hole are satisfactory, the pond is lined.

+ 38 kb A pond liner can help hold water during dry times.

+ 51 kb The liner should be covered in earth and rocks to protect it from light.

+ 48 kb Native plants, rocks, logs, and debris are added to give shelter to the frogs.

+ 53 kb The Serendip pond has overflow protection to avoid flooding the nearby trail. Can you see it?

+ 54 kb The completed pond at Serendip. A great day's work.

+ 54 kb Five months after construction, the Serendip pond looks great.

Pearcedale Conservation Park

Pearcedale is south-east of Melbourne, close to Western Port Bay at the start of the Mornington Peninsula. The Park is an ideal place for a large frog habitat as there are extensive grounds through which the frogs can move to the pond.

Any endangered frogs that move in will be in good company. The Park is home to such animals as quolls, bettongs, pademelons, and dunnarts.

+ 37 kb Every project needs an observant supervisor.

+ 51 kb Pond plants can be purchased in seed tubes. Nothing could be easier than putting them in the ground using a Hamilton tree-planter.

+ 47 kb Planting in the bottom of the Pearcedale pond was a messy but thoroughly enjoyable job.

+ 36 kb Carpet underfelt around the edge of the pond makes a great mulch, preventing weeds from competing with the new plants.

+ 41 kb Dead branches are to be placed into the pond at Pearcedale. It will provide places to hide for tadpole and breeding frogs.

+ 39 kb The satisfied construction team at the end of a successful day.

Baxter Park in Portland

Portland is a coastal town in Victoria's far south-west. The Portland area is home to several notable frog species such as the growling grass frog (Litoria raniformis) and the southern smooth froglet (Geocrinia laevis).

When it comes to providing habitat, however, all frog species are important.

+ 54 kb Create gentle slopes, deep areas, and shallows (with an earth-mover if you have one handy).

+ 49 kb Stage one - the hole in the ground.

+ 37 kb The pond at Portland is lined with a waterproof material ensure that it will retain water.

+ 49 kb After the initial earthwork, the site is fenced off, awaiting frog watchers who will finish the job.

+ 42 kb Cover the liner in soil and rocks to provide planting spaces.

+ 75 kb Gerry Marantelli discusses the finishing touches to be added to the pond by the team of volunteers.

+ 58 kb Could this be a frog's-eye view of a gathering at the Portland pond?

+ 55 kb Our pond is certain to enhance the appeal of this picnic area.

+ 53 kb Planting native species and adding logs and litter makes good frog homes.