Growling Grass Frog Strategy released

Photo: Moomba Park Wetland .Copyright, Luisa Macmillan

Imagine you’re out by the Merri on a hot summer’s evening, 20 years from now. Frogs are calling from deep, slow-flowing pools in the creek itself and from nearby wetlands. A deep growling call, reminiscent of a revving motor bike, penetrates through the cacophony. You’re hearing the distinctive call of the Growling Grass Frog (GGF).

This call is far less common than it used to be along the Merri and Edgars Creeks. Indeed, in many areas the ‘Growlers’, as they are affectionately known, have disappeared completely. Habitat destruction and the ravages of chytrid fungus have led to this. The Growling Grass Frog is now listed as vulnerable to extinction under Commonwealth and State legislation.  Amazingly, Merri Creek and associated wetlands and quarry holes support highly significant populations of the Growlers. A recently released Strategy, endorsed by the Friends of Merri Creek, aims to reverse the decline of Growlers, broadly in the area between Somerton and Fawkner. It aims to ensure that Growlers are seen and heard by future visitors and caretakers of the creeks. 

This Strategy complements a separate Masterplan, developed by the State Government for GGF conservation further upstream. It fills a ‘missing gap’ in conservation planning for where the frogs persist in already urbanised parts of the Merri/Edgars. The Strategy, Securing the Southern - Metapopulations of the Growling Grass Frog in the Merri Creek, was developed by Merri Creek Management Committee, in collaboration with local councils and government agencies responsible for management of land and water-bodies. Friends of Merri Creek was represented at the well-attended launch last month and is a member of the Strategy Implementation Committee.

The Strategy highlights the fragmented nature of the landscape across which Growlers are found and the fragmented responsibilities of land managers. It highlights the need for concerted, integrated and well-informed efforts to protect existing populations of the frogs and to develop and enhance linkages and habitats across the landscape.  

Improved habitat for the Growlers also means wetland and terrestrial habitats will be better connected and supported. These will enhance the Merri Parklands for the benefit of many plants and animals, not just frogs. These improvements will add to the human enjoyment and appreciation of the parklands.
The specific goals of the Strategy are that:  

• within 10 years we will see a 20% increase in sites occupied by the Growling Grass Frog (based on 2022 reference data);
• within 10 years there will be 20% more off-stream Growling Grass Frog wetland areas than in 2024 (an additional 9.4 ha);
• we will not lose any of the breeding populations, as identified in 2024.

The Friends Committee looks forward to sharing news of work towards achieving the goals of the Strategy in future newsletters. We are already assisting with Growler surveys of existing and newly created wetlands.

You can read the strategy here.
Coming up in May, we’ll bring you news about the extraordinary return of wetland life to OHerns Swamp in Epping, after rewatering over the 2024/25 summer. This swamp is prime Growler habitat and is now protected as part of a Growling Grass Frog Conservation Area along the Merri Creek, part of the marram baba Parklands.