Are you interested in helping protect frogs and toads? The North American Amphibian Monitoring Program (NAAMP), an effort coordinated by the U.S. Geological Survey and a network of regional coordinators, will lead a training session for volunteers to collect data on frogs and toads during the spring and summer. This free training will be held on Wednesday, March 2, from 6 to 7:30 pm at the Shaver Pond Nature Center at 194 Shaver Pond Road in Grafton Lakes State Park.
Amphibian populations are declining and long term monitoring helps scientists determine steps to protect them. Volunteers drive a pre-determined route after sunset four times during the spring and summer and listen for calling frogs and toads. There are ten stops per route, and volunteers listen for five minutes at each stop, record their data online and send it to the State coordinator. Volunteers must be 16 years or older and are required to register for the training with the New York Regional Coordinator, Hudson River Estuary Program, Suzanne Beyeler, PhD at
FrogandToad@gw.dec.state.ny.us.