Listen to amphibians – When and how?

When is the best time to listen to amphibians?

🌙 Best time of day:

• Evening & night: 1–2 hours before sunset until midnight, longer in warm weather.
• Some species such as water frogs and fire-bellied or yellow-bellied toads can also be heard during the day.

🌡 Optimal conditions:

• Temperatures above 5 °C (above 10 °C for late spawners).
• Calm, rain-free evenings (especially from May to mid-June).
• Rain & mild temperatures for early spawners such as grass frogs and common toads.

🐸 Who calls when?

• Early spawners (spring): Brown frogs (agile frog, grass frog & moor frog) & common toads.
• Late spawners (late spring & summer): Fire-bellied, yellow-bellied toads, water frogs (small water frog, pond frog & lake frog), natterjack toads, green toads &European tree frogs.

🔊 How do the individual species call?

• A list of examples of calls can be found on our website.

🔍Where do the individual species call?

Depending on the species, amphibians call in very different places:

• in bodies of water in meadows and gardens

• in lakes

• in (small) puddles on field paths or in the forest

Every environment has its own voices - can you hear them? 🎶😊

How can you successfully listen to amphibians?

👣 Behavior in the field:

• Move quietly and carefully.
• Stay at a location/body of water for a few minutes until any frightened animals calm down and start calling again.

👂 Pay attention to the calls:

• Which calls can be heard? (How many different types?)
• Try to record each type of call.

📸 Documentation options - explanation at the end of the document “How do I report a call?”

1. Create a new spot - no calling amphibian has been reported at the location where you are yet.
2. Spot update - a calling amphibian has already been reported at the location where you are.

🔄 Several visits:

• At least two observation dates (at least one week apart) per location are recommended to collect more accurate data.
• Always make a spot update if you want to make a report (again) at an already known location.

How do I report a call?

Create a new spot:

1. Open the AmphiApp & allow access to location, microphone and camera.
2. Check position
   • If necessary, please update the location information.
3. Where do you record at?
   • Select a location: Pond, brick-builtwater body, garden pond, puddle, lake or other
4. Can you hear a toad or a frog calling? Add the call!
   • Press and hold the microphone button to record amphibian calls.
   • Make a separate report for each amphibian call/species.
   • The audio recording should always be up to one minute long.
     • If possible, make more than one audio recording for each amphibian call/species that you hear, so that the calls can be easily heard and analyzed.
     • You can listen to the audio recording again after recording via the AmphiApp during spot creation. If necessary, delete the audio recording if you do not want to use it and make a new one.
     • Save the recording you think is best and continue with the message.
5. Take a photo of your observation
   • Take a photo of the animal or the location/body of water or upload a previously taken photo of the location/body of water.
6. Which animal did you observe?
   • Select the appropriate amphibian species from the list.
   • If the species is not known, please select “Other species” - we will then give you feedback on which species it was.
7. What other animal did you see?
   • This field only appears when “Another species” is selected and can be left blank
8. Is there plant growth?
   1. Please indicate here whether plants are growing in the water body.
9. Is there shading on the bank?
   1. Let us know here if there are any plants near the water that could possibly cast shadows.
10. Can you tell us more about your observation?
    • Please enter “CSA” in the description field for each report - this will put your report in the lottery pot.
    • Optional:
      • Number of animals
      • Details of the location
11. Spot visibility:
    • „Hide map location“ → Observation visible to all, but without exact location.
    • „Fully hide spot“ → Only visible to the AmphiBiom team and yourself.
    • „Keep spot visible“ → Observation and coordinates visible to all participants.
12. Save and finalize!

Spot Update:

1. Open the AmphiApp
2. Select spot
   • To do this, select the existing spot on the map at the location/at the body of water where you are.
   • Click on the “plus sign” at the bottom of the map.
   • Allow access to location, microphone and camera.
3. Continue from here with point “3 Where do you record at?” from “Creating a new spot”.