Western Chorus Frog Citizen Science Research

Western chorus frog populations of the Great Lakes/St.Lawrence/Canadian Shield are currently listed as a threatened species by COSEWIC however not much is known about the full range of the frogs. Blazing Star Environmental (BSE) is looking to learn more about this species through a three-year citizen science program in Southern Ontario. While it started last year in 2020, BSE is still looking for volunteers this season and next season. On February 6/2021, two members of BSE hosted an information webinar about the Western Chorus Frog Long-Term Monitoring Program, this article is an account of the webinar that took place.

For the purposes of the study, BSE considers the boreal chorus frog and the western chorus frog (Psuedacris triseriata) to be the same taxonomic species based on recent research. This continues to be an issue of dispute when comparing populations. The chorus frog is a small tree frog that is usually green, gray, or brown in colour with a white upper lip and three stripes along its back. The striping pattern can vary and sometimes look more like broken spots. The frogs are so small you are much more likely to hear them than see them. The frogs make a creaking type of sound, longer than the peep of a spring peeper's call.

Western Chorus Frog Call

Other Ontario Frog Calls

Western chorus frogs are likely to emerge earlier than most other frogs, usually in March to mid-April for 2-3 weeks depending on the seasonal conditions, and will use temporary wetlands including flooded fields, drainage ditches, swamps, and other wet areas that are likely to dry up later in the season. The tiny western chorus frog, like many other amphibians, is threatened by habitat loss and degradation, pollution, and pathogens.

The purpose of the study is to determine the full distribution of the species and inform the current COSEWIC status. The study site is rather large, with data gaps along the Bruce Peninsula, North and East shores of Lake Huron and areas North of the Kawartha Lakes region, which is why Blazing Star Environmental is seeking out volunteers like you! The program itself is very volunteer friendly and can be customized to suit your needs based on number of sites and travel distance. Once the frogs are calling auditory surveys can start as long as three field conditions are being met:

1. Minimum temperature of 10°C
2. No rain or only light rain
3. Between 10 AM and 6 PM

Surveys should be repeated three times at least 24 hours apart at the same site. BSE will assign study sites, provide data sheets digitally (which can be printed if desired), and will provide full training on identification and how to complete the data sheets. Anyone within the study range can participate but if you are under the age of 18 adult supervision is requested.

The first season was a great success with 174 volunteers, 1109 surveys conducted, 563 sites surveyed, and frogs detected 291 times. If you want to volunteer this season email [email protected] or sign up on the companies website or facebook page. You should receive an email confirmation after 1-2 business days. Once the surveys in 2022 are completed the company will wait five years and resurvey to determine if any changes in the frogs distribution have occurred.

Blazing Star Environmental is a small consulting company located in Oshawa that was founded in 2015. They are slightly different than the average consulting company in that the majority of their focus is on scientific research and monitoring. Currently, BSE is also researching Blanding’s turtles, eastern musk turtles, northern map turtles, eastern ribbonsnakes, Eastern hog-nosed snakes, and milksnakes.

Contact Blazing Star Environmental to listen to the full webinar and learn how you can get involved in the Western Chorus Frog Long-Term Monitoring Program.

Learn more about the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).

Learn more about western chorus frogs.

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Written by Kelsey Reich on Feb 6/2021.