The discovery of an endangered frog on a Melbourne school oval has led to the creation of a thriving amphibian habitat.
A growling grass frog was found two years ago at a cricket ground belonging to Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School (PEGS).
Teacher Alex Scott said ground staff discovered the frog while removing the oval's goal posts at the end of the football season.
"They saw a frog there in one of the holes for the football goals," Mr Scott said.
"They sent me the photo and I contacted someone at Melbourne Water and they helped me identify it as a growling grass frog."
Melbourne Water's James Frazer said the frogs probably moved to the field from the nearby Maribyrnong River.
"They've been attracted to the sports grounds potentially because of sprinklers."
Mr Frazer said the oval's irrigation provided a "nice wet environment" with "lots of bugs" for the frogs to eat.
Frogs hop to new home
Mr Scott said the school community was "very excited" by the discovery.
The school sought advice from Melbourne Water on how to best provide habitat for their new amphibious residents.
"Within six months we had a pond built here and ever since then we can't keep the kids away," he said.
They can't keep the frogs away either.
Mr Frazer said the pond was now home to a dozen growling grass frogs as well as spotted marsh frogs, banjo frogs and eastern common froglets.
"The school has been using our Frog Census app to track the development of this pond from a freshly developed and planted site into a frog habitat," Mr Frazer said.
They're not alone — Melburnians have recorded more than 2,300 frog sightings using the free Frog Census app since Melbourne Water launched it last year.
Students make pond frog-friendly
Mr Scott said since the original frog sighting, more than 120 students had joined the school's conservation club.
"They're always down here checking out the different species of frogs we've got here and are just super keen to get a hands-on experience with nature," he said.
Student Erica Fridell said members of the club were heavily involved in making the pond a comfortable home for their amphibious friends.
"We have a huge role in keeping the plants well ... and putting plants in, making sure they have habitat."
The students also set camera traps to try to keep track of the frog population, she said.
Fellow student Alastair Mackay was lucky enough to have spotted one of the growling grass frogs.
"It makes me feel happy, because I actually get to see it knowing that they're here, they have a chance of surviving extinction."
