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Friends of the Rouge Needs Frog Surveyors
It may be hard to imagine that in as little as one month, our skies will fill with the calls of amorous amphibians. If you are interested in learning more about why and where frogs call, consider signing up for Friends of the Rouge's annual frog and toad survey.
"Participating in the survey is a great way to learn more about the frogs and toads that live in the area," said Sally Petrella, Volunteer Monitoring Program Manager for Friends of the Rouge and manager of the annual Rouge Frog and Toad Survey. "You need no prior experience, just some interest in the local environment. We provide all the information and materials needed to do the survey at our training workshops."
Interested volunteers simply sign up and attend one of four Frog & Toad Survey Training Workshops being held in February and March.
The first workshop is appropriately being held on Valentine's Day, Saturday, Feb. 14, at the Southfield Parks and Recreation Center.
The workshops teach residents all about the 7 frogs and one toad found in the Rouge River Watershed (the 466 square mile area drained by the Rouge River, including much of metro Detroit). Attendees go home with an assignment to learn the 8 calls from a cd they are provided.
Learning the calls is one of the things that volunteers really enjoy about the survey. Once spring comes, they will be expected to venture out to a nearby wetland after dark and determine what type of frogs and toads are calling. Volunteers are encouraged to sign up in teams and children over 5 are welcome when accompanied by a responsible adult.
The survey is made possible by grants from the Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project and the Farmington/Farmington hills Foundation for Youth and Families.
Interested volunteers need to choose one of the below workshops and register by calling (313) 792-9621 or e-mailing monitoring@therouge.org.
Survey blocks are ¼-square mile areas with wetlands that drain to the Rouge River which includes the west side of Detroit and its west and northern suburbs.
¥ Saturday February 14, 10 a.m.-noon Southfield Parks and Recreation Center, 26000 Evergreen Road, Southfield
¥ Wednesday March 4, 7-9 p.m. Canton Summit on the Park, Walnut Room, 46000 Summit Parkway, Canton
¥ Saturday March 14, 10 a.m.-noon Farmington Hills Council Chambers, 31555 W. Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills
¥ Saturday March 21, 10 a.m.-non Plymouth Township Hall, 9955 N. Haggerty Road, Plymouth
Friends of the Rouge is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to restoration and stewardship of the Rouge River ecosystem through education, citizen involvement and other collaborative efforts, for the purpose of improving the quality of life for the people, plants, and animals of the watershed. The Rouge Frog & Toad Survey has been coordinated by Friends of the Rouge since 1998. For more info, visit Friends of the Rouge's website at www.therouge.org.
