Frogs and toads rely on there being suitable ponds in which to breed. In the urban area the Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country believe that garden ponds are extremely important in supporting these creatures.

The Wildlife Trust are asking everyone to regularly check their pond over the next few weeks to see when frog and toad spawn starts to appear - and to let them know about it!

These sightings will be added to EcoRecord’s extensive database of wildlife that has been spotted in Birmingham and the Black Country.

The information will help us to understand more about frog and toad populations across the urban area and help the Trust to target future conservation efforts including pond creation and other habitat improvements.

SpawnWatch will be repeated year-on-year to see if there is any change in the amount of spawn spotted each year and also the date it is laid.

Andy Slater, EcoRecord Officer said:
‘Records show that frog and toad spawn started appearing in ponds across the area during this week in February 2017 so we’d love you to tell us when you first spot frog or toad spawn this year. This is a great Citizen Science project, an opportunity for everyone, whether you are a beginner or an expert, to get involved with protecting wildlife simply by telling us where and when they spot frog and toad spawn.’

It is simple to tell frog and toad spawn apart. Frog spawn is laid in clumps and toad spawn is more like a string of eggs. It has been over 15 years since the last area wide frog and toad survey so it will be fascinating to see where populations have grown and declined in that time.

SpawnWatch is a partnership between EcoRecord, The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country and the Birmingham and the Black Country Amphibian and Reptile Group.

EcoRecord is the Local Environmental Record Centre for Birmingham and Black Country, one of a network of record centres across the UK. 

To be part of SpawnWatch 2018 and have your spawn spots included as official records please enter them at www.bbcwildlife.org.uk/spawnwatch

EcoRecord is the Local Environmental Record Centre for Birmingham and Black Country, one of a network of record centres across the UK. 

EcoRecord collects, collates and makes available information about the wildlife, wildlife sites and habitats of Birmingham and the Black Country and currently has over 1 million species records on its database. These records come from many sources, ranging from professional ecologists to amateur expert naturalists to other wildlife enthusiasts. For more information please visit www.ecorecord.org.uk or follow us on twitter @ecorecording

The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country is a local charity, uniquely working to protect wildlife in our area. We are one of 47 local trusts working to make the United Kingdom a better place for people and wildlife. With over 800,000 members, the Wildlife Trusts are the largest UK voluntary organisation dedicated to conserving the full range of the UK’s habitats and species, whether they be in the countryside, in cities or at sea. Collectively they manage over 2,300 nature reserves covering more than 90,000 hectares.

Locally The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country works to make sure space for nature is protected, restored, created and valued, connect everyone to nature and put the natural environment at the heart of planning, policy and decision-making.

Birmingham and the Black Country Amphibian and Reptile Group is actively involved in the conservation of all native species of amphibian and reptile and their habitats. We aim to establish and monitor the distribution and status of amphibians and reptiles in the area, to foster an interest in amphibians and reptiles and their conservation and to develop the skills of those Interested in these species.

For more information please visit http://groups.arguk.org/BBCARG/