I see there is now a frog spotting app that apparently can identify species by call – http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/digital-life/smartphone-apps/queensland-phone-app-can-identify-frogs-by-their-croak-20150526-gh9lf7.html (you may need to join the URL if it is split in the mail). I suspect there is less mimicry in frog calls, so it might be fairly accurate. The thing is whether software interprets calls differently to the human ear. It may be that an IT system could be better at picking up the differences between species than the human ear – brain combination. A lyrebird may sound identical to the bird it is mimicking to us, but would it be identical on a sonogram? Regards, Laurie.
Birding-Aus mailing list
Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org
To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
I agree with you, Chris. For a batracophile, the Qld app is the go. For the average nature lover, like me (with an interest that ranges from viruses to vughs), I think the AuMu app might be appropriate. Good luck with more frog ticks. Carl Clifford
Birding-Aus mailing list
Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org
To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
I disagree Carl, as someone interested in frogs a number of years ago I downloaded the Aus museums app and found it excellent but woefully incomplete. Even the available print field guides lack many of the newly discovered or described species, as well as many important field characters for existing species. This new app is comprehensive and excellent for anyone who wants to identify frogs in the field as opposed to in your backyard. I bought it the day it came out and it already helped me tick a new species (Dendy’s Broodfrog) while on holidays recently. Cheers, Chris Sent from my iPhone
Birding-Aus mailing list
Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org
To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
And if one does not feel like forking out the $20 odd for the Qld guide, there is the Australian Museums app, which has some 55 species, most with calls for the grand price of $0.00. It hasn’t all the bells & whistles of the Qld app, but it will do the job for the average nature lover. It can be downloaded in iOS and Android forms at http://australianmuseum.net.au/general-frogs-field-guide Carl Clifford
Birding-Aus mailing list
Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org
To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org
Laurie, The new Australian frog app is great, but you are reading more into that story than is there. While the calls are presented with sonograms, you still have to go through the calls and work out the identification yourself, it doesn’t do it for you. Murray
Birding-Aus mailing list
Birding-Aus@birding-aus.org
To change settings or unsubscribe visit:
http://birding-aus.org/mailman/listinfo/birding-aus_birding-aus.org