University of Canberra scientists are harnessing mobile phone technology to eavesdrop on local frog populations before they croak.

But this is not your average spying racket. The conservation-focused project aims to reduce the time spent by ACT Frogwatch volunteers out in the field monitoring frog numbers.

Frogs' absolutely ribbeting chat will be captured by a new invention created a University of Canberra. Two endangered green and golden bell frogs. Credit:Karleen Minney

The world-first project has brought together assistant professor in network and software engineering Kumudu Munasinghe, research associate Adrian Garrido Sanchis, and Anke Maria Hoefer from ACT Frogwatch.

Dr Munasinghe likened what his team had built to humans and the waterways communicating via mobile phone.