Invasive-species investigators will be looking into at least 12 reports of coqui frogs across Oahu as a result of the "Go Out and Listen Night!" surveillance event Wednesday.
Five reports of the critter’s distinctive "ko-KEE" call came in from the Honolulu urban core, one each from East Honolulu and Windward Oahu, two from Central Oahu and three from Leeward Oahu.
The Oahu Invasive Species Committee initiated the crowd-sourcing exercise to try to get an islandwide view of where the loud creatures — which have established themselves across much of Hawaii island — are on Oahu.
The committee said its website, coqui311.blogspot.com, received 3,300 visits and that 133 Oahu residents participated in Wednesday night’s event.
The committee asked Oahu residents to go outdoors between 7:30 and 8 p.m. Wednesday and to report on whether they heard a coqui frog.
Committee spokeswoman Lara Reynolds said 69 percent of the 133 residents used the Honolulu 311 smartphone app, the latest device added to improve reporting about invasive species, such as coqui frogs.
Reynolds said some residents filed reports by emailing oisc@hawaii.edu.
She said she considered Wednesday’s "Go Out and Listen Night!" successful.
Reynolds said her group usually receives about three reports about coquis on Oahu a month.
Residents also reported seeing greenhouse frogs, another accidentally introduced alien species that is widespread on Oahu which looks and sounds different from the coqui.
The greenhouse frogs are smaller and have a softer chirp, the committee said.
The committee, along with government agencies, has been successful in preventing coqui frogs from settling on Oahu.
Coqui frogs have infested an estimated 60,000 acres on Hawaii island and threatened its native environment.
Coqui frogs give off a loud chirp that also has discouraged some visitors from renting accommodations in some Hawaii island areas.
A photograph and recording of the coqui frog are available by going to coqui311.blogspot.com.
Residents may go to the coqui311 website to file a report about spotting a coqui or call the hotline number 643-PEST, or 643-7378.
