Come to the park when it's dark and different,
To the water and moss and mud.
Watch and listen
For the creatures that fly and hop and run
And those that slither and crawl.
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| Frogs and toads were calling long before sunset. |
Oh, how I love an evening in the park, after most people have headed home. It's the time when community scientists head out with flashlights, buckets, nets, and enthusiasm. And on 5-17-24 I had the opportunity to lead such a group of young naturalists and their family members at BSP&P where we observed amphibians* (and a few other things).
But first things first - five of the seven 2024 graduates of the Good Water Chapter of Texas Master Naturalist Junior Naturalist Course received their graduation certificates before the field trip. They worked hard throughout the school year to achieve this recognition. Only after the certificates were secured in a safe spot did we pass around the equipment for the field trip. This was to be a modified "amphibian watch," and our results reported through a Texas Nature Trackers project, part of the Wildlife Diversity Program of Texas Park and Wildlife Department.**
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| One for all, all for one |
The group spent two hours exploring the banks of the creek and the pond (some even wading to snag that one just-out-of-reach Blanchard's Cricket Frog). They observed and documented two species of toad and three frog species. Where possible individual frogs and toads were caught, examined, and released. Other species were recorded.
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| The creek was full of water. |
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Rio Grande Leopard Frog in the bucket - the JMNs knew to look for the "broken dorsolateral fold."
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| We release near where we caught the frog or toad. |
The parents were as involved as the young naturalists, catching frogs and toads, taking photos, observing, and sharing some of the other creatures that wander in the park at night (a small nutria, a water snake, a nighthawk and more).
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We were not goofing off - we listening to the calls and recording same.
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Many Blanchard's Cricket Frogs were floating on plants in the pond.
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| Taking photos of a specimen. |
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| Blanchard's Cricketfrog (chem-light bracelets for quick ID of people during the field trip). |
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Gulf Coast Toad
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| The pond was shallow near the dock and thick with water plants - especially Waterwillow. The park conditions did not discourage this group of naturalists. |
The young naturalists as well as the frogs and toads refused to give up the interaction as at least 6 more specimens were caught, photographed, and released as we walked the path back to our vehicles.
Here are some photos of the evening. [Sorry I missed a few things. But I didn't miss the fun!]
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| It's another RGLF. |
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| How do you know? "By the broken dorsolateral fold." |
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| Time to head to the vehicles. |
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| Oh, just one more frog. |
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| "Broken dorsolateral fold." |
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| Wait, just one more! |
Tally for the Amphibian Watch:
Gulf Coast Toad - photo and recording CI=1
Rio Grand Leopard Frog - photo and recording CI=1 (not recorded)
Blanchard's Cricket Frog - photo and recording CI=3
Green Treefrog - recording CI=3
Western Narrow-mouthed Toad - recording CI=3
NOTES:
** iNaturalist Journal entry for the field trip https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/alflinn329/94634-good-water-junior-naturalist-field-trip-2024-berry-springs-park-and-preserve
*** Construction will close the park for a few weeks. We were one of the last groups to visit until late June. Lucky, lucky we adventurers!
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| Construction did not disturb the amphibians. |
One weird observations saved here for the moment:
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| Darner - perhaps a green darner, pending identification |
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