Berry Springs Preserve Herps of Texas report, 17Dec2016

We managed to squeeze in our monthly amphibian monitoring at Berry Springs Preserve just before an arctic cold front very literally blew in. Nine people participated and together found three species: Blanchard's Cricket Frog (the sub-species of the Northern Cricket Frog that's found in our area), Rio Grande Leopard Frog, and American Bullfrog. Only the Rio Grande Leopard Frog was calling (from just below the dam at a Call Index of 1), but unfortunately its calls could not be distinguished on the recording due to the background noise of water rushing over the dam.

The pump next to the main pond was still flowing under artesian pressure.
The monitoring period was 17:05 - 18:35.
Participants were Kathy, Hunter & Tonja, Marc, Heike, Carolyn, Amy & Mike, and Christie.
Environmental Conditions at the main pond at sunset:

• Air temperature = 68.2 deg F (dropped to 62.8 five minutes after the cold front blew through)
• Water temperature = 69.0 deg F
• Sky = No or few clouds
• Water level = above average
• Relative humidity at sunset = 79 %

Posted on December 18, 2016 09:57 PM by k_mccormack