Berry Springs Preserve Herps of Texas report, 03May2021

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there was no group outing to Berry Springs Park and Preserve again this month. However, two people wearing face masks checked on the amphibians while (mostly) staying at least six feet apart from each other at all times.
Six amphibian species were observed in the middle slough springhead, the slough by the playground, and the ditch in the pecan orchard: Rio Grande Leopard Frog (CI = 2), Blanchard's Cricket Frog (CI = 3), Gulf Coast Toad (CI = 2), Western Narrow-mouthed Toad (CI = 2), Green Tree Frog (CI = 2), and American Bullfrog (CI = 0). Photos and/or recordings were obtained for all species except the American Bullfrog.
The puddle at the middle slough springhead was larger than last month's puddle (but there still wasn't any flow to the main ponds), and the water level was average in the slough by the playground and main ponds. According to the USGS gauge station at Berry Creek at Airport Rd near Georgetown, TX (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/tx/nwis/uv/?site_no=08105095&PARAmeter_cd=00045), there had been 3.21 inches of rain during the previous four days before our monitoring.
The monitoring period was 19:45 - 21:15.
Participants were Kathy and Christie.
Environmental conditions at the middle slough springhead at sunset:
Air temperature = 79.5 deg F
Water temperature = 76.3 deg F
Sky = no/few clouds
Water level = below average at springhead, average at main ponds
Relative humidity = 62 %

Posted on May 7, 2021 09:08 PM by k_mccormack k_mccormack

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Western Narrow-mouthed Toad (Gastrophryne olivacea)

Observer

k_mccormack

Date

May 3, 2021 07:57 PM CDT

Description

Observed during monthly amphibian monitoring. There had been 3.21" of rain during the previous four days according to a nearby USGS gauge station (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/tx/nwis/uv/?site_no=08105095&PARAmeter_cd=00045) which had improved the drought status from moderate drought to abnormally dry as per the U.S. Drought Monitor (https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/). the 00:33 recording is from this location; the other two recordings are from the ditch in the pecan orchard.

Photos / Sounds

What

Blanchard's Cricket Frog (Acris blanchardi)

Observer

k_mccormack

Date

May 3, 2021 08:18 PM CDT

Description

Observed during monthly amphibian monitoring. There had been 3.21" of rain during the previous four days according to a nearby USGS gauge station (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/tx/nwis/uv/?site_no=08105095&PARAmeter_cd=00045) which had improved the drought status from moderate drought to abnormally dry as per the U.S. Drought Monitor (https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/). The 00:30 recording is from this location; the other recordings are from the ditch in the pecan orchard.

Photos / Sounds

What

Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea)

Observer

k_mccormack

Date

May 3, 2021 08:20 PM CDT

Description

Observed during monthly amphibian monitoring. There had been 3.21" of rain during the previous four days according to a nearby USGS gauge station (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/tx/nwis/uv/?site_no=08105095&PARAmeter_cd=00045) which had improved the drought status from moderate drought to abnormally dry as per the U.S. Drought Monitor (https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/). The 00:23 recording is from this location; the other recordings are from the ditch in the pecan orchard.

Photos / Sounds

What

Gulf Coast Toad (Incilius nebulifer)

Observer

k_mccormack

Date

May 3, 2021 08:25 PM CDT

Description

Observed during monthly amphibian monitoring. There had been 3.21" of rain during the previous four days according to a nearby USGS gauge station (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/tx/nwis/uv/?site_no=08105095&PARAmeter_cd=00045) which had improved the drought status from moderate drought to abnormally dry as per the U.S. Drought Monitor (https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/). The 00:29 recording is from this location; the other recordings are from the ditch in the pecan orchard. The first two photos are from this location; the last four photos are from a large puddle in the grass down the hill from the restroom.

Photos / Sounds

What

Rio Grande Leopard Frog (Lithobates berlandieri)

Observer

k_mccormack

Date

May 3, 2021 08:40 PM CDT

Description

Observed during monthly amphibian monitoring. There had been 3.21" of rain during the previous four days according to a nearby USGS gauge station (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/tx/nwis/uv/?site_no=08105095&PARAmeter_cd=00045) which had improved the drought status from moderate drought to abnormally dry as per the U.S. Drought Monitor (https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/). The first two photos are from the slough by the playground; the last three photos and the recording are from this location.

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