FrogWatch 2020 Observations in the Hills
By Don Danila and Susan Gonzalez

​Last summer we reported on our 2018 and 2019 FrogWatch obser­vations in the Preserve. FrogWatch is a nationally recognized program that provides valuable information on the distribution and abundance of frogs and toads in the U.S. We are both trained in FrogWatch samp­ling protocols recognizing the calls of all 11 species of frogs and toads found in Connecticut. 
 
The Yale-Peabody Museum of Natural History website provides information on our state’s frogs and toads, as well as short sound clips of their calls at:
 http://peabody.yale.edu/collections/vertebrate-zoology/herpetology/ online-guide-amphibians-and-reptiles-connecticut. 
 
Protocols call for 3-minute observations to be made beginning 0.5 hour after sunset and recording all species heard and the intensity of their calls. 
 
This year we made observations from March through July at three sites in the Preserve: 

• Clark Pond at the beginning of the Red Trail;
• Wetland (WL) #20, located off the Red Trail Overlook spur, and
• WL #24, found off the Green Trail.

These sites are found within the southern portion of the Preserve. Based on past experience, the WL sites were not sampled in July 2020, after no calls were heard there in June and no significant precipitation occurred in July that might have attracted frogs or toads.
During the previous two years, we did not hear any wood frogs calling during our nightly observations, even though many people could hear them during hikes in daylight hours.  Also, we heard no toads calling even though we knew that the American toad is found in the Preserve.
 
We were pleased to finally hear wood frogs calling at the WL stations during March.  Their reproduction was confirmed by observing egg masses in WL #24 on the following day

Spring Peeper

​Many spring peepers were heard at Clark Pond, but this species had not yet appeared at the WL sites. April was disappointing in that no frogs were heard at Clark Pond and only a few spring peepers were calling at the WL sites. The April observation took place several days after some rainfall, but the cool night air temperature may have inhibited frog activity.  In May, after some rain, we finally heard a few American toads calling at both WL sites.  Spring peepers were very numerous and loudly calling at all sites.  We also heard a few bullfrogs in Clark Pond. As noted earlier, nothing was heard at the WL stations in June, but there were green frogs as well as a few bullfrogs and gray tree frogs at Clark Pond.  We finished up in July at Clark Pond, where only green frogs were heard. 
 
This year’s sampling showed how variable frog occurrence can be over time.  We heard fewer American bullfrogs in Clark Pond this year than in 2018 and 2019.  The intensity of gray tree frogs was much less in June 2020 than in June of the previous two years, when full overlapping choruses were noted.  We hope to continue to document the frogs and toads in the preserve next year.

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FrogWatch Project - 2018 and 2019 Observations
By Don Danila and Susan Gonzalez

FrogWatch is a nationally recognized program connecting people with nature and providing valuable data on frogs and toads found throughout the U.S., many of which are decreasing in number and range. In early winter of 2018, Don and Susan (current and former Board member, respectively) were trained in the protocols of FrogWatch USA at Mystic Aquarium and passed an online test showing that each could recognize the calls of all 11 frogs and toads found in CT. FrogWatch protocols call for 3-minute observations to be made beginning 0.5 hour after sunset and recording all species heard and the intensity of their calls.
 
We made observations once a month, from April through July in 2018 and March through July of this year at six sites in East Lyme, including three in the Preserve. Our Preserve sites were Clark Pond by the beginning of the Red Trail and sites overlooking both Wetland (WL) #20, located off the Red Trail Overlook spur, and WL #24, found off the Green Trail (2019 only). Both WL sites are found in the southern portion of the Preserve (see Gallagher 2011; O.H.N.P. Terrestrial Ecology Survey). At least four frogs use Clark Pond for reproduction with the spring peeper and gray treefrog particularly abundant in April and May. Both green and bullfrogs are commonly heard calling in Clark Pond from May through July. During April the WL sites had abundant spring peepers and we heard at least some gray treefrogs in WL #20 in 2018. But we heard no calls emanating from either WL site after May. Our listening posts are located on small cliffs above each WL and being present at night we could not see the site to know if they had sufficient water to attract frogs or toads after early spring.

​We were particularly frustrated by our lack of wood frog observations, even though we know them to be present in the Preserve and breeding in various WLs. Certainly, our late start in 2018 was a factor, so we started 2019 observation in March when others told us about hearing the “quacking” wood frog calls during the day in the northern portion of the Preserve. One of us (Gonzalez) also heard wood frogs in a WL at Millstone Power Station during the day, but not at night, so perhaps we need to ignore the FrogWatch protocol and make both day and night observations in early spring.
 
We are also interested in knowing if both the American and Fowler’s toads are reproducing in the Preserve. The former is known to be present and the latter has been recorded in the nearby towns of Waterford and East Haddam by Klemens (1993; Amphibians and Reptiles of Connecticut and Adjacent Regions). But we heard no toads calling in either year. According to Klemens, toads tend to breed and call en masse during the first warm spring rains during March and April. When we continue FrogWatch sampling in 2020 we will recognize this fact and attempt to make our observations accordingly.

The Elusive Wood Frog

Data