1 Topic by kaptainkory

  • kaptainkory
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Topic: Rana areolata Mini Report

With a tip from a friend, I decided to check out a known locality for Crawfish Frogs earlier tonight.  Most of the big rains were last night and earlier today.  With the precip drying up and temps still up in the 70's after 8PM, I wasn't very optimistic of finding anything.  But (as you might have guessed) I was wrong.  It's a short list, yes, but I was only out an hour and a half and did find the target species:

Crawfish Frog: ~6; about 4 were calling when I arrived, but stopped as I approached
Upland Chorus Frog: ~10; numerous others calling
Spring Peepers: numerous calling, but none seen
American Toad: some calling, but none seen

One thing I learned about Crawfish Frogs is that they are VERY camera shy; at least tonight they were.  I did get one or two reasonable shots and some good pics of chorus frogs calling.  I'll get those posted soon.

The bad, and sad, news is that this location is very urban.  A new housing development in the works looks like it could easily eat up about of this flooded field.  What remains of this breeding population could be short for this world.   sad

Kory Roberts: Email | Facebook | Flickr | Last.fm | YouTube

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2 Reply by ksuglennj

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Re: Rana areolata Mini Report

I assume you went to "my" spot (well not mine, but you know what I mean), or you get another spot? Cool too bad you did not get pictures. Better luck next time, if there is one. Love that call, snoooooooooooooooooort snooooooooooooooort snooooooooooooooooooooort.

Glennnnnnn

3 Reply by kaptainkory

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Re: Rana areolata Mini Report

Yes, "your" spot.  (Just didn't want to call you out unless you wanted...  HA!)  I did get a picture or two of the crawfish frogs; nothing spectacular, but a sufficient record anyhow.  I will post them tonight.

Kory Roberts: Email | Facebook | Flickr | Last.fm | YouTube

kaptainkory's Website

4 Reply by kaptainkory

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Re: Rana areolata Mini Report

http://www.herpsofarkansas.com/gallery/12814-2/2C3V6101.jpg http://www.herpsofarkansas.com/gallery/12854-2/2C3V6123.jpg

A few more pics are in the gallery.

Kory Roberts: Email | Facebook | Flickr | Last.fm | YouTube

kaptainkory's Website

5 Reply by bobbyneal

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Re: Rana areolata Mini Report

Crawfish frogs are very shy.  If they're in an area that is about to be developed, why not go ahead and collect them for a permanent record?  If we just let them sit there and die out due to urbanization anything that can be gained from them is lost forever.

The Flying Spaghetti Monster is TRUTH

6 Reply by kaptainkory

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Re: Rana areolata Mini Report

bobbyneal wrote:

If they're in an area that is about to be developed, why not go ahead and collect them for a permanent record?

I don't disagree.  It just isn't clear at this point how much damage will be done.  I don't know the details of the development...just "eying it up" looks like anywhere from 1/8 to 1/2 of the habitat there is about to go bye-bye.  Plus, it isn't really "my" site...so this is probably a decision for someone else to make.   sad

Kory Roberts: Email | Facebook | Flickr | Last.fm | YouTube

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7 Reply by bobbyneal

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Re: Rana areolata Mini Report

I've chased crawfish frogs over on Fort Chaffee... It always seemed like there was one about 20 ft away, but they'd retreat into burrows etc once you'd get close enough to see them.  Then you'd hear another and start following it.  Repeat, and you can spend several hours walking in circles never seeing a frog.  They really do have a rather distinctive call that I enjoy hearing!

The Flying Spaghetti Monster is TRUTH

8 Reply by ksuglennj

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Re: Rana areolata Mini Report

Even though I am the one that put Kory on this spot, it is not my spot. I will tell you that we have heard them on a near by pond. My hopes are that some may move to that pond. I know most will get dug up, but I can hope. The area is truly vast, even if one wetland is gone, they may move to another. We do not even know were they are living. So many questions, and not enough answers. Collecting all them will answer very little, a few vouchers would not hurt. I just hope that some can survive.

Glenn