Whippoorbill's gift to us

NJChileHead

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Dec 22, 2011
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Almost all of my tree frog photo's are from May 10 to May 22. I will make sure I check the place out multiple evenings around that time to compare with how it was when I was there last.

I'd like to check out that location on an unusually warm or humid night in the later part of April. I think that's when the carpenters and leopard frogs peak in their breeding activity. Can anyone confirm or refute this? I have spent more time up here listening to frog calls in our area, and not enough in the barrens, but I do remember hearing leopard and carpenter choruses (even during the day) down there in early to mid-April. I may be mistaken, but I think that by the time the Fowlers and PBTF's start their breeding in May, the carpenter and leopard activity should be waning. Again I could be way off on this, as I know that you folks have more experience with the pine barrens species than I do, so I want to hear your thoughts on this idea.
 

NJChileHead

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Dec 22, 2011
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I would check the census reports on Ancestry.frog. Seriously I"d put money on the fungus.Acid rain has bee around awhile and I think Pine barren frogs are no doubt impervious to a little bit of acid considering the PH of most Barrens waters.Is this fungus visible to the nekked eye? Hand lens? If it's a fungus the frogs that survive will be naturally selected "Super Frogs"! Resistant to the fungus as well as their young or we could see a general frog extinction.A world without bats and frogs...we're in big trouble.We better start figuring out how to cook and eat mosquitoes.

In retrospect I think that I came off as a bit of an alarmist in my first post, and I didn't mean to do so. My comments were generalized to amphibian threats worldwide, not necessarily in the Pine Barrens. As far as chytrid fungus, I have no idea if this could be the culprit. IF the numbers are really decreasing, the possibility does exist of some environmental contaminant as the cause, but I'm still wondering if the shift in strength of the choruses that folks were hearing has more to do with some weird timing (or good timing, for that matter) or a natural shift in population density vs. some anthropogenic disturbance. It could even be something small like a shift in the fish population which increases predation on the tadpoles, an increase in the number of herons, water snakes, and turtles, etc.

It's definitely an interesting situation.
 
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manumuskin

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Jul 20, 2003
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I had a brainstorm last night as I was falling asleep.The idea of amphibians and fungus kept going through my mind.Is fungus killing off the Anurans or perhaps maybe their hybridizing and hence destroying pure Anurans and pure Fungus.Perhaps all the fungus and frogs are becoming..... are you ready?.......TOADSTOOLS! That's it! everytime you see a classic Toadstool it is the result of frog/fungus hybridization.Unfortunately this results in "Silence of the Frogs" but the good news is they are still edible! Provided of course you stay clear of the Anurita genus!
 
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NJChileHead

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Dec 22, 2011
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I had a brainstorm last night as I was falling asleep.The idea of amphibians and fungus kept going through my mind.Is fungus killing off the Anurans or perhaps maybe their hybridizing and hence destroying pure Anurans and pure Fungus.Perhaps all the fungus and frogs are becoming..... are you ready?.......TOADSTOOLS! That's it! everytime you see a classic Toadstool it is the result of frog/fungus hybridization.Unfortunately this results in "Silence of the Frogs" but the good news is they are still edible! Provided of course you stay clear of the Anurita genus!

images
 
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dragoncjo

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Aug 12, 2005
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manumuskin

Piney
Jul 20, 2003
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I know the Barrens are mostly too acid for Bullfrogs but carpenters? I only hear/see them in acidic bogs.I would think they would be the last frog affected by acid rain? Who knows.All I know is it's not Global Warming.There are more frog species in the tropics then there are here.Wish i had time to do frog surveys,I'd at least know for sure if they are disappearing.I really think since Whip quit recording them they are reluctant to waste energy singing.They were looking for fame and then he abandoned them.
 

NJChileHead

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Dec 22, 2011
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Range of tolerance for carpenter frogs and Pine Barrens tree frogs (lower pH limit) is a pH of 3.8. I think that if the pH goes low enough to start killing the carpenter frogs and PBTF's, it would decimate the more widespread species first. I could be wrong.
 
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Trailwalker

Scout
Sep 5, 2023
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(ex-piney) in Florida
Guy's NPR suggestion has been noted and is being comtemplated. Relayer -- I've been considering a frog mix with "Close to the Edge?" Think the Yes guys will like it? :)

After reading a recent thread concerning what sounded like a neat get-together, I know there are at least a couple of talented musicians onboard (and I love the CD I have here by Jeff). Anyone up to composing a "Bog Boogie!" with wonking treefrogs in the background? :) I did try mixing some recordings with some odd sounds created on a borrowed synthesizer (MarkBNJ can sympathize with my poor effort there). Mission aborted.

Anyway, I can't say how satisfying it is to be able to share the recordings with fellow appreciators, via Guy's and Ben's posting them here. I'm looking forward to slightly warmer temps and more fun listening and recording.

Thanks again for the feedback.

Bill
I have to say that this is one of my all time favorite threads so far on here. Thank you for bringing the magic of a pine barrens night in to my own back patio.
 

M1 Abrams

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May 4, 2023
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I had been lucky enough to come across the thread "Tuesday with Alfie" a while back, so already felt myself to be in your debt, Bill. To now get to hear these recordings is such a privilege. Thank you Bill, and thank you too Guy for making them available here.
 
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