Winter 2014

LIFESTYLE
Frog in the Trans-Pecos, or the Rio Grande Chirping Frog, widely distributed
across the state, whose call has been described as sounding like tennis shoes
on a gym floor.”
On the less musical, but equally delightful end of the spectrum are the
burpers. Plains Spadefoot Toads and Crawfish Frogs give short burps.
Pickerel Frogs resonate more like a snore and can sing from underwater.
Leopard Frogs take the basic burp sound and add chuckles, purrs, grunts,
and squeaks. Proportions of those sounds help you sort between the three
different Leopard Frog species in different parts of the state.
The Houston Chapter of the Audubon Society describes the nightjar family
as medium-sized, long-winged birds with a short bill, short legs, and soft
mottled plumage. Some of these birds, such as the whip-poor-wills and
nighthawks are nocturnal. Common Nighthawks’ calls are a soft, breezy
pzeent. The Chuck Will’s Widow’s call sounds like its name.
Some frog sounds might be described as insect-like,” says Linam. “Fortunately,
many of these frogs actually create a readily distinguishable sound. For
example, the Cricket Frog’s tone is like two marbles being clicked together.
Utterances of the Spotted Chorus Frog are similar to someone rubbing their
fingers over the small teeth of a comb, the Cajun Chorus Frog’s call is like
you’re using the big teeth of the comb, and the New Mexico Spadefoot
resonates like a really big comb. There are also the angry-insect frogs. The
Green Toad imitates an angry bee, while the Great Plains Narrowmouth
produces a higher pitched angry buzz, resembling buzzers people hold in
the palm of their hand.”
Certain frogs and toads have their own unique song. Bullfrogs resemble
someone blowing over the top of a bottle and Green Frogs imitate someone
plucking a loose banjo string. Green Tree Frogs’ calls are somewhat gooselike,
but really sound akin to the alien creatures in the movie, Mars Attacks.
Pigs are imitated by Pig Frogs, squirrels by Squirrel Treefrogs, and dogs by
Barking Frogs.
BIRDS
Birds often contribute to the nightly
concert and the most noted are owls.
According to Texas Parks and Wildlife
(TP&W), the Great Horned Owl is
commonly known as the “hoot owl,”
because of its rhythmic hoots that
speak, “Who’s awake? Me, too”. The
Great Horned Owl is a large bird with
varying shades of gray and large ear
tufts from which the bird derives its
name. It is common statewide except
for Pineywoods. The Barred Owl is
more common in the eastern part of the state — Rio Grande Plains thorn
scrub in South Texas, Post Oak Savannah, Gulf and Blackland Prairies, and
East Texas Pineywoods — although it is distributed statewide. Its call is a
distinctive “Who cooks, who cooks for you all.” The bird is large, stocky and
red-gray without ear tufts.
TP&W describes the Eastern Screech-Owl as a small eared owl, red or gray
colored. Its call is a whistled trill and depending upon the year, it can be
plentiful or scarce throughout the state.
People living or visiting near wetlands, especially along the Texas Gulf
Coast, may hear a nocturnal and noisy heron join the nighttime chorus
with its loud, barking kwok or quawk. This bird is rather stocky and
looks as if it is hunched over with its head usually tucked down into its
shoulders. Its plumage is gray and white with a distinctive black cap and
a pair of white plumes extending up from the back of its head.
INSECTS
Cicadas and crickets, nocturnal insects, get accused of dominating the night
noises. National Geographic reports that there are more than 1,500 species
of cicada and they are physically distinguished by their stout bodies, broad
heads, clear-membrane wings, and large compound eyes. These insects are
probably best known for their buzzing and clicking noises, which can be
amplified by multitudes of insects into an overpowering finale.
“Female crickets produce a tone to attract males by rubbing their forewings
against each other,” says the Center for Insect Science Education Outreach,
The University of Arizona. “A resulting chirping sound is picked up by the
female’s ears on her front legs. Chirps are different enabling each species
to find its own kind.”
A good way to learn how to recognize various night creature calls is to record
what you hear. Assign a number to each recorded sound before matching
it with an identified sound on a commercial tape. The pairing of sounds will
help you enter the creature’s correct name by the corresponding number
on your list. The tapes can be replayed until the calls and their contributors
are committed to memory. Commercial tapes can be purchased at nature
centers, natural science museums, or on the web.
While enjoying nighttime’s orchestra, watch for nocturnal mammals such
as the Virginia Opossum, 9-Banded Armadillo, bats, Southern Flying Squirrel,
raccoon, and the Striped Skunk. These animals often stray into lighted areas
around country homes, but to increase number of sightings, consider using
a pair of night vision googles, binoculars, or scope.
Don’t stay up too late enjoying nature’s sounds and sights, because you want
to be in bed early enough to awake in time to see the beautiful Texas sunrise.