The North Carolina Coastal Reserve, the same organization that manages the Bald Head Woods, initiated a project with the Conservancy in 2005 to study the amphibian populations on Bald Head Island. This project, in collaboration with the US Geological Service nationally and the NC Wildlife Resources commission at the state level, is part of a much larger national program, the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program (NAAMP). Scientists and volunteers are working together to collect data which will enable them to better understand the needs of amphibians and how to protect them. Amphibians absorb chemicals through their skin and for that reason are excellent indicators of environmental quality. Many amphibian species across the country are declining in number, most often times due to human impacts – loss of habitat, roads dividing their breeding/non-breeding habitat, and water pollution. This is concerning, especially considering their importance as "the canary in the mine" for our environment.

The BHI Conservancy is beginning to establish baseline data in an effort to monitor amphibian populations on Bald Head Island and establish trends, either positive or negative. Should an environmental disaster occur, this information will be crucial in helping us to determine what level we were at previous to the disaster, and therefore, the level we need to return to.

The BHI study data will be used to determine what the breeding periods are, the species that breed in each of the periods, and approximate population sizes on the island.

There are 22 species of frogs and toads that could potentially be found on Bald Head Island. However, only 6 (Southern Toad, Southern Leopard Frog, Green Treefrog, Squirrel Treefrog, Little Grass Frog, Eastern Narrowmouth Toad) have ever been documented. The Conservancy and study volunteers are attempting to confirm that these 6 species are still present and which, if any, of the other 22 species are here.

A non-random route on BHI was selected in 2005 (we were the first in the state to start this project) composed of 8 sites

There are 3 separate sampling periods (Jan 15-March 31, April 1-May 15, May 16-July 15); required to make at least one run of each site per sampling period, but welcome to make as many as you wish

Stop and listen at each site for 5 minutes; record different species heard and call volume (i.e. individual, few, chorusing, etc…)

Note beginning and ending Temperature, Wind and Cloud Cover; For each sampling period there is a specific low temperature; when below that you should not monitor unless frogs are really cranked up!

 

 

2005

• 9 sample nights

• Species heard

Southern Toad: 9/9

Green Treefrog: 8/9

Squirrel Treefrog: 8/9

Southern Leopard Frog: 4/9

E. Narrowmouth Toad: 3/9

E. Spadefoot Toad: 2/9

American Bullfrog, Pickerel Frog, Pine Woods Treefrog and Brimley’s Chorus Frog were all possibly heard once, though confirmation was not received

2006

• 9 Sample nights

• Species heard

Southern Toad: 6/9

Green Treefrog: 6/9

Southern Leopard Frog: 5/9

Squirrel Treefrog: 5/9

Eastern Narrowmouth Toad: 2/9

Barking Treefrog was possibly heard twice, but not confirmed

 

**Very dry summer until mid-August; definite increase in calling once we had some rain, especially the Eastern Narrowmouth Toads and treefrogs.

• 61 Random and 3 non-random routes; of those, 22 random and 1 non-random (us!) route was run at least once per sampling period

• A total of 74 runs with 698 stops were completed

• 531 stops had a least 1 species of frog/toad heard: 224 in the Coastal Plain, 217 in the Peidmont, 90 in the Mountains

• In total, 25 individual species were detected (out of 30 possible)

• None of the following species were found in any of the three regions:

• River Frog, Gopher Frog, Mountain Chorus Frog, Ornate Chorus Frog and Pine Barrens Treefrog

   

Are the 6 species previously documented still present and what other species, if any, are present?

What are the population levels of those present?

Where is the greatest concentration?

What is their specific calling period?

Is the population changing over time?

A decline in amphibian populations can speak to the health of our environment, especially water quality

 

Southern Toad	Squirrel Frog
Green Tree Frog	Green Tree Frog