Berry Springs Preserve Herps of Texas report, 03May2021
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there was no group outing to Berry Springs Park and Preserve again this month. However, two people wearing face masks checked on the amphibians while (mostly) staying at least six feet apart from each other at all times.
Six amphibian species were observed in the middle slough springhead, the slough by the playground, and the ditch in the pecan orchard: Rio Grande Leopard Frog (CI = 2), Blanchard's Cricket Frog (CI = 3), Gulf Coast Toad (CI = 2), Western Narrow-mouthed Toad (CI = 2), Green Tree Frog (CI = 2), and American Bullfrog (CI = 0). Photos and/or recordings were obtained for all species except the American Bullfrog.
The puddle at the middle slough springhead was larger than last month's puddle (but there still wasn't any flow to the main ponds), and the water level was average in the slough by the playground and main ponds. According to the USGS gauge station at Berry Creek at Airport Rd near Georgetown, TX (https://waterdata.usgs.gov/tx/nwis/uv/?site_no=08105095&PARAmeter_cd=00045), there had been 3.21 inches of rain during the previous four days before our monitoring.
The monitoring period was 19:45 - 21:15.
Participants were Kathy and Christie.
Environmental conditions at the middle slough springhead at sunset:
Air temperature = 79.5 deg F
Water temperature = 76.3 deg F
Sky = no/few clouds
Water level = below average at springhead, average at main ponds
Relative humidity = 62 %