AMPHIBIANS
Pine Barrens Treefrog Surveys by Aubrey Greene, Wildlife Diversity Biologist/Herpetologist
T his spring we started our first year of a standardized long-term mon- itoring effort for Pine Barrens treefrogs to assess the status of this species and learn more about their ability to colo- nize/recolonize habitats over time. To do this, we developed driving routes with pre-determined sites where we conduct night surveys by listening for calling males. We are working with conservation partners and interested private landowners to conduct surveys across the Sandhills region. Pine Bar- rens treefrogs are our target species, but we also record other species we hear to help us better understand the frog communities inhabiting these areas. So far this year we surveyed 18 different routes on 25 nights; our goal is to survey each route 1–2 times/year from April–July.
AUBREY H. GREENE/NCWRC
AUBREY H. GREENE/NCWRC
Above left: A Pine Barrens treefrog. Right: a Pine Barrens treefrog tadpole, and a pickerel frog (below) we encountered out and about during our night surveys.
MEETINGS: Sandhills herp staff attended and presented on reptile and amphibian conservation at The Wildlife Society—North Carolina Chapter annual meeting in Black Mountain, NC and the North Carolina Herpetological Society Spring Meeting at South Mountains State Park. Staff also assisted with the NCWRC booth at Party for the Pine at Weymouth Woods State Park in April and provided rep- tile and amphibian management guidance during the Sandhills Game Lands Field Tour held in June.
37 2024 Wildlife Diversity Program Annual Report
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs