Here along the eastern portion of the Florida Big Bend Gulf Coast area I've listened over the past years to springtime frog calls.  Stationing overnight audio recorders on the banks of various aquatic ecosystems in the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge throughout the seasons I've come to recognize audio call patterns by species and month. Leopard frogs, Lithobates [Rana] sphenocephalus and Pig Frogs, Lithobates [Rana] grylio males begin to advertise (call) beginning in February depending on the temperatures and continue their vocals during peak breeding season, usually through mid-May. Pig frogs remain vocal much of the year in the fresh and brackish SMNWR marshes, bayous and ponds. It has been my experience that while green tree frogs, Hyla cinerea, begin advertisements during March, they only become noticeably audible as a population chorus during late April continuing night calls throughout the summer into fall.  In Florida hurricane season is generally considered to run from May 15 to November 30th. Being immersed in nature, Florida's Big bend Seminole, Apalachee and Miccosukee peoples were keenly attuned to patterns in nature as they related to a number of seasonal & meteorological events such as storms.  There are documented accounts of  when they foresaw significant weather events based on attributes of the surrounding environment.  The Tampa Tribune in September 1926 ran a short article after the September 1926 devastating Miami hurricane featuring Seminole peoples who evacuated the everglades prior to the cyclone's landfall based on signs of impending 'big winds' they interpreted from sawgrass flowering qualities. Green tree frog vocalization too are a key to storm season advent.  When loud green tree frog choruses became the norm for late spring nights it could be assumed the tropical cyclone season was soon beginning.  With this knowledge Florida's native peoples could take steps to prepare for weather events that could significantly impact their lives by securing, readying and even moving further inland to higher elevation. Today, many of us have lost intimate connections with nature our ancestors cultivated.  This one hour audio clip contains a blend of Leopard frog advertisements interspersed with pig frog vocals and a strong green tree frog call component heralding not only a desire for mates but the upcoming storm season.  As the green tree frog calls grow louder, the rainstorms becomes stouter. Sony PCM D10 & LOM MikroUsi, windbubbles & dry bags.

Storm Season Coming, Leopards, Pigs & Green Tree Frogs

Florida native; recording & sharing nature's sounds before they become extinct.  Artist & adventurer.

New tracks tagged #rainstorms