North American Amphibian Monitoring Program

North American Amphibian Monitoring Program
Frog call survey instructions and datasheet

page 1

Name and Contact Information
Please complete contact information below to notify us of any changes.
Name :
Street Address:
City, State, Zip Code:
Phone:

Email:

Instructions:

Please be sure to complete the
entire datasheet.
Each datasheet represents one
person’s frog call observations. If
you have an assistant, he/she can
assist with the environmental data (e.g. air temp,
count cars, etc.) but not with what frogs are heard.

Index and Code Definitions
Amphibian Calling Index
1

Individuals can be counted; there is space between calls

2

Calls of individuals can be distinguished but there is some
overlapping of calls

3

Full chorus, calls are constant, continuous and overlapping

Sky codes
0

Few clouds

1

Partly cloudy (scattered) or variable sky)

2

Cloudy or overcast

At the start and finish of each survey record the time,
wind, and sky conditions (see codes to the right).

4

Fog or smoke

5

Drizzle or light rain (not affecting hearing ability)

At each stop listen for 5 minutes, then record the
amphibian calling index for each species heard.
Report only the species you are confident that you
heard. If a species varies in calling intensity over the
listening period, report the highest calling index level
you heard.

7

Snow

8

Showers (is affecting hearing ability) do not conduct survey

Visit stops in 1-10 order. If unforeseen circumstances
require you to skip a stop, write that on the datasheet.

At each stop, also report the environmental data
requested: start time, air temperature, noise
conditions, moonlight, and number of cars that passed
while listening.
There are two kinds of noise disturbance questions:
• Was noise a factor? This is asking if background
noise impacted your ability to hear. If yes, check
the box.
• “Did you take a time out?” If an unexpected noise
disturbance happens (such as a train) that lasts a
minute or more, you may interrupt the 5 minute
listening period to ignore the sudden disturbance.
Finish up the listening time after the disturbance
has passed. Do not include this type of noise in
the “was noise a factor” question.

Wind Codes
0

Calm (<1mph) smoke rises vertically

1

Light Air (1-3 mph) smoke drifts, weather vane inactive

2

Light Breeze (4-7 mph) leaves rustle, can feel wind on face

Gentle Breeze (8-12 mph) leaves and twigs move around,
3
small flag extends
Moderate Breeze (13-18 mph) moves thin branches, raises
4*
loose papers
* Do not conduct survey, unless in Great Plains states
Fresh Breeze (19 mph or greater) small trees begin to
5** sway
**Do not conduct survey –ALL REGIONS
Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: A Federal agency may
not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond
to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid
OMB control number. Public burden for the collection of this
information is estimated to average 3 hours per response.
Comments regarding this collection of information should be
directed to the Bureau Clearance Officer, U.S. Geological Survey,
807 National Center, Reston, Virginia 20192.
OMB NO. 1028-0078 Expiration Date: XX-XX-XXXX

Insert sampling windows or mailing address here

Comments:

North American Amphibian Monitoring Program

Please complete information below

page 2

Data collected at start and finish of survey
For wind &
sky codes
see page 1
Time
(military)

Observer
Name:
Route
Number:
Route
Name:
Survey Date
(mm/dd/yyyy):
Window
Number:

Start

Wind

0

Sky

0

1
1

2
2

Finish

3
4

4
5

7

5

0

8

0

1

2

1

2

3
4

4
5

7

5
8

Days since last rainfall:

Data collected at each stop
Start Time (military):

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

Stop Number
5
6

7

8

9

10

7

8

9

10

Air Temperature:
°C
°F
Select Scale:
Was noise a factor? (check if yes)
Did you take a timeout? (check if yes)

Species List

Moon or moonlight visible? Y, N
Check if snow cover (optional)
Number of cars that passed:

5

6

North American Amphibian Monitoring Program

If you have any additional notes, please write them in the box provided on the front of this sheet. Thank you for your participation!

page 3

North American Amphibian Monitoring Program

page 4

This version of the form is for Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and
Pennsylvania, Vermont Virginia, West Virginia, and New York – respondents only. There is
additional information needed that will be used to track respondent’s volunteer time and
mileage. This information is used by the states to assist in matching dollars for research
grants.

North American Amphibian Monitoring Program
Frog call survey instructions and datasheet

page 5

Name and Contact Information
Please complete contact information below to notify us of any changes.
Name :
Street Address:
City, State, Zip Code:
Phone:

Email:

Instructions:

Please be sure to complete the
entire datasheet.
Each datasheet represents one
person’s frog call observations. If
you have an assistant, he/she can
assist with the environmental data (e.g. air temp,
count cars, etc.) but not with what frogs are heard.
Visit stops in 1-10 order. If unforeseen circumstances
require you to skip a stop, write that on the datasheet.
There are 3 new data fields:
• Time when you left home
• Time when you returned home
• Round trip mileage
We need the above information to document volunteer
contributions to the survey effort. This data is very
important, as it counts as ‘matching dollars’ for a
research grant that will provide funds for analyzing our
data.
At the start and finish of each survey record the time,
wind, and sky conditions (see codes to the right).
At each stop listen for 5 minutes, then record the
amphibian calling index for each species heard.
Report only the species you are confident that you
heard. If a species varies in calling intensity over the
listening period, report the highest calling index level
you heard.
At each stop, also report the environmental data
requested: start time, air temperature, noise
conditions, moonlight, and number of cars that passed
while listening.
There are two kinds of noise disturbance questions:
• Was noise a factor? This is asking if background
noise impacted your ability to hear. If yes, check
the box.
• “Did you take a time out?” If an unexpected noise
disturbance happens (such as a train) that lasts a
minute or more, you may interrupt the 5 minute
listening period to ignore the sudden disturbance.
Finish up the listening time after the disturbance
has passed. Do not include this type of noise in
the “was noise a factor” question.

Comments:

Index and Code Definitions
Amphibian Calling Index
1

Individuals can be counted; there is space between calls

2

Calls of individuals can be distinguished but there is some
overlapping of calls

3

Full chorus, calls are constant, continuous and overlapping

Sky codes
0

Few clouds

1

Partly cloudy (scattered) or variable sky)

2

Cloudy or overcast

4

Fog or smoke

5

Drizzle or light rain (not affecting hearing ability)

7

Snow

8

Showers (is affecting hearing ability) do not conduct survey

Wind Codes
0

Calm (<1mph) smoke rises vertically

1

Light Air (1-3 mph) smoke drifts, weather vane inactive

2

Light Breeze (4-7 mph) leaves rustle, can feel wind on face

Gentle Breeze (8-12 mph) leaves and twigs move around,
3
small flag extends
Moderate Breeze (13-18 mph) moves thin branches, raises
4*
loose papers
* Do not conduct survey, unless in Great Plains states
Fresh Breeze (19 mph or greater) small trees begin to
5** sway
**Do not conduct survey –ALL REGIONS
Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: A Federal agency may
not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond
to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid
OMB control number. Public burden for the collection of this
information is estimated to average 3 hours per response.
Comments regarding this collection of information should be
directed to the Bureau Clearance Officer, U.S. Geological Survey,
807 National Center, Reston, Virginia 20192.
OMB NO. 1028-0078 Expiration Date: XX-XX-XXXX

Insert sampling windows or mailing address here

North American Amphibian Monitoring Program
Observer
Name:
Route
Number
and Name:
Survey Date
(mm/dd/yyyy):

Data collected at start and finish of survey
For wind &
sky codes
see page 1
Time
(military)

Window
Number:
Time when
left home:

page 6

Time when
returned
home:

Round trip
mileage:

Start

Wind

0

Sky

0

1
1

2
2

Finish

3
4

4
5

7

5

0

8

0

1

2

1

2

3
4

4
5

7

5
8

Days since last rainfall:

Data collected at each stop
Start Time (military):

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

Stop Number
5
6

7

8

9

10

7

8

9

10

Air Temperature:
°C
°F
Select Scale:
Was noise a factor? (check if yes)
Did you take a timeout? (check if yes)

Species List

5

6

Moon or moonlight visible? Y, N
Check if snow cover (optional)
Number of cars that passed:
If you have any additional notes, please write them in the box provided on the front of this sheet. Thank you for your participation!

North American Amphibian Monitoring Program

page 7