Hey, this is fun! Here's my guess - American Toad. Late March, right on
schedule in their neck of the woods.

Eric Kraig
Olympia, WA
mailto: kraige at oclc.org


-----Original Message-----
From: Martyn Stewart [mailto:mstew at naturesound.org]
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 8:56 PM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: Low Trill in Pennsylvania


Here's an inquiry that was received on 3/23. If you have any ideas, please
reply to the list and I'll respond to the person who inquired.


Martyn


>Dear Sir,
>
>I hear this sound frequently in the spring. I have asked some birders (I
>am one myself) and no one can seem to figure out--I guess I'm not a good
>mimic!
>
>1. What was the geographic location of the sound? What state, what
>country, near what city?
>
>I live in a rural-turning suburban part of NJ. Near Easton, Pennsylvania
>
>2. What was the habitat where the sound was heard - near a river, in a
>forest, in the desert, what kind of surroundings does this animal like?
>
>I live on top of a small mountain and there is a creek near my house that
>runs down hill. My property is on the boarder between woodlands and
>farmlands.
>
>3. What time of day do you hear the sound?
>
>I heard it this morning (March 1) at about 9am
>
>4. If you have a recording of the sound, even if it's a poor one, please
>send me a copy, keeping the file size under 500K.
>
>Sorry I haven't been able to catch it!
>
>5. Give me a description of the sound - was it high or low, a trill, a
>song, chatter, however you want to describe it, and tell me how frequently
>or how long the sound is made - these are all clues to the source.
>
>The sound is a long monotonous trill--not high pitched at all and has a
>hollow sort of sound to it. It frequently lasts about 5-7 seconds and may
>be repeated, but not in any particular rhythm--maybe after a minute or
>two. I think it sounds a bit like a low-pitched tree frog--but it's a bit
>cold yet here for frogs I think.
>
>
>
>thanks for your help!
>
>Nancy Lawler