Mysterious sound - please help identify the creatures

[tropo]

Since we moved into a new place 4 years ago we hear this sound after heavy rain (only). I'm guessing it's some species of toad or frog. I can't see the creature because they're deep inside a drain in the back courtyard.

Until recently we only heard it after heavy rain, but a few months ago the Thai lady who set up a laundry service next door started using this drain and now there is always water in it, which these creatures really appreciate by singing their chorus every single night. They have excellent acoustics too as the sound echos between two buildings sitting only 5 meters apart.

Can anyone help identify the mysterious creatures making this sound/noise. Is there anyway to get rid of these creatures.

Here is a sound bite:

Frogs.wav

[Goshawk]

They are 'Asian Painted Frogs' or as they're known to most Thai's . . . 'ung ang' (can you guess why?) . . . look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banded_bullfrog

. . . and here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InzvNXcaHK8

[tropo]

Great! Thank you very much. Can you think of any way to dissuade them from hanging out in our drain?

[Goshawk]

NP . . happy to help. As for getting rid, no idea . .

& i'm not sure (i'll check with the ball & chain) but i think they're edible . . recall seeing them in the local market, so maybe a delicacy for you to try? sell?

[tropo]

NP . . happy to help. As for getting rid, no idea . .

& i'm not sure (i'll check with the ball & chain) but i think they're edible . . recall seeing them in the local market, so maybe a delicacy for you to try? sell?

LOL. I haven't been able to lay eyes on one yet as they're buried deep inside drains laid under concrete... which amplifies their "song" tenfold.

Reading that Wikipedia article you posted, I see they bury themselves in the ground waiting for rain. I wonder will they be at it all year long now that they have a permanent supply of water in our drain?

[Goshawk]

^ that's highly likely! they do enjoy the wet . . . when it rains heavily around us, the rice fields & ditches are a frog sound recordist's heaven. When it's dry . . . not a peep!

found one in hiding in a shoe once . . lucky i checked before sticking my foot in it . . .

[Cpkt8]

Wonder if throwing a handful of moth balls help?

[NeverSure]

Wonder if throwing a handful of moth balls help?

It might. They hate that stuff and it works on snakes too.

Frogs hate: Citric acid, vinegar, and moth balls that I know of. Crush the mothballs, mix all three together maybe?

There's another way that's cruel and I wouldn't do it or post it.

Cheers

[Toknarok]

They are 'Asian Painted Frogs' or as they're known to most Thai's . . . 'ung ang' (can you guess why?) . . . look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banded_bullfrog

. . . and here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InzvNXcaHK8

Aren't these the frogs that 'walk' rather than hop with their back legs?

[thaibeachlovers]

I love the frog chorus. It's one of Thailand's rich tapestry of life that's so different from the bland PC life back home.

Just wait till a tokay sets up home nearby- frogs are nothing in comparison.

[tropo]

Wonder if throwing a handful of moth balls help?

It might. They hate that stuff and it works on snakes too.

Frogs hate: Citric acid, vinegar, and moth balls that I know of. Crush the mothballs, mix all three together maybe?

There's another way that's cruel and I wouldn't do it or post it.

Cheers

I'll give that a go. Where do you buy mothballs?

[tropo]

I love the frog chorus. It's one of Thailand's rich tapestry of life that's so different from the bland PC life back home.

Just wait till a tokay sets up home nearby- frogs are nothing in comparison.

I don't mind the sounds of nature either but the problem is that an occasional sound of nature (after rain) has become a nightly event due to artificially providing water.

[Eddy B]

Becareful that your house area does not become over-run with snakes as they will be looking for food and these frogs are what they like. We have them around my neighbourhood and yep they only start to sing in the rain or if there are pools of water for them to breed in.

[tropo]

Becareful that your house area does not become over-run with snakes as they will be looking for food and these frogs are what they like. We have them around my neighbourhood and yep they only start to sing in the rain or if there are pools of water for them to breed in.

That could be the perfect solution and eco friendly too - find some snakes that will eat them. It will all balance out as the snakes would move on when their food source is expended. I have no fear of snakes.

As it turns out, construction workers cleaning and dumping stuff into the drain has caused a drain blockage and sitting water. If we can clear the drain the problem will be solved.

[T_Dog]

^ that's highly likely! they do enjoy the wet . . . when it rains heavily around us, the rice fields & ditches are a frog sound recordist's heaven. When it's dry . . . not a peep!

found one in hiding in a shoe once . . lucky i checked before sticking my foot in it . . .

Found them in my biking shoes dozens of times when we lived right in front of a rice field. The shoes attract mosquitoes and the the frogs feel safe in there having a nice meal! Only put them once with a frog in the toe once.

[tropo]

I think these frogs have adapted their behaviour to using storm drains to amplify their mating calls as with a species of tree grog in Taiwan (according to studies). In my case they have an enclosed courtyard to amplify their "song" even more.

http://www.nature.com/news/urban-frogs-use-drains-as-mating-megaphones-1.15362

I went down with a flashlight last night and counted 6 of them floating on top of the water in the corners of the open areas (below grate) of the drain.

The water is about 20 - 30 cm deep, so throwing mothballs down probably won't achieve much as there's too much water in the drain.

[seedy]

One Nonsense post removed

[CNXBKKMAN]

It's amazing the noise that these frogs can make especially in the countryside when you think it's going to all peace and quiet at night. This is one of the sounds of Thailand and I wouldn't want to be killing the frogs because you don't like the sound. It's just not right. You flew half way round the world to the frogs, they didn't come to you. The frogs aren't causing you any danger. It's not the same as scorpions everywhere you turn or a Cobra setting up base in your backyard.

Much better is attract a natural predator like a family of Geckos. You might need a bird box type thing set under the roof gutter in the shade. They will come out at night and hoover up all sorts of stuff you don't want around. The frogs are doing the same job at the moment in the drain.

A place I used to rent had a family of geckos living in a space where a drainage pipe came out of the wall above our place. We were on the ground floor. There was a small open drain at the end of the yard which ran the length of the block. You would imagine there would be cockroaches galore but you hardly saw any as the geckos hunted them down every night. I would see about one scorpion a year. You may have to sweep up gecko shit but you notice bits of scorpion in it and crushed cockroach shells. A rat snake would be handy to keep the frogs and rats down too.

[tropo]

It's amazing the noise that these frogs can make especially in the countryside when you think it's going to all peace and quiet at night. This is one of the sounds of Thailand and I wouldn't want to be killing the frogs because you don't like the sound. It's just not right. You flew half way round the world to the frogs, they didn't come to you. The frogs aren't causing you any danger. It's not the same as scorpions everywhere you turn or a Cobra setting up base in your backyard.

Much better is attract a natural predator like a family of Geckos. You might need a bird box type thing set under the roof gutter in the shade. They will come out at night and hoover up all sorts of stuff you don't want around. The frogs are doing the same job at the moment in the drain.

A place I used to rent had a family of geckos living in a space where a drainage pipe came out of the wall above our place. We were on the ground floor. There was a small open drain at the end of the yard which ran the length of the block. You would imagine there would be cockroaches galore but you hardly saw any as the geckos hunted them down every night. I would see about one scorpion a year. You may have to sweep up gecko shit but you notice bits of scorpion in it and crushed cockroach shells. A rat snake would be handy to keep the frogs and rats down too.

I really appreciate nature too, but in this case it's an unnatural situation where frogs have set up house in a concrete drain and instead of "singing" just after heavy rain they're doing it every night, so we never have a break. We would normally never hear these guys at this time of year. As I stated in an earlier post, the volume is also amplified due to unnatural (non-nature) acoustics too. This has nothing to do with coming to Thailand to experience wildlife, but dealing with pests.

I wouldn't have any more problems killing these frogs than I do killing cockroaches, mosquitoes or flies. Should I? They're all wildlife, aren't they? Killing 6 or so frogs would hardly upset the balance of nature in Thailand. I also read that Thais eat these frogs.

[peterb17]

I love the frog chorus. It's one of Thailand's rich tapestry of life that's so different from the bland PC life back home.

Just wait till a tokay sets up home nearby- frogs are nothing in comparison.

Absolutely agree- the birds make a racket in the morning , toads and frogs.

Why is it there are quite a few members on here that seem to wish to sanitise their surrounding environment - ie kill everything

[tropo]

I love the frog chorus. It's one of Thailand's rich tapestry of life that's so different from the bland PC life back home.

Just wait till a tokay sets up home nearby- frogs are nothing in comparison.

Absolutely agree- the birds make a racket in the morning , toads and frogs.

Why is it there are quite a few members on here that seem to wish to sanitise their surrounding environment - ie kill everything

Who's talking about killing everything? There's no need to make unwarranted exaggerations to make your point... Wildlife in the wrong environment are pests, and there's thousands of examples of that all around the world.

Here's another good example. I like geckos, but I don't like them shitting inside my house. Outside they are great wildlife, inside my house they are pests.

[seajae]

dettol is great on them, used it on cane toads in oz, killed the buggers if they were in a bucket and couldnt wash it off

, put some in a water pistol and squirt them.

[tropo]

dettol is great on them, used it on cane toads in oz, killed the buggers if they were in a bucket and couldnt wash it off

, put some in a water pistol and squirt them.

The trouble is these guys are mostly submerged other than their head or top of their back. They can instantly duck under the water surface to wash it off.

[thaibeachlovers]

I love the frog chorus. It's one of Thailand's rich tapestry of life that's so different from the bland PC life back home.

Just wait till a tokay sets up home nearby- frogs are nothing in comparison.

I don't mind the sounds of nature either but the problem is that an occasional sound of nature (after rain) has become a nightly event due to artificially providing water.

Once you get used to it, I'm sure you won't notice it any more than I notice the soi dogs barking or the monks chanting at 5am ( and that happens every day in the village and it's REALLY LOUD ).

[thaibeachlovers]

I love the frog chorus. It's one of Thailand's rich tapestry of life that's so different from the bland PC life back home.

Just wait till a tokay sets up home nearby- frogs are nothing in comparison.

Absolutely agree- the birds make a racket in the morning , toads and frogs.

Why is it there are quite a few members on here that seem to wish to sanitise their surrounding environment - ie kill everything

Who's talking about killing everything? There's no need to make unwarranted exaggerations to make your point... Wildlife in the wrong environment are pests, and there's thousands of examples of that all around the world.

Here's another good example. I like geckos, but I don't like them shitting inside my house. Outside they are great wildlife, inside my house they are pests.

Actually geckos are our friends because they kill mossies. I welcome them in the house, along with the spider webs I leave hanging from the ceilings.

[thaibeachlovers]

It's amazing the noise that these frogs can make especially in the countryside when you think it's going to all peace and quiet at night. This is one of the sounds of Thailand and I wouldn't want to be killing the frogs because you don't like the sound. It's just not right. You flew half way round the world to the frogs, they didn't come to you. The frogs aren't causing you any danger. It's not the same as scorpions everywhere you turn or a Cobra setting up base in your backyard.

Much better is attract a natural predator like a family of Geckos. You might need a bird box type thing set under the roof gutter in the shade. They will come out at night and hoover up all sorts of stuff you don't want around. The frogs are doing the same job at the moment in the drain.

A place I used to rent had a family of geckos living in a space where a drainage pipe came out of the wall above our place. We were on the ground floor. There was a small open drain at the end of the yard which ran the length of the block. You would imagine there would be cockroaches galore but you hardly saw any as the geckos hunted them down every night. I would see about one scorpion a year. You may have to sweep up gecko shit but you notice bits of scorpion in it and crushed cockroach shells. A rat snake would be handy to keep the frogs and rats down too.

I really appreciate nature too, but in this case it's an unnatural situation where frogs have set up house in a concrete drain and instead of "singing" just after heavy rain they're doing it every night, so we never have a break. We would normally never hear these guys at this time of year. As I stated in an earlier post, the volume is also amplified due to unnatural (non-nature) acoustics too. This has nothing to do with coming to Thailand to experience wildlife, but dealing with pests.

I wouldn't have any more problems killing these frogs than I do killing cockroaches, mosquitoes or flies. Should I? They're all wildlife, aren't they? Killing 6 or so frogs would hardly upset the balance of nature in Thailand. I also read that Thais eat these frogs.

Is the drain an entry or an exit? If an exit, just put a hinged board over the end to allow water out. When no water flowing the board will close over the hole, reducing the sound.

If an entry, use a power washer to blast water through and clean out the drain till they move on.

There's never a need to kill "good" wildlife.

[thaibeachlovers]

Just re read your OP. The drain is under your courtyard, yes? Does the laundry lady have a right to use your drain? Can her water be diverted around your property?

Can it be covered between the two buildings?

Without seeing the drain, it's hard to come up with more solutions. Any chance of some photos?

[tropo]

I love the frog chorus. It's one of Thailand's rich tapestry of life that's so different from the bland PC life back home.

Just wait till a tokay sets up home nearby- frogs are nothing in comparison.

Absolutely agree- the birds make a racket in the morning , toads and frogs.

Why is it there are quite a few members on here that seem to wish to sanitise their surrounding environment - ie kill everything

Who's talking about killing everything? There's no need to make unwarranted exaggerations to make your point... Wildlife in the wrong environment are pests, and there's thousands of examples of that all around the world.

Here's another good example. I like geckos, but I don't like them shitting inside my house. Outside they are great wildlife, inside my house they are pests.

Actually geckos are our friends because they kill mossies. I welcome them in the house, along with the spider webs I leave hanging from the ceilings.

I don't need them inside because I have flyscreens to take care of the mosquitoes. Geckos are useless in controlling mosquitoes though. I have an open house in the Philippines with geckos all over the place, but the mosquitoes are relentless. The geckos prefer larger insects.

[tropo]

Just re read your OP. The drain is under your courtyard, yes? Does the laundry lady have a right to use your drain? Can her water be diverted around your property?

Can it be covered between the two buildings?

Without seeing the drain, it's hard to come up with more solutions. Any chance of some photos?

The drain is under concrete with open grate areas running about half the total length. I don't know about the legalities of the laundry lady using the storm drain which is under the courtyard between 2 rows of townhouses (back of mine). She doesn't have any other alternatives for her drain water.

I just found out that builders (doing renovation) at one of the downstream townhouses have caused the blockage (I've been away 5 months, so I didn't know what was going on), possibly by washing cement into the drain. We will talk with them when they come back after Songkran. If we can clear the blockage there won't be sitting water and the problem will be solved and they'll only be singing after heavy rain.

[tropo]

I love the frog chorus. It's one of Thailand's rich tapestry of life that's so different from the bland PC life back home.

Just wait till a tokay sets up home nearby- frogs are nothing in comparison.

I don't mind the sounds of nature either but the problem is that an occasional sound of nature (after rain) has become a nightly event due to artificially providing water.

Once you get used to it, I'm sure you won't notice it any more than I notice the soi dogs barking or the monks chanting at 5am ( and that happens every day in the village and it's REALLY LOUD ).

That is true, but it's my wife who has a more serious problem with the sound than I do. If she wasn't complaining about it I wouldn't even have posted. As you can see by the title of the post, my main interest was in identifying the creature making this sound.