Croaks & Calls: Frogs on the Night (MO-SRT/GPRC)

Curious how to identify frog calls, follow the chorus, and begin building real monitoring skills? Then hop into this experience with me!
About this Event

Croaks & Calls: Frogs on the Night Shift

Nighttime frog listening experience where you decode calls, follow the chorus, and discover who calls the park home.

Date & Time

Sunday, September 6, 2026
8:00–10:30 p.m.

Location

Michelle Obama–South River Trail
Gresham Park Recreation Center
3113 Gresham Road SE, Atlanta, GA 30316

What to expect

Step into the night and experience the park in a way most people rarely do—through the chorus of frog calls.

Croaks & Calls: Frogs on the Night Shift is a guided evening experience designed to introduce participants to frog identification through listening and observation. As dusk settles over the Michelle Obama–South River Trail and surrounding natural areas, we'll tune into the chorus of amphibians that call this remarkable ecosystem home.

DeKalb County is home to a rich diversity of frogs and toads. While we won't cover them all, we'll focus on a select handful of species to hone our listening skills, build confidence in identification, and gain a better understanding of what amphibian monitoring can look and feel like.

Inspired by regional amphibian monitoring efforts, this series begins with listening. Before meaningful data can be collected, we first need to develop our ears, sharpen our observation skills, and experience how frog activity changes from park to park and season to season.

Moving at a slow, intentional pace, we'll pause at several listening locations to experience the nighttime soundscape, practice identifying frog calls, explore why frogs call and what those calls communicate, and begin connecting sound with species, habitat, and behavior.

We'll divide our time between stillness and movement, allowing the landscape to reveal itself as we tune in more deeply.

This isn't about getting it perfect. It's about learning to notice what's already here—with intention.

Program leader

Your guide will be Naturalist Tasha Messer, DeKalb County Parks Naturalist with DeKalb County Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs.

Where to meet

Meet Naturalist Tasha at the Michelle Obama–South River Trail trailhead just steps away from the Gresham Park Recreation Center parking lot.

We'll begin with a brief introduction at the trailhead before making our way onto the trail.

What to bring

Wear weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy walking shoes suitable for paved and natural surface trails with exposed roots and uneven terrain.

Participants are encouraged to bring:

• Flashlight or headlamp; red-light mode is preferred if available
• Refillable water bottle
• Phone for notes, if desired
• Curiosity and a willingness to listen, observe, and contribute

Restrooms

There will be no restroom access during this program because it takes place after normal facility hours. Please use the restroom before arriving and plan accordingly.

Recommended ages

This program content is designed for adults and older youth, though all ages are welcome. Participants should be comfortable walking outdoors after dark and remaining quiet for periods of listening and observation.

Dogs

To help everyone hear frog calls and minimize disturbance to wildlife, this program is not appropriate for dogs. Please leave your furry friends at home.

Weather contingency

This program will be held rain or shine unless conditions are deemed unsafe by DeKalb County RPCA.

Light rain often means more frog activity.

Walking distance

Approximately 1–1.5 miles of slow-paced walking with frequent stops for listening and observation.

Exposure

This program takes place along the Michelle Obama–South River Trail and surrounding natural areas, with wooded sections and occasional open views. Participants should expect low-light conditions, insects, wildlife activity, and other conditions associated with exploring a natural area after dark.

Trail surface & accessibility

This program follows paved and natural surface trail sections. Participants may encounter exposed roots, rocks, uneven or potentially damp ground, and occasional changes in elevation. Portions of the route may present mobility challenges, particularly after dark.

Questions about whether this program will work for your mobility? Contact Naturalist Tasha at [email protected].

Program Photos

We love documenting our programs and may share photographs on DeKalb County Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs' websites, publications, and social media platforms. While participants are welcome to take their own photos, photographs taken by staff are generally intended for County documentation and promotional purposes and are not routinely distributed to participants.

Waiver & Release

By registering for this activity, each participant hereby acknowledges and agrees that he/she is participating in this program at his/her own risk and holds DeKalb County and all its officers, agents, servants, and/or employees harmless from and against any and all claims, loss, damage, charge, or expense to which they or any of them may be put or subjected by reason of participant’s participation in this program. You further acknowledge that DeKalb County is not responsible for the acts of others participating in this program and the other participants may include, but not be limited to, interested individuals, members of civic groups, religious groups, or community group, and/or persons convicted of crimes and/or violations of County ordinances and ordered to provide community service. I give permission that all photographs, films, video recordings, and sound recordings of me and/or my child(ren) made by the DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs during this Naturalist program may be used non- commercially by the DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs to promotion and educational purposes. I understand and acknowledge that neither my child(ren) nor I will receive any compensation whatsoever for appearing in any photograph, film, video recording, or sound recording made by the DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs.

Good to know

Croaks & Calls is currently in its listening and learning phase. These early sessions are opportunities to experience different DeKalb County parks after dark, attune our ears to frog voices, strengthen identification skills, and better understand what consistent amphibian monitoring will require before formal data collection begins.

No previous frog identification or amphibian monitoring experience is required.

~ Naturalist Tasha
404-927-4227 (Cell)