Talbot Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 It COULD be a nighthawk, but it could also be that:1. A hell of a lot of frogs are invading the United States, must be some sort of terrorist plot, who knows.-OR-2. Aliens are scouting a couple of you to take back to their space ship, they talk to me quite often. Muaha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heights2Bastrop Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 What I saw and heard in Bastrop was definately not a nighthawk. Nighthawks are much larger.Maybe it was a chirpmonk? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce_oneal Posted July 21, 2005 Author Share Posted July 21, 2005 so now there are about 5 theories:1. aliens --interesting but not probably --at least not in my 'hood2. frogs (in trees no less)3. chickadees4. bats5. nighthawksloli was really serious when i wrote the post this a.m., but this is getting comical. lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UrbaNerd Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 Tree frogs, perhaps. They may be some sort of cricket species/any kin of the cricket type. Random Fact: Cockroaches are closely related to crickets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BayouCityGirl Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 They're Common Nighthawks - small, swift birds with swept-back wings. You can sometimes spot them at dusk and dawn. They make a small 'cheep' sound that seems to come from nowhere and everywhere. Because they're swift!You'll also sometimes hear a solitary bird singing in a tree at night, usually in a well-lit area. I've read in the Chronicle that these are young male mockingbirds who are seeking to establish their own territory. Seems artificial lighting has changed their natural habits.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>So they chirp at 4 AM? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talbot Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 Tree frogs, perhaps.They may be some sort of cricket species/any kin of the cricket type. Random Fact: Cockroaches are closely related to crickets <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Interesting fact. Cockroaches must be the beyond ugly duckling. Another random fact: Cockroaches are close to my feet, when I smash them, but they aren't related to my feet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westender Posted July 26, 2005 Share Posted July 26, 2005 Go check out that site. It tells you.[Obligatory Quote] Are you suggesting coconuts migrate? [/Obligatory Quote] <{POST_SNAPBACK}> no they were brought here by swallows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heights2Bastrop Posted July 26, 2005 Share Posted July 26, 2005 Those aren't those really dangerous tree frogs, are they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce_oneal Posted July 27, 2005 Author Share Posted July 27, 2005 looks like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest danax Posted July 27, 2005 Share Posted July 27, 2005 I agree with dbigtex on the nighthawk possibility.However, I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Mediterranean Gecko, although I don't think the sound would be coming from trees. They are imports but are very common in Houston and the males chirp to defend their territory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heights2Bastrop Posted July 27, 2005 Share Posted July 27, 2005 Are they the ones whose chirping grows louder and more persistent until they drive you to buy insurance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbigtex56 Posted July 27, 2005 Share Posted July 27, 2005 So they chirp at 4 AM?<{POST_SNAPBACK}>Promptly at 4 AM. Four times.Oh wait...that's cuckoos.Speaking of chickadees, anyone remember this lyric?Hey, I'm Kate and I am a TaurusI love tomatoes and black-cappedChickadees Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasHome Posted July 29, 2005 Share Posted July 29, 2005 I first heard these over at a friend's house in Clear Lake City about 4 years ago.They told me they were frogs and were a type that had not been in this area before. Sorry, I cant remember the type of frog but we searched through the bushes till we found some of them.I said we didnt have them in League City and they told me not to worry, I will...This year they have hit our area. At night they can be heard outside. It sounds like maybe a few of them for now but there will surely be more to come.They do sound like a small bird or a smoke alarm low battery sound but they are actually small frogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heights2Bastrop Posted July 29, 2005 Share Posted July 29, 2005 I was restless last night and couldn't sleep, so I sat in the living room watching TV. I heard the chirping the entire time I was awake. I am convinced now that these are not birds. However, every time I opened the back door, the chirping stopped, so I could not find the source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce_oneal Posted July 30, 2005 Author Share Posted July 30, 2005 and i am still not convinced they are frogs. i am liking the weird alien species theory more and more....it seems to be spreading... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marmer Posted August 1, 2005 Share Posted August 1, 2005 Little green tree frogs, in your outdoor plants. I got lucky today and saw one on my window, between the screen and the glass. Marty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cldaustin Posted August 5, 2005 Share Posted August 5, 2005 Bruce--Just got into Austin on a late flight, and have been so perplexed by the recent odd chirping in the bushes and trees around my yard I did a quick google search and came up with your post. I registered just to respond....what's going on here in Texas? I thought bizarre birds at first, but I'm not sure. When I came home tonight, I heard them in the front yard too (not just by my bedroom window, where for a week or two they've been keeping me up at night). If you learn anything about the source of the new Texas Chirpers, please let me know!Thanks,Chrishas anyone else been hearing these weird chirping sounds at night? i thought it was birds or something as it kinda sounds like a fire detector that has a low battery. but the sounds come from one tree to the next (and sometimes from the sky).i was also thinking bats?i know what crickets sounds like --or at least i thought i did. been hearing it in westchase, but also was downtown last night and heard the sounds there too ... i have not seen any evidence of birds making the sounds.<{POST_SNAPBACK}> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce_oneal Posted August 5, 2005 Author Share Posted August 5, 2005 well, so far, we are SURE it's either:1. some sort of tree frogs2. chickadees (spelling?)3. alien lifei think i am leaning towards #3 since i SEE NO SIGN of the first two in my neighborhood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcos Posted August 8, 2005 Share Posted August 8, 2005 Hi, Just another person who found this thread researching the sound. At any rate, my theory is Pseudacris streckeri or Pseudacris crucifer. I think it is the crucifer or spring peeper since the call sounds almost identical, but the streckeri sounds close too. You can listen to some frog calls here. http://www.zo.utexas.edu/research/txherps/....streckeri.html http://www.zo.utexas.edu/research/txherps/...s.crucifer.html I may try and find one later and settle this Marcos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce_oneal Posted August 8, 2005 Author Share Posted August 8, 2005 ok, i will admit that these sounds do sound eerily similar. the thing is that they tend to come from the trees AND the air --could just be acoustics and bad lighting though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrykooda Posted September 17, 2005 Share Posted September 17, 2005 OKAdd me to the list of confused. If we're talking about the same "chirping" sound, it's definitely NOT bird or bat. I have three in the neighborhood here in Dallas that are driving me nuts. It's a pleasant sound I've seen described here al like a smoke detector with low battery power and that sounds about right. Here they come in a sort of pattern like "CHIRP!.....chirpchirp chirp..........chirp........ " and seem to be answered by others in the neighborhood. I have one right now outside my window and have been trying to see what it is. This is the first time I've heard one so close to the ground (About 3 feet up in an ornamental cedar) and narrowed the search to within a foot before really digging in with flashlight in hand and found NOTHING!I waited a while and it started up again in about the same place. I thing the frog guessers may be right, although I wasn't aware of any in this area but mark my words; I WILL find the bugger...Or I'll give up and enjoy the mystery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce_oneal Posted September 17, 2005 Author Share Posted September 17, 2005 yes, that is the sound alright ... and that is the pattern of the calls and response. sometimes it even seems to be coming from the air ... in several different directions.let me know when you find out ... i still find the frogs theory to be kinda weak, but several people here swear it's frogs.let me know what you find out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brucesw Posted September 18, 2005 Share Posted September 18, 2005 Chimney Swifts?http://www.birds.cornell.edu/BOW/CHISWI/I have geckos all over the place and I've never heard one chirp. Mine must be pretty contented.I don't think everyone's talking about the same thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midtown 4.2 Posted September 18, 2005 Share Posted September 18, 2005 I've heard the same soft "smoke detector" chirping sounds . . . first thought it was some type of crickets. Only hear it outdoors at night. . . several times I'd search around in the bushes, grass, and sidewalk crevices with a flashlight . . .neighbors probably thought I was psycho. Finally found the source . . . a tiny frog about 1/2 inch long, dark in color. When the light hit it, it just froze and didn't make a sound . . . I did the same, and a few seconds later it chirped! Mystery solved . . . now I can sleep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce_oneal Posted September 18, 2005 Author Share Posted September 18, 2005 I've heard the same soft "smoke detector" chirping sounds . . . first thought it was some type of crickets. Only hear it outdoors at night. . . several times I'd search around in the bushes, grass, and sidewalk crevices with a flashlight . . .neighbors probably thought I was psycho. Finally found the source . . . a tiny frog about 1/2 inch long, dark in color. When the light hit it, it just froze and didn't make a sound . . . I did the same, and a few seconds later it chirped! Mystery solved . . . now I can sleep.<{POST_SNAPBACK}>so they're in the trees too? i've heard them up high. seems kinda like they do a call and response too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newtnewt Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 Bruce, it's been years since you posted this but I am having the same issue, and I can not find the little critter that's making the sleep depriving sound! I created an account just to find out if you ever got an answer...just like you described, a low battery sound on the smoke detector. I'm loosing sleep, I'm out every evening the last 4 days trying to find it, every time I seem to get close to it, it stops! So I'm unable to really pin point the sound. Help if you can, thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clark030 Posted June 6, 2013 Share Posted June 6, 2013 It's a Rio Grande Chirping Frog.http://www.tpwmagazine.com/archive/2012/apr/scout5_wildthing_chirpingfrog/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newtnewt Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 It is! I just came on here to report that I saw the little guys tonight, can't believe they can make that much noise, thanks for the response. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmat Posted June 7, 2013 Share Posted June 7, 2013 Two first time posters interacting. Hilarious/cool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashman Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 they are geckos. small non-native lizards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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