DAVID ALBERS / Staff

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The morning sky has just closed up after an early evening drenching. A practically motionless drainage ditch along County Barn Road in East Naples emits an ear-piercing commotion.

It’s the invisible chorus of the oak toad, which are nestled between blades of grass half-submerged in the runoff. These inch-long sopranos are the smallest species of toad in North America.

“How loud they are for how small they are is just amazing,” said Win Everham, an associate professor of marine and ecological sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University.

“I would say it is one of the most common calls. You can walk outside and ... if you are paying attention, you can hear them all the time.”

What’s the purpose of the Bufo quercicus hullabaloo?

Breeding, of course.

“It’s the males calling trying to attract females,” he said. “Like almost all frogs and toads, they have a tadpole stage. So they lay their eggs in wet areas where the tadpoles goes through the early stages of development.”

The oak toad is one of several species Everham listens for on his monthly frog watches. The third Wednesday of the month from June to September, Everham monitors 12 Lee County locations, listening to the amphibian symphonies of Southwest Florida. The survey is open to members of the public and part of a larger network of frog watches throughout the state. Frogs and toads are “indicator” species, meaning their health and abundance gives a good indication of the greater health of the ecosystem.

After years of seasonal drought in Florida, Everham can’t quite say that the recent heavy rains have ended the dry spell but he can hope that the loud choruses of oak toads are signs of relief.

“This year is definitely different than last year. We really are coming out of an extended low water condition. (Oak toads) will call when conditions are right which means there is good water sources around,” Everham said. “So, they may be calling more this year because they have got more water. I have certainly heard them more.”

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E-mail David Albers at dnalbers@naplesnews.com