2.08.2013

How do frogs celebrate Valentine's Day?

Just as winter ebbs you’ll begin to hear the various belches, peeps, trills, snorts and myriad other sounds of frogs and toads. If you think they all go “ribbit,” then think again.  As Florida’s great zoologist and author Archie Carr wrote, “Frogs do for the night what birds do for the day; they give it a voice.  And the voice is varied and stirring; one that ought to be better known.”

While female frogs make some sounds that roughly translate as “Keep your feet to yourself, bub,” the cacophony that kept you up on that camping trip was created by lovelorn males. They woo the ladies with lyrics go something like, “Hey, good lookin’, I’m available…and I’m a hunk-a-hunk-a-burnin’ frog!” Which, when you stop to think about it, is remarkably similar to the lyrics of every boy band hit.

You can hear the full diversity of North America’s anurans—“frogs and toads” for those who don’t speak zoology—in the book/CD The Frogs and Toads of North America, by Lang Elliott. With stunning photographs and recordings of over 100 species, this is a herpetologist’s holy book and the star of many a coffee table. Mr. Elliott travels the globe recording nature’s symphonies and his YouTube channel, “TheMusicOfNature,” and website, www.musicofnature.com will leave you wiser and, most likely, a lot more relaxed. My video here is a fun guide to frog calls, too.

Perhaps, like me, you have some tadpoles of your own. You want them to metamorphose right and you’ve probably heard about the research that shows that playing in nature makes them healthier, happier and smarter.

Well, here’s an idea for you: some moonlit night this month, grab some flashlights and head down to the nearest bubbling brook or slimy green pond. Have a seat and spend at least 60 seconds in complete silence. How many sounds can you you hear? Do you recognize any of those sounds? What else you hear? Perhaps you can even record it with your smart phone to help you identify the sounds back home.

Try shining your flashlight across the surface of the water. You may be able to see the tiny reflections of frog eyeballs shining back at you.  Did you hear sounds coming from the trees? Try directing your beam into the trees and see if you can spot the singer. At the very least, it’ll make you can do your best Jedi warrior imitation with your “light saber.”  

This is bound to create a lasting memory and you might even open a wider world of nature exploration for your child. If you’ve got a budding biologist on your hands, consider taking time for a regular frog survey. Frogs are declining around the world and regular folks are participating in a citizen science initiative called a Frog Watch at www.nwf.org/frogwatchusa/.   

All that’s involved is choosing a soggy spot near you and visiting on  a regular basis to listen for frogs. You’ll take note of what you heard, the weather and a few other details and that’s all there is to it. Yes, you can be a part of scientific research in all its glory. And repetition.   

So get out there and get muddy. Oh, and don’t forget the bug sprary.