Confession, Al. I was confusing tympanic membrane with parotid gland, which will send any herper ROFL. Guess it has to be a frog. But the color really wasn't that yellow... I'm still hoping for a hybrid.
Glo
another barren night
- Thread starter whippoorbill
- Start date
Confession, Al. I was confusing tympanic membrane with parotid gland, which will send any herper ROFL. Guess it has to be a frog. But the color really wasn't that yellow... I'm still hoping for a hybrid.
Glo
yes I was looking at that tympanum (eardrum) thinking toads don't have those,and neither do treefrogs so it must be a true frog (rana) so it must be a green frog or juvenile bullfrog but I've seen bullfrog tadpoles that big so I'm thinking bullfrogs are even bigger when the metamorphopse into frogs.
Al
Al
Went back to Belleplain last night (with fine company)... felt a little tired; trippy. Strange flashes of lightning all around. Millions of peepers screaming, encompassing, plus groveling unfindable leopards, the occasional northern gray, one lonely bullfrog. Raindrops kept falling, falling on my head.
I think somebody spiked my coffee. Just sayin'.
I think somebody spiked my coffee. Just sayin'.
Whip, looks like you've artistically rendered the ingredients for a frog bouillabaisse. A little garlic and onion might help, with a half-cup of white wine... On the other hand, so might a good night's sleep.
Please hang onto this one! Someday you could sell it and pay Freddie's way through college.
Glo
The most recent Froggie Expedition Evening (FREE) was a rather laid back affair taking place at the still-flooded gravel pit in Belleplain.
Anyone awaiting maximum frog choral diversity, we learned, must be patient. It was pretty much a one-frog-species show again last night (albeit impressive). I have a few unscientific theories as to why this is so. 1). It's been rather cool this spring and several species might in fact be chillin' and waiting for a significant warm spell before getting down to business, or 2). There are just so many screaming peepers out this spring and the other guys simply choose not to compete with the racket)), or 3). Whip is just impatient; it's not quite time yet.
I have heard the occasional Fowler's at the pit recently, plus several chorus frogs, and northern grays. None last night, though, throughout the chilly, windy evening. Spadefoot toads were only heard when flooding conditions were extreme.
Evening highlights ... solitiude on an island of sorts getting a 360 version of peeper heaven. More peep-pitch variety was heard last night than ever before. Smart guys, we figured, trying to isolate themselves from the insane masses.
... two bullfrogs (double the amount heard on the previous visit). Nice to hear some competition betwixt the big fellows going on.
... scores (and I mean SCORES) of tadpoles were swimming about in one pool. A call to an area tadpole expert (Alfie) revealed the tailed swimmers to be of the Fowler's toad variety.
Frog out.
Anyone awaiting maximum frog choral diversity, we learned, must be patient. It was pretty much a one-frog-species show again last night (albeit impressive). I have a few unscientific theories as to why this is so. 1). It's been rather cool this spring and several species might in fact be chillin' and waiting for a significant warm spell before getting down to business, or 2). There are just so many screaming peepers out this spring and the other guys simply choose not to compete with the racket
)), or 3). Whip is just impatient; it's not quite time yet. I have heard the occasional Fowler's at the pit recently, plus several chorus frogs, and northern grays. None last night, though, throughout the chilly, windy evening. Spadefoot toads were only heard when flooding conditions were extreme.
Evening highlights ... solitiude on an island of sorts getting a 360 version of peeper heaven. More peep-pitch variety was heard last night than ever before. Smart guys, we figured, trying to isolate themselves from the insane masses.
... two bullfrogs (double the amount heard on the previous visit). Nice to hear some competition betwixt the big fellows going on.
... scores (and I mean SCORES) of tadpoles were swimming about in one pool. A call to an area tadpole expert (Alfie) revealed the tailed swimmers to be of the Fowler's toad variety.
Frog out.
Bill,
Have you seen this episode on pbs?
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/frogs-the-thin-green-line/introduction/4763/
While scrolling through the channels last week the mention of "spadefoot toads" caught my ear and we watched this program, all the while I thought of you and Al and this fascinating view into the world of frogs & toads. The show was enjoyable, but not nearly as much as your photographic essays! Thanks for keeping my interest with your wonderful posts.
Turtle
Have you seen this episode on pbs?
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/frogs-the-thin-green-line/introduction/4763/
While scrolling through the channels last week the mention of "spadefoot toads" caught my ear and we watched this program, all the while I thought of you and Al and this fascinating view into the world of frogs & toads. The show was enjoyable, but not nearly as much as your photographic essays! Thanks for keeping my interest with your wonderful posts.
Turtle
"Frogs have been living on this planet for more than 250 million years, and over the centuries, evolved into some of the most wondrous and diverse creatures on earth. Today, however, all their remarkable adaptations and survival tactics are failing them. Recent discoveries are startling: more than a third of all amphibians – most of which are frogs and toads – have already been lost, and more are disappearing every day. It is an environmental crisis unfolding around the globe, traveling from Australia to North and South America. Where the calls of frogs once filled the air, scientists now hear only silence. Ecosystems are beginning to unravel, and the potential to discover important medical cures may be lost forever. Habitat loss, pollution and a human population that has doubled in the past 50 years have set the stage for their diminished numbers. But now, a fungus called chytrid has been identified as the major culprit, and so far the spread of the fungus can’t be stopped."
Thanks, Turtle. I worry every spring (we all should) that the frogs won't be there for us to see or hear again. The superb PBS video spells out the reasons behind these concerns perfectly, mixing natural and working-science beauty with true horror.
Bill
Thanks, Turtle. I worry every spring (we all should) that the frogs won't be there for us to see or hear again. The superb PBS video spells out the reasons behind these concerns perfectly, mixing natural and working-science beauty with true horror.
Bill
from honks to wonks
Revisted a bog this evening which had been revisited the night before, both near dusk. Last eve's occurred just before an approaching storm. The bog has shown promise in years past, but a unique array painted Sunday's sound spectrum. Peepers, leopards, carpenters, green frogs and, for our first time at this Belleplain location, we heard the bog echo with wonks of Pine Barrens tree frogs. I went back this evening to assure we hadn't heard some sort of sound mirage. Indeed, not! Good! Another visit will be made tomorrow night, when the skies should finally clear, the moon will be just about full, and the evening certainly magical; we'll stay awhile this time, sounds will be stolen, frogs will be found.
Smile, guys.
Revisted a bog this evening which had been revisited the night before, both near dusk. Last eve's occurred just before an approaching storm. The bog has shown promise in years past, but a unique array painted Sunday's sound spectrum. Peepers, leopards, carpenters, green frogs and, for our first time at this Belleplain location, we heard the bog echo with wonks of Pine Barrens tree frogs. I went back this evening to assure we hadn't heard some sort of sound mirage. Indeed, not! Good! Another visit will be made tomorrow night, when the skies should finally clear, the moon will be just about full, and the evening certainly magical; we'll stay awhile this time, sounds will be stolen, frogs will be found.
Smile, guys.
I like the woods and the bog shots.the green in spring is so beautiful....even if it does hide stones:-(
Alfie
Alfie
Whip.... Love the bogs......love the dappled reflection of the tree in #4.....love the full moon (Wed. eve)! I am pleased to hear that your patient observations have continued on a positive note with alas, wonks!
Thank you again and again.
turtle
p.s........I think I heard "peepers" last Thurs. on our kayak trip
Thank you again and again.
turtle
p.s........I think I heard "peepers" last Thurs. on our kayak trip
Belleplain State Forest
The return of the Pine Barrens tree frog drew my focus tonight ... plus a single leopard. But there was quite a diverse symphony going on (happily recorded by yers truly) in the bog-abouts of Belleplain State Forest, providing some of the best music these ears have ever heard -- all definitely enhanced by being out there slogging in the middle of the orchestra.
I don't think the frogs minded me croaking along (though my imitations are poor). Passersby would correctly have diagnosed me as insane, wonking, but there wasn't one of them for miles around. The frogs were shy at first about my bouncing about (finding these little buggers is quite the task!), but they eventually got used to me, and sang, which narrows down their potential whereabouts.
This leopard wouldn't shut up until I took his photo. Then it was on to try and find a few pbtfs!
Oh! Oh! There's one!
Beautiful frogs ...
The return of the Pine Barrens tree frog drew my focus tonight ... plus a single leopard. But there was quite a diverse symphony going on (happily recorded by yers truly) in the bog-abouts of Belleplain State Forest, providing some of the best music these ears have ever heard -- all definitely enhanced by being out there slogging in the middle of the orchestra.
I don't think the frogs minded me croaking along (though my imitations are poor). Passersby would correctly have diagnosed me as insane, wonking, but there wasn't one of them for miles around. The frogs were shy at first about my bouncing about (finding these little buggers is quite the task!), but they eventually got used to me, and sang, which narrows down their potential whereabouts.
This leopard wouldn't shut up until I took his photo. Then it was on to try and find a few pbtfs!
Oh! Oh! There's one!
Beautiful frogs ...
All,
Here is the recording Bill made of the frogs last night. It is a zipped file and the download will start right away.
http://teegate.njpinebarrens.com/whippoorbill/may2010.mp3.zip
Guy
Here is the recording Bill made of the frogs last night. It is a zipped file and the download will start right away.
http://teegate.njpinebarrens.com/whippoorbill/may2010.mp3.zip
Guy
some of the best pb pics you ever took Whip,surprised you didn't fuzz him
I'm glad you don't fuzz yer recordings though a little echo is always cool
Alfie
I'm glad you don't fuzz yer recordings though a little echo is always cool
Alfie
I’ve always thought (am I prejudiced? Nah!) that the pbtfs have a particularly meditative look about them, and you’ve caught that so well.
Seems your leopard is having second thoughts about appearing on the Forum—hence his oh-but-I’m-invisible expression. Or maybe he’s a trifle camera shy?
The recording is a wonderful potpourri of beautiful calls. Possibly the best stereo-effect wonks I’ve heard. And with a whippoorwill winging past, what could be more lovely?
Thank you, Whip, for late nights slogging through cold water. You have brought us treasure.
Glo
These are awesome pics. Do you use infra red goggles or something? I would think a light would scare them away.
pancoast
light does not scare frogs,especially when their singing songs of love.sounds and vibrations of an approaching person /predator will make them shut up and quick movement may cause them to flee,more likely with water frogs then treefrogs which rely heavily on camo and yes as bright and beautiful as pb treefrogs are they aren't that easy to spot.if you find them and then get still and perhaps turn the light off till the frog sings again and then turn it on him he will continue to sing as if your not there.just move very slowly and be patient,sometimes very patient.
Their much like us when we chase women,not much phases them when in hot pursuit,like Roscoe
Al
light does not scare frogs,especially when their singing songs of love.sounds and vibrations of an approaching person /predator will make them shut up and quick movement may cause them to flee,more likely with water frogs then treefrogs which rely heavily on camo and yes as bright and beautiful as pb treefrogs are they aren't that easy to spot.if you find them and then get still and perhaps turn the light off till the frog sings again and then turn it on him he will continue to sing as if your not there.just move very slowly and be patient,sometimes very patient.
Their much like us when we chase women,not much phases them when in hot pursuit,like Roscoe
Al
Bit of a test here ... sorry. I've been looking into a way to link to some of my field recording/audio files so I don't have to bother Guy to upload them to the forum.
We'll see if this works.
We'll see if this works.