This morning the raucous quacking of the wood frogs' mating call began. For me this sound, even more than bird song, signals that spring has truly come. There is excitement in it, as the frogs go about their procreative business. I love being outdoors and saturated with the noise, love having open windows bring it indoors. Dozens of these small frogs converge on my pond when the ice is out, making small ripples and points of light as they swim on the surface. The first time I heard this sound years ago I thought there were ducks on the pond, and ran out to see. Nothing there, and the sound ceased. It took me several days to realize that the loud noise was coming from frogs. This morning, my cat Blinky somehow managed to capture a frog and bring it into the mudroom. He kindly allowed me to take it from him; the frog sat quietly on my hand until I set him, or her, down at the edge of the pond, and he quickly jumped into the water, happily unhurt and free.
The video below will give you some sense of the sound of the frogs and a glimpse of their movement on the water.
You know what I think?
ReplyDeleteI think you're in love with living.
That's what I think.
Lucky Vermont!
gee, thank you, William. But I have to admit that I only share my positive feelings in this blog; I have others, but they are best kept private.
ReplyDeleteyes Altoon, it is what you give us as a community out there in cyber space, the sound of frogs, a hopeful sound, a grounding. And William, I so much appreciated your response.
ReplyDeleteJan, so nice to hear from you with your wonderful comment. Thanks!
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ReplyDeleteThese familiar seasonal sounds are so reassuring, aren't they? Thanks for the video clip.
ReplyDeleteyou're very welcome, Mona. Last night the peepers were trilling their loud song and they were very reassuring.
ReplyDeleteYES! I haven't heard them yet -- our pool is back in the woods, and it's been quiet so far except for peepers down near the village. But I think lots of migrating must've happened last night, up here in the north. Thank you for the amphibian news!
ReplyDeleteI too appreciate William's comment. And yours, about deciding to make public only the positive ones, is interesting to note.
ReplyDeleteWhat a treat to hear these creatures! Here, I can hear birds sometimes and today, in the rain, only cars splashing through. But I fondly recall the frogs and toads up in the mountains of Guatemala during the rainy season. Oddly soothing to me and like a lullaby.
thanks for the comments, Susan and Julie.
ReplyDeleteWe have "tree frogs" and the sounds I hear are higher pitched :O) Are they the same as wood frogs? They are having a grand party here this Spring!
ReplyDeleteleLoops, we have a high pitched frog song too, made by the tiny frogs Spring Peepers. They are only about an inch long and make a huge noise; they are singing right now.
ReplyDeleteDid you make the video of tree frogs singing? So good to hear them. I heard the peepers on the way out to Planfield. All their wet lands have expanded and they were very happy about it.
ReplyDeleteyes, Maggie, I did make the video with my camera, which, like most digital cameras, has that capability.
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