The first time I heard the sounds I was confused as to what they were. I thought maybe they were coming from a strange kind of bird. That may sound silly, but I was erroneously told at the time that there weren't many frogs here in Michigan. I have found out since then that that information was very false.
As the vernal pond grew with passing early spring, the number of frogs grew by the thousands. I would hear the sounds, and I wanted so badly to be able to share them with everyone here. I had no idea that I already had that capability. I thought it would never happen. But now it has!
In this new episode of Rat TV I bring you the sound of at least one early spring frog. It is coming from a surprising place though. I expected it from the vernal pond in the forest, but there are other wet areas in this park too. This one is out at the front near the parking lot.
When I heard the frog, I quickly walked over to the area the sounds were coming from. They are very loud throughout the video. Unfortunately there is no video of the frog itself. I have actually never seen one of these frogs. They hide very well when I get close. You'll see and hear in the video that the frog stops its noise when I get close.
One other thing that happened was that I startled a bird that was also hiding nearby in the weeds. Only a very transparent shadow shows. You probably can't see it even if you look closely, but the bird passed right in front of the camera. I spotted the shadow in the original video.
This is not the most exciting video, but I hope you enjoy the frog sounds.
I'll be back tomorrow with something very surprising!
I bet if I were there, I could have found that frog for you! We kitties are VERY good at stalking small creatures.
ReplyDeleteCool video, I love that sound. We will hear the frogs and crickets in our back yard this summer.
ReplyDeleteHello Ratty,
ReplyDeleteThis sounds so very familiar. The pond down at the end of the road is full of frogs. Whenever I get close, they shut up. The birds are also very good at hiding from my camera. I guess that is the challenge of the hunt.
Kat
That's definitely the sound of spring. I think I heard the airplane too.
ReplyDeleteI saw the bird shadow but didn't know what it was until I read further. Thanks for sharing the lovely croaking sounds...maybe you'll manage to find some spawn to photo later in the season!"!
ReplyDeleteRatty,I must say thay sound is actually that of a toad.When I was a kid we would catch them in a vernal pond by our house.The frogs spring song is higher pitched and faster,bullfrogs are lower and slower.I love hearing that sound, it sounds like SPRING!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou know that it music to my ears, Ratty!! I have bullfrogs here, and their call is like a banjo twanging. I haven't had a male in a few years though--I kinda miss the sound out my bedroom window.
ReplyDeleteRatty, great audio and video on this. I found it to be exciting. The sound along with you walking to find the frogs gave the video a touch of mystery. Very cool
ReplyDeleteYou have spring peepers waking up. It is a tiny frog. Ours haven't started yet. But this makes me think that they may in another week. I have a CD and have been trying hard to learn the different voices. So far, I'm only good for about 5 kinds, which is only 3 more than I knew when I started. Audio is my weakest sense.
ReplyDeleteNot a wood frog, that's for sure. Perhaps a toad calling for a mate as sugggested by "The Painter" above. Whatever it is it's new to me. Nevertheless very cool.
ReplyDeleteBill
This is the one thing I can't here in my backyard. Your footage actually had me on edge. I thought something was going to jump out of the water. lol
ReplyDeleteVery cool, Ratty!
ReplyDeleteThat's is the exciting sound of the day. Wait to see thousands of tadpoles inside the pond that I saw last year.
ReplyDeleteI checked a few sites with frog sounds, and until someone shows me differently, I'll agree with The Painter and Bill. They sound just like American toads, which I've seen in this same nature park. These still might be peepers, but The Painter has been to this same park, so he might have heard these very same frogs. I'll have more audio when the frogs come out in force.
ReplyDelete@Sharkbytes
Audio is my weakest sense too. I've been trying to identify birds by their calls while I'm out, but they all sound identical no matter how many times I hear them. I can only get the ones that are very distinctive.