Ahhh, spring... With the days growing longer and warmer, life emerges from a time of rest and fills our world with energy. Spring is full of sound, including the calls of the iconic spring peepers (you can see pictures of them and listen to their call here). Spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer) are a common and widespread tree frog in our region, and although they are small (approximately one inch in size), the loud and distinctive “peeping” call of the male frogs is a familiar and musical addition to the spring symphony. This is when they breed in small, shallow pools of water such as seasonal pools (also known as vernal pools). Large groups of frogs congregate to reproduce, creating a loud chorus of peeps in the woods day and night. If you find their pools of water (just follow the sound), you often find masses of frog eggs waiting to develop into tadpoles and then adults. 

In addition to spring peepers, many other amphibians use seasonal pools to reproduce. Seasonal pools are shallow, non-permanent bodies of water generally located in forested areas. Because they are not always full of water, they do not contain permanent populations of fish, which means there is less of a chance that the amphibian eggs and young will be eaten by the fish (leaving none or few to develop into adults). Of course, other predators such as mammals, snakes, and birds, as well as organisms in the pool (such as developing insects), will eat some of the young amphibians during their development. Our young amphibians also eat each other - it is no easy path to survive and become an adult. However, fish-free pools are critical for the reproduction and survival of amphibians such as salamanders.  

Another member of our spring choir is the wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus). Wood frogs are larger than spring peepers, and generally range from about 1.5 inches to a little under 3 inches. According to the description on marylandbiodiversity.com, “[t]he call sounds a bit like a coughing sort of quack.” Wood frogs gather in large breeding groups, making quite a racket. You can listen to their call and see pictures of wood frogs here. Next, compare the sound of wood frogs to the sound of spring peepers (they sound quite different). See if you can identify these two frogs in the “wild” by ear this spring.  

Moving on to deep notes, many of us are familiar with the american bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus).  American bullfrogs generally range in size from 3.5 to 6 inches (though they do get larger) and their calls have been characterized as sounding like “jug of rum.” Their loud, low pitched croak may sound familiar (you can listen to their call and see photos here) as they are common, and can be heard from mid-spring to mid-summer. Unlike the wood frog and spring peepers, look for the american bullfrog in larger bodies of water such as lakes, ponds, and slow moving sections of rivers. 

Enjoy exploring the sounds of nature this spring!