Last page update: February 5, 2010 There are plenty of frogs at Moorecroft. They are not always easy to find, but they are here and often easier to hear than see. That there are many is a good sign, because healthy frogs are a sign of an unpolluted environment. If anyone can help me identify the types of frogs I have pictures of, I'd appreciate the help. Visually I identify at least five different kinds. Here, for starters, are three different kinds of frogs in one Bucket!: One of them is difficult to find it's so small so I've blocked out the area to look in. Do you see all three now?  Here's an even easier zoomed in look:  The largest frog is the Red Legged Frog, part of a threatened species. You can read more about them on the government "Frogwatch: Red Legged Frog" website (the word Frogwatch is a link that you click to get there). An interesting fact about Red Legged Frogs is that the males only make their mating calls underwater! The smallest frog, the light green one, is a Pacific Tree Frog. It's on Frogwatch as well. They make a surprisingly loud sound for such a small creature! But if you hear one, they are very hard to sneak up on. They sense you coming and stop calling. There are two water bugs in the picture as well. Some kind of diving beetle (I've learned it is called a "Water Boatman") can be seen by the right leg of the big frog (it looks like it is rowing a boat when it swims) and a Stick bug in the lower right. Here's a small frog one on the ground, trying to find the water back after escaping from the bucket.  If I didn't tell you he was smack in the middle, you probably would not find him.  This big guy is sitting out on a floating branch, out of reach. A frog in the hand: Finger Frog  Doorman frog. This guy was on my front door one night when I came home. It lived in my front porch for a few days, singing it's song just for me - I felt so special!- and then it moved on when I didn't sing back.  |
