Wood Frogs

Weather conditions have finally spurred Wood Frogs to congregate in their breeding ponds.  They’ve arrived in record numbers at the Blue Jay Barrens pond. 

Wood Frogs have only been using this pond for about the last ten years and there were a couple years during that time that I didn’t hear or see any Wood Frogs at all.  Their numbers have grown steadily over the last three years.

This is the first year that there has been noticeable breeding activity during the day.  The frogs maintained a constant flow of ripples across the pond surface.

Males floated about watching for a passing female.

Sight of a prospective mate led to a chase.

In most cases, the pair plunged beneath the water at the moment of contact.  The sound and splash reminded me of a bass feeding on the surface.

The joined couple would then head down to the pond bottom to prepare for egg laying.

This is the anticipated outcome.  I’m hoping the pond will be full of these egg masses in a few days.