Split Season Wood Frog Breeding

During roughly the third week of February, the Wood Frogs of Blue Jay Barrens swarmed into the pond for their annual mating event. The behavior is typical for that time of year; however, weather conditions and the intensity of the mating activities were not what I have come to expect.

February 17 – Six inches of snow falls. February 18 – Temperatures struggle to reach the low 40s. Snow melts slowly and is nearly gone by evening. Wood Frogs begin to enter the pond. February 19 – High temperature reaches 75°F. Wood Frogs continue courtship activities through the day and into the night. February 20 – High temperature reaches 80°F. Wood Frog courtship activities can almost be described as frantic and continue through the day. February 21 – high temperature around 35°F. Three inches of snow falls. Wood Frogs have disappeared.

On March 28 Wood Frogs returned to the pond and were heard calling for the next three nights.  Weather was rainy and cool through the period.  This is the first time Wood Frog breeding activities divided in this manner.

The swimming frogs seem to pull in their eyeballs when swimming with head submerged.

In order to project the sound of their calls, the Wood Frogs inflate air sacs located on each side of the body.  The sacs act as resonating chambers for the call. In the above photo the frog is seen from behind, showing the twin air sacs in the foreground and the two bulging eyes behind.

Surface tension causes the water to curve and ride up the frog’s body. The water then reflects the sky and the surrounding landscape, making it difficult to see the frog itself. I wonder if this might afford the frog a degree of camouflage and protection from water level predators.

The short video above offers a view of a calling Wood Frog and a broader view of activity in the pond. The video can also be seen on YouTube by clicking HERE.