Toads

The nearly 80 degree weather we had a couple of days ago brought toads to the pond to call for mates. When the storm came through on Wednesday night, the temperature fell 30 degrees in about 10 minutes. I hope the toads had a chance to take cover before they got too cold.

The water was crystal clear and just the right depth to make the toads comfortable. Toads have been in decline at Blue Jay Barrens. I’m hoping that the construction of additional breeding pools will help restore their numbers.

This guy looks like he’s enjoying a bubble bath. The bubbles are actually produced by oxygen being released by mosses that have been submerged near the edge of the pond. The moss grows extremely well in cool water and produces oxygen like crazy. Just to be clear, I’m talking about true mosses and am not using the term incorrectly to describe the algae mats that commonly grow in ponds.

Hopefully, toad tadpoles will join the mix of amphibian larvae in the pond this year. Salamanders have already hatched and there are several frog species busily laying eggs. I’ll just have to wait to see if the return of cold weather has messed up the toad’s breeding season.

Toads

I don’t know of any faces that have more character than those of old reptiles and amphibians. This Eastern Toad’s face has that look of wisdom that only age can bring.

He showed up two nights ago and has been singing almost nonstop. Unfortunately, he’s alone in the Water Garden. There were some toads singing in the pond a few weeks ago, but I haven’t heard them recently. As far as I can tell, this is the only toad in the vicinity with breeding on his mind.

He looks very much like an ornament. He wouldn’t sing while I was near with the camera. Other than that, he totally ignored my presence. Maybe his efforts will attract a female that hasn’t already laid her eggs. The number of breeding toads at Blue Jay Barrens has been falling steadily for several years. By next breeding season I’ll have the first of my series of toad pools ready for use. Maybe that will help the population rebound.

Toads don’t get much wartier than this. Toxins produced in the skin and the two large glands just behind the eyes discourage predators from making a meal of the toad. A second line of defense, known to little boys everywhere, is peeing on the assailant. I always feel bad about scaring a toad into peeing, because that water could sustain the toad’s life if forced to endure a drought.

Toads haven’t yet disappeared completely. I still encounter them regularly as I walk. My desire to increase toad numbers is primarily spurred by the need to have a healthy toad population in order to sustain the Hognose Snakes, predators that specialize in toads. The snakes are here and I’d like to do what I can to keep them healthy.

Toads seem to love attention, but it helps when you offer a warm hand on a cool morning. The Eastern Toad can be distinguished from the similar looking Fowler’s Toad by spotting on the ventral surface. Following the photo shoot, the toad snuggled down to get warm. I gave it about 30 seconds and then sent it on its way.