Frog Watch

March 15; April 12th

FrogWatch USA Survey at Rosche Preserve: March 15; April 12 Join member, Bishop Preserve custodian, and professional herpetologist Penny Felski to learn the songs and monitor for five species of frogs that inhabit the Rosche Preserve as part of the FrogWatch USA survey program. See page 5 for a schedule and complete overview of FrogWatch USA, which Penny leads here in Western New York.

While learning on each day, we’ll also be gathering data in this important citizenscience event. The survey will begin after sundown on each of the dates at the Rosche Preserve, which is located 2 miles southwest of South Dayton, New York. In the event of heavy snowfall, the surveys will be conducted at a later date TBD. The Rosche Preserve is a freshwater wetland, so waders or tall boots are strongly recommended.

For complete details, driving directions, and to register, contact Jackie Swift: 532-6022 or jcourtneyswift@aol.com

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An Introduction To FROG WATCH USA

By Penny Felski 2022

Editor’s Note: Penny Felski, herpetologist at the Buffalo Zoo, will provide materials and lead an introduction to FrogWatch USA on a fieldtrip to the Rosche Preserve. FrogWatch USA is the Association of Zoos & Aquariums citizen science program and provides individuals, groups, and families opportunities to learn about wetlands in their communities by reporting on the calls of local frogs and toads. As a FrogWatch USA Chapter Coordinator, Penny has taught hundreds of citizen scientists the art of surveying for frogs and toads through auditory surveying.

Western New York is blessed to have a rich community of amphibians. Amphibians are the class of vertebrate animals that include toads, frogs, salamanders, newts, and our legless amphibians, the caecilians. Amphibians are described as being ectothermic; hairless with smooth, moist (or warty) permeable skin, they live in the water or on land. Some have tails, and they have fascinating life cycles. Amphibians, meaning dual life, begin from unshelled eggs. When female frogs and toads are ready to lay their eggs, males grasp on to them in a breeding position known as amplexus to externally fertilize the eggs. The gelatinous eggs develop and hatch out free-swimming tadpoles that eventually go through a tremendous anatomical change to complete their metamorphosis and change to a juvenile frog or toad. As adults, male frogs and toads use their impressive vocal sacs to call to females in the breeding grounds of the wetlands to start the cycle again. Frogs and toads vocalize for a number of reasons; advertisement, aggression, release, rain (weather), or alarm calls can be heard. Because they call for different reasons, it can be tricky to tune your ear to pick up on which species is calling. FrogWatch USA tries to take the guess work out of this by having the volunteers aim to capture the explosive advertisement calls during specific species’ breeding seasons.

Here are the species you might hear in Western New York:

Here are the general breeding seasons for frogs and toads in New York State:

In the Northeast, it can be tricky to pinpoint when the frogs will start to breed because of the unpredictable nature of the weather. Generally, if there is still snow on the ground, the only frogs that will be breeding are the wood frog, Western chorus frog, or spring peeper as long as there is access to vernal pools from winter thaw. Some species have a short window for breeding, while others breed through spring and summer.

There is so much to learn about our fantastic frogs and toads, and I hope you are leaping at the chance to join us this spring! Since “frogwatching” is weather dependent, we will plan a day trip to the Rosche Preserve on Sunday, April 10, with a snow date of Sunday, May 1. Please pre-register by sending an email to Jackie Swift at jcourtneyswift@aol.com, and we will be in touch with details, driving directions, and logistics.