All thawed out and ready for love

Yesterday, for the first time in ten days, we had fabulous, glorious sunshine. Not just the occasional glimpse as clouds parted briefly before covering the sky again. No, this was wonderful warm sunshine - for the whole afternoon.

And by late afternoon, naturalists around the nature center were hearing the call of the first of the year's amphibians to reawaken after being frozen all winter - the chorus frogs were calling! Three naturalists in three different areas heard the distinctive "brrup...brrup...brrup..." coming from the partially melted marshes near the still ice-covered ponds.

Chorus frogs are one of the kinds of frogs that actually freeze solid over the winter. In the fall, they burrow under leaves and mud. As the ground freezes and ice crystals touch its skin, chemical reactions inside the frog start making an "antifreeze." This "antifreeze" substance protects the cells and organs by preventing ice crystals from forming that would grow and burst the cells. Eventually, the frog's heart stops beating and all other organs stop, too. It seems dead, but given the right conditions (e.g. warm temperatures) the chemical breaks down and the frog thaws. And begins calling right away looking for a mate.

Yup - that's how small a chorus frog is - only about an inch long. So you are much more likely to hear them then to see them. And for being so little, they can make a lot of noise.

After the storms end in a couple of days (yes, winter storm advisories AGAIN - will this winter never end?) and the sun returns, head out to a marsh or pond and listen carefully. Listen for what sounds like someone running their finger up the teeth of a comb. That's a chorus frog - singing a love song - a spring song.