Loud Wood Frogs - Sleeping Giant State Park, CT March 29, 2013

Very loud wood frogs at Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden, CT on 3/29/13. All the ponds were full of them making this noise. From a distance it sounded like machinery, then people thought they were ducks, but nope...frogs having a good 'ol time during mating season. Info on wood frogs:
They emerge and breed in early spring in vernal (temporary) pools such as this one created by melting snow and rainwater. Eggs are fertilized quickly, and if the pool dries up before the tadpoles metamorphos into froglets (two months) they will die. This is why they start in early spring to increase their chances of metamorphisis. 'Rana sylvatica' primarily breeds in ephemeral pools rather than permanent water bodies such as ponds or lakes. This is believed to provide some protection of the adult frogs and their offspring (eggs and tadpoles) from predation by fish and other predators of permanent water bodies.
Wood Frogs are one of the first frogs to breed in early Spring. Their calls, which sound like a "quack," can be heard around water that's near woods. After breeding, these frogs leave the water to go off into the woods. They will return the following Spring.
In explosive breeders, the first male that finds a suitable breeding location such as a temporary pool, calls loudly and other frogs of both sexes converge on the pool. Explosive breeders tend to call in unison creating a chorus that can be heard from far away. The spadefoot toads (Scaphiopus spp.) of North America fall into this category. Mate selection and courtship is not as important as speed in reproduction.
To mate, males call females from the water. When a male sees another frog, he hugs it (called "amplexus" with frogs). Unfortunately, he can't tell a male from a female until he does. Once he hugs the other frog, he can feel if she is fat with eggs, or if he's grabbed another male. If he grabbed a male, that male will croak loudly, and this will make the first frog let go.
When the frogs have mated, the female will lay a large egg mass, holding over 1000 eggs into the water. Usually, she attaches it to some sticks or stems of a plant.
Wood Frogs all mate in the same area, so all the eggs are next to each other making a large "egg matt" on the surface of the water. This matt will grow algae on it, and soon be disguised as pond slime.
Eggs will hatch into small brownish-black tadpoles. Tadpoles take about two months to become adult frogs. They eat algae after they hatch, before moving on to small insect larvae.
Adults travel quite far from the water during Summer. They are most active during the day, but they are protected by their coloring, which camouflages them.
In winter, Wood Frogs hibernate by hiding under rocks, stumps, or leaf litter. They don't have to dig far. If they freeze, they can thaw out again.
Description:The coloration of this 2- to 3-inch (5- to 7.6-cm) frog is an adaptation for blending with the leaves on the forest
floor. Dorsal coloration ranges from gray, to pinkish, to nearly rusty orange. A brown patch extends from the eye to the tympanum. A dorsolateral ridge extends from the tympanum to the pelvis.
Reproduction: Among the first frogs to breed in the spring. They lay their egg masses attached to submerged twigs in vernal
pools in woodlands. The eggs hatch within a few days. Metamorphosis is relatively fast.
Vocalization: Wood frog calls sound like the clucking of ducks or fingers rubbed on the surface of a balloon.
Habitat: Moist woodlands, usually with oak, beech and maple trees.
Food: Small invertebrates.
Range: Found throughout Connecticut.
Status: Common, though habitat loss and pollution may prove detrimental.
www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/wood_frog.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_frog#cite_note-Berven_KA_1981-14
www.ctenvirothon.org/studyguides/aquatic_pdfs/2011/ct_amphibian_guide.pdf
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frogs#Reproduction

[@BRUTUSPLAC]

Great Job .

[@Paneeks1960]

Oh my, those are some really loud frogs. How long do they mate for every season? I have never heard of such a wild noise. I guess they are really enjoying themselves. I could make a joke right now but I want to be mature and civilized. Thanks a lot C~ Rob/Boston