Tadpoles: The Big Little Migration

Four years in the making, join my journey with the western toad in this short nature documentary.
For more visit: maxwelhohn.com
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[@campbellrivertoday]

Many years ago I did a news story for CHEK TV about the Western Toad migration and the amphibian diversion fencing that can be seen along the (then) new Inland Island Highway. The biologist I interviewed said the migration on Vancouver Island is comparable to the amphibian world as the Fraser River Sockeye is to the fish world. The new highway had two foot high fencing installed to direct the small toads through culverts that were built for them to get to the other side of the highway. You can see the fencing along the highway just south of the Hamm Road turnoff. Every time I drive by there I think about the massive migration right here on Vancouver Island. Thanks for your wonderful look into their early life in the ponds and lakes we have right here. Great work!

[@maxwelhohn]

That's very interesting! I would like to spend more time next season documenting their journey on land as they make their way into the forest. It would be great to chat more with you about it, and perhaps get an interview with you

[@susanmaryphillips5932]

That is really neat. I will have to find that story. My now adult children, myself, and a friend were some of the many volunteers to collect the Western Toads from one side of the highway to transport in our buckets to the other side of the highway where they wanted to be. This was done before and during the fencing project. Before the fencing thousands of the little gaffers were crossing the highway with many meeting their demise and then causing slippery chaos on the road. I am not sure how many we collected together but the 10 litre pails were pretty full! As we carefully unloaded the buckets, we watched in amazement as the toads made a bee line for their "spot" all together and up and over anything in the path. My photos are of swift moving blurs of legs!

[@sleepchamber]

Cool video. I love hearing frogs in the summer evenings by the lake!

[@grindermike6485]

That was incredible cinematography. You brought some new incite and awareness to these little guys through your hard work. Well done!

[@maxwelhohn]

Thanks for watching!

[@jeremywatson153]

This reminds me of my Childhood growing up at Cultus Lake,wher my brother and I would catch the in Mason jars in a small pond,take them home to observe them at various stages in their development.. then returning the survivors to the pond.We didn't have a good survival rate,but it was a great lesson in Nature ! Thanks for the great Film .

[@maxwelhohn]

Thanks for watching!

[@StarchildVenus-og3db]

Thank you very much for showing the beauty of Vancouver Island 🙏❤️🙏

[@EarthAcademy9]

Wow! I love your film. Thank you for all the choices you made to make this a reality.

[@maxwelhohn]

Thanks so much!

[@paulinechapman9319]

How often do we think ...I’ll watch tadpoles today..so rewarding and educational..thank you for this enlightening film...will be reminded each time l see a frog..not taking it for granted..

[@maxwelhohn]

Thank you!

[@mikaericson726]

I cannot thank you enough for posting as free viewing - beautiful, beautiful documentary

[@deborahdesilets2188]

I grew up in a swamp with tadpoles as friends and love them to this day.Bravo!

[@kimhamilton202]

This video should win all kinds of awards!!! Love it!!!

[@maxwelhohn]

Thanks so much Kim!

[@keiraasta-ferrero9831]

This video is soooo soothing! The music and even the narrator's Voice is soothing! Reminds me of my childhood catching them during science class and learning by observation and releasing them again. Listening to them as i fell asleep in later years! Im in a city now so i only see them if i go to a park 25 minutes away. I miss listening to them.

[@menorah57kaz]

...loved this think many of us, if not most have all been fascinated by frog spawn in ponds followed by those wiggly little creatures that magically grow legs and arms ...simpler days gone by but the frogs and toads of this Earth are a sign of a healthy environment...if they go we do ...thank you for such a beautiful film....

[@survival_of_the_sickest4448]

Absolutely amazing!! I loved raising little toads and frogs from tadpoles when I was young, brings back many good memories ❤️ thanks for putting this together, it is unreal!!!

[@johnabernethy8873]

Excellent. I'm into Botany, Mycology, Ornithology etc. In the Forests and Mountains of Oregon for most of my 72 years

[@technoendo]

This is fantastic! Wonderful production on so many fronts!

[@janetjacobsen5850]

Fascinating! BTW, why does anyone place a thumbs down for amazing cinematography??

[@hitomikimura1935]

Thank you for sharing the beautiful footage of western toad's life history. I have been monitoring one of their populations for over 10 years and am pretty familiar with their life history from breeding to metamorphosis. Each stage of their metamorphosis always amazes me, particularly when I think of biology behind it. But communicating the public through high quality videos like yours is very powerful and valuable. I thank you, on behalf of western toads I really care about.

[@maxwelhohn]

Thanks so much for your kind words!

[@marcellalonde2793]

Hello Hitomi, I as well have, accidentally been a witness to massive numbers of these tadpoles at another site. This occurred in the spring after seeing this video in the winter. I had returned a number of time to be disappointed in seeing any numbers. I am curious about their life stages, and wondered whether they disappear in the mud awaiting their other metamorphosis ? Any info would be appreciated.

[@claudiasmith4446]

I quite enjoyed watching the amazing tadpole journey and will be watching it again and forwarding it to other interested people. Thank you.

[@Purelight1960]

Beautiful cinematography and narration.

[@islandbirdw]

I have a pond in my backyard and it is an environment where these western toads live. I have been careful not to disturb them or use anything that might harm them. We’re lucky we have 3 different frogs and I’ve even seen a salamander in my yard.

[@yosemitegal]

Wow. Just wow. Thank you for this incredibly beautiful film. Come to Yosemite and check out the Yosemite toad migration -over snow!

[@maxwelhohn]

Thanks so much! That would be absolutely incredible to see

[@ekconley6429]

Wow, great job! Though I have fond memories of hatching frog eggs from ditches in an aquarium, you're right, don't think of tadpoles as stunning photogenic as you've captured here!

[@SarahCarrico]

What a joy to watch! ❤️

[@Stabbhard]

I`m an Island girl!! So happy to see this, thank you :)

[@michaljelenciak]

Masterpiece. Those creatures resemble horses sometimes in my mind.

[@jeremyhowe7737]

What a profound and impeccably crafted revelation of a dreamlike world that nonetheless proceeds serenely beyond our common knowledge. The richness of colour, shadow, and form are utterly mesmerizing!

[@EmilianoLoconsolo]

Thanx for bringing back my childhood Maxwell... Loved every shot of it

[@maxwelhohn]

Thanks so much!

[@laurapope4715]

Thanks you so much Maxwel. What a fantastic vision into such a hidden world. There are so many secrets within our water world and it takes incredible patience to find and film them. When I first came to Denman Island I found WEstern Toads but they are no longer found in any of our wetlands. I fear for the little guys with the Bullfrogs on the mach on Vancouver Island - lets hope they can find a way to survive.

[@thomas194907]

wow...who knew what really happens during their life...thankyou so much for sharing

[@estebana.miralles3619]

Wonderful doc! Great camera work. Thanks so much.

[@frozencancukfinearts]

Award winning ! If not it damn well should.

[@emilymaijenburg8383]

BEAUTIFULLY DONE, IM STUNNED

[@roachmancam9012]

David attenborough would be proud of this . Great quality video

[@toribraem3071]

This is only video I've seen that is close to what I saw in Oregon while camping. We went in the middle of nowhere and found this body of water to camp at. And the water had BILLIONS of tadpoles in giant river like formations. It was crazy! They were everywhere! I haven't seen anything like it since.

[@genevievelaurin3860]

Wonderful and awe-inspiring. Kudos for this cinematographic feat and this wonderful voyage into the tiny universe of tadpoles.

[@maxwelhohn]

Thank you 🙏

[@virginiaelizabeth2597]

Watched in my "Vertebrates of BC" undergrad class at UVIC. Absolutely amazing captures of this aquatic underworld

[@JWinslow11]

Amazing work! I’ve always been FASCINATED by tadpoles and their metamorphosis.

[@liv_7271]

I once had an American toad! Her name was potato and I got her as a tadpole. She lived about 8 years and she was so sweet. Tadpoles are just the cutest things 😄

[@shena1256]

This was a amazing video! Thanks for taking us along! I see a bright and interesting future for you in film. Looking forward to seeing what else you discover and share! ❤️

[@TheFroperson]

Thank you! Beautifully done!

[@Li1651]

That's amazing!!!

[@GregWittstockThePondGuy]

Spectacular! I have a new place to visit!!!

[@duaneeickhoff288]

A story told with dedication-thank you!

[@auntGlow]

WoW! Brilliant!! Thank very much for making this, Maxwel.

[@PSG1A1]

Stunning. Thank you!

[@valeriecharman1314]

Amazing!! Thank you for sharing this view with us!

[@craiggardner5347]

Thanks for doing this.

[@cesarjulian3715]

Beautiful video, I love it!! and many thanks

[@juliota]

What an amazing job you have done! Absolutely wonderful, thanks so much for sharing!

[@SteveSRT]

That was amazing. Thanks for sharing.

[@tamasdoczi]

Beautiful scene!! Love it

[@MissyMiniac]

A visual feast, beautifully captured. Thank you!

[@rhilde1318]

Wonderful!! Thank you for sharing:)

[@idiedlastmonth]

Absolute beauty! Thank you!

[@JonTimmer]

Epic stuff!!!

[@jayinthejungle5005]

Beautiful footage! well done!

[@oliverholland6941]

The dedication it took to do this is inspiring. This is some incredible work!

[@captkeith4167]

What a gem of a video. A perfect little nature documentary. Perfect timing too as we recently encountered a migration of tiny frogs on the Great Trail from Shawinigan to Cowichan and it was an amazing sight. To see this video just bookended that experience perfectly. Thank you and well done.

[@OMGWTFLOLSMH]

Awesome and spectacular. Thanks for sharing this.

[@timirvin1777]

Beautiful work!

[@ellieboa]

such a fantastic documentary!

[@australianbiotopes4563]

Great video! thanks for sharing.

[@trevorcockett6376]

Amazing. Thank you

[@sandwhy]

Beautiful!!

[@hittheroadmatt]

Amazing job man! The footage is incredible 💯💯

[@gabegoerzen3313]

Incredible stuff Maxel! Congratulations

[@mornahussey]

Well done, great videography and narrative! Thanks!

[@ridwanzebua1560]

this is beautifull!!!

[@EmpoweredPlanet]

Incredible videography. Truly beautiful. Thank you!

[@FOSSILFERN10]

Amazing on so many levels. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to witness such an amazing phenomenom and to learn about these little creatures.

[@wildtraveler8855]

Indeed, this is a great documentary film. Good job👌!

[@HancockMichelle]

Exceptional!

[@thomas_pettersen]

Wow! That must have been a real challenge to film! Great job!

[@Octopusturtle]

Absolutely fabulous! ❤️

[@margarethawkins8088]

Amazing, excited to show my kindergarten students today!

[@AlexNovelli]

Best film I ever seen about tadpoles. Extremely amazing! Thank you!

[@maxwelhohn]

Thanks so much!

[@wildarctic9354]

Absolutely stunning! A real inspiration :)

[@dianaboughner7977]

Thank you for your excellent videography. What a wonderful journey it just took me on. 😊 💚 🐸❤

[@tsimshianhoroscope5443]

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing❤

[@RoadJournal]

Dude this is great!

[@1987srd]

Wonderful insight views - thank you!

[@colleensmith8174]

Fascinating! Great work 😊

[@virtusetglorie]

0:45 The man mimics the frogs in an attempt to gain their trust and move in closer without suspicion.

[@WaywardLifeSailing]

That was so enjoyable to watch! Thanks for sharing :)

[@kirilypark5452]

Amazing.

[@wa6451]

beautiful!

[@simonbath7178]

Beautifully shot Max, really great work.

[@lina-df8em]

this is so beautiful! thank you so much! I cant even tell you what this ment to me!

[@cassidysmiles4659]

Wow just incredible!!!!

[@pearlinefoo]

This is really beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing this.

[@simonequattlebaum898]

So beautiful!

[@carolann8714]

Incredible! Thank you for the education and blessing in sharing!

[@Denmaniacs4]

magnificent...

[@scottrauth8219]

Wonderful!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@rchristie5401]

Exceptional documentary. Thanks Max. Great work.

[@segamai]

Your passion for your subjects is inspiring. Beautiful video!

[@carenhelbing8248]

Wow! Absolutely breathtaking videography! We can learn much from these amazing creatures.

[@ArtofAGeniusMind]

Congrats! I love the part where you're swimming countercurrent to the tadpole swarm, that's very cool. I want to say also it's good to hear you say it took you 4 years because I've been working on my nature documentaries now for about four years and there are many times when I get overwhelmed with the process and I have to keep trying to maintain focus and keep moving forward so I hope that I reach my goal like you did.

[@dianeleduc5683]

Thank you for this awesome film you lucky duck.

[@ohminsun]

Amazing videography!