next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects
Thanks, John, for lots more food for thought here. Jim ---------- From: John Gilhen <GILHENJA@gov.ns.ca> Date: Wed, 09 May 2007 12:39:55 -0300 To: Jim Wolford <jimwolford@eastlink.ca> Subject: Re: FW: re PEEPINGS IN DRY YARD?, was INDIGO BUNTINGS Hi Jim; Thanks for this. The Spring Peeper is one of our first frogs to emerge from hibernation. The Wood Frog is earlier. Just as soon as the forest floor thaws you can hear individuals peeping from under stones, logs, etc. in the woods. Usually on rainy nights they will migrate to the ponds, and usually you can see them hopping across highways. The males tend to far outnumber the females. At first, when they arrive at the edge of the pond, the males stay secluded and will peep during the evening from within grass hummocks etc., and are difficult to find. As the season progresses [and especially on rainy nights] the males become bold and sit about the shoreline and are easy to see. Sometimes they will be vocal during the day. Unsuccessful males, and there seems to be a lot of them, slowly move back to the forest as temperatures rise. You can see them at night peeping, perched up on a variety of vegetation such as heath, young trees such as the lower branches of spruce. (This is why I have difficulty accepting the fact DNA places our Northern Spring Peeper with the genus Pseudacris or grassland frogs. Our peeper behaves as a low bush treefrog,genus Hyla.) Males unsuccessful in finding a mate will sometimes call from woodlands well into June. In the autumn when air temperatures are similar to spring it is not unusual for one or more individuals to be vocal, particularly during those damp and rainy nights in October. Actually, If I were to go through my notes (which date back to about 1960) I'm sure I have heard individuals peeping in August and as late as November? Also, one should remember female Spring Peepers are gravid and ready to spawn when they retire to hibernation (same for Wood Frogs and Leopard Frogs). So, what can we expect from global warming?? I'm rambling on here. Hope this is helpful. Sincerely John >>> Jim Wolford <jimwolford@eastlink.ca> 5/9/2007 11:04 AM >>> Pat and Barb and all, the peepings apparently from a tree in a dry yard in a town, if from a spring peeper or our lone species of treefrog, would be unusual for this time of year, since spring peepers in the Spring mostly call from the edges of ponds of run-off water or from floating vegetation in those ponds. But in autumn, when spring peepers again call (why?), most often they are away from water. During much of their active period from Spring to Autumn, they are above the ground in bushes and small trees. Perhaps John Gilhen can expand on this? Cheers from Jim ---------- From: Patrick Giffin <barpat@ns.sympatico.ca> Date: Wed, 09 May 2007 06:31:13 -0300 Subject: INDIGO BUNTING 9May07 Good morning all: Adora Parsons reported an Indigo Bunting at John & Jean Betiuk's home in Middleton, May 8, 07. Barbara and I saw a large flock of Indigo Buntings in Middleton several years ago. Adora is reporting the sound of peeps(she held the phone for Barbara and I to listen) the curious thing is the sounds are coming from above the ground in the trees. No sightings and this is a first for the Parson's dry, in town yard!! Suggested searching with a strong flashlight. I forgot the 2 pair of Ring-necked Ducks at Margaretsville DU yesterday. Off to Lahave today, on Monday all we saw down there was 2 Common Loons and Mallards. Cheers, Barbara and Pat
next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects