Table of Contents

The Urban Outback

Acknowledgements
Foreword
Quotes

Introduction

The Problem
Puddle Power
Frog-Friendly Backyard
Why are we concerned about amphibians?

Amphibians

Wetlands

The function and types of wetlands
Wetland issues
        Historical development
        The bioregion
        Changing landscapes and protected areas I
        Changing landscapes and protected areas II
        Restoring a balance

How to help amphibians Keeping Score: Amphibian Road Call Counts & Backyard Frog Surveys
Speak Out
Community Green Plans

Wetland Restoration
          Ecological planning beyond the birdbath
          Before you start
          Urban Wetlands
          Marshes
          Drainage ditches
          Stormwater retention ponds
          Ephemeral ponds
          River valleys
          Swamps
          Wet meadows
          Beaver pond Management

Frog Friendly Backyard
          Where to build your pond
              Toad ponds
              Woodland ponds
              Farm ponds
          How big and how deep
          Shape
          Concrete, fiberglass or clay ponds?
          Flexible pond liners
          Digging your pond
          Overflow
          Water source
          Maintenance
          The Mitchell Pond
          How to attract amphibians to your pond
                Norway Maple: Reassessing the threat to natural areas
                Other amphibian shelters
          How to attract other wildlife to your backyard
                Metro Toronto Zoo bat box programme

HELP! - Problems and concerns brought to our attention through letters from homeowners.

Wetland tales and activities Literature
          Narcissus Toad by Susan Fromberg Schaeffer
          The song of Mr. Toad by Kenneth Grahame.
          Birdfoot's Grampa by Joseph Bruchac
          The woman who married a frog by Michael J. Caduto and Joseph Bruchac

Word Games
          Wetland Word Find
          Amphibians of Ontario Word Find

Art Activities
          Colour a Toad

Science Activities
          It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's Phytoplankton!
          Ghostbusters - Zooplankton at Work.
          It's a buggy world after all.

Additional Activities

The Gallery I

The Gallery II
           Jack-in-the-Pulpit
           Fiddlehead
           Joe-pye-weed
           Sagittaria
           Staghorn Sumach
           Wildflowers
           Marsh marigold
           Pickerel weed
           Cardinal flower
           White water lily
           Black-eyed susan
           Columbine

Glossary

Appendix

          Native Ontario plant species for wetlands and adjacent habitats
          Nurseries which carry native plant species for Ontario.
          Additional sources of information on amphibians