CONTENTS
October 1999
Highlighted Frogwatch Observers
Rave Reviews for Frogwatch-Ontario
What is Frogwatch-Ontario?
What do Ontario frogs and toads sound like?
Why is monitoring amphibians important?
Frogwatch is Famous!
HIGHliGHTED FROGWATCH OBSERVERS
By: Joyce Chingcuangco
Adopt-A-Pond Assistant
Frogs have friends!
Alexandra is a seven year old Frogwatch-Ontario Observer from Toronto. Alexandra Frogwatches from her family cottage on Bay Lake. Liza Mischler is a devoted Frogwatcher from Stratford. Liza is a graduate of zoology from the University of Guelph and a member of the Ontario Herpetological Society. Although these Observers come from contrasting backgrounds, they have found a common bond- the love of frogs! Through these interviews they share with us how, each in their own way, they contribute their time and effort to preserve the environment as well as nurture their passion for nature!
An Interview with Alexandra Danyer:
Joyce: When did you start participating in the Frogwatch-Ontario programme?
Alexandra: I found out about Frogwatch-Ontario when I was six at the Cottage Life Show. (Editors Note:
March 1999)
Joyce: What made you interested in the program?
Alexandra: I wanted to help the community. The lady in the show said that if you can't find any frogs in the pond, that means that the water is bad, that's why you have to look for frogs.
Joyce: How did you get interested in frogs?
Alexandra: I started becoming interested in frogs when I was five. There was a lot of frogs at school and we also have frogs in our backyard.
Joyce: When do you usually go out and Frogwatch?
Alexandra: I go out frogwatching at seven o'clock at night with my family. I wear my boots and we bring our flashlights and everything. It's very slimy!
We also go to our cottage around June or July. I go Frogwatching there too. I Frogwatch with Jackie- she's my cousin. We listen to frog calls at the balcony during the night, but during the day, I go Frogwatching with my family when we go canoeing. I also go looking for frogs when we go swimming almost everyday. I'm looking for frog eggs. I haven't seen any yet. I also looked for frogs in the winter, but there wasn't any.
Joyce: Well, we don't really see any frogs during the winter time because they're hibernating and they're hidden under leaves and snow. Some of them actually hibernate underwater. What other interesting things have you found when you're frogwatching?
Alexandra: Interesting? I know that I have to be careful with the frog calls I hear because some of them sound like birds but they're really the sound of frogs! Oh! And I've seen two toads around our cottage. They were medium size and they have rough skin and they have warts. They have like a greenish-brown coloured skin. I think they're American Toads!
Joyce: How do you feel about the results of your activities?
Alexandra: I talk about Frogwatch at school when we have show-and-tell. I show them my Frogwatching kit and we listen to the sounds on the tape. I tell my classmates that if they listen carefully when they're Frogwatching- you can tell what kind of frogs they are.
I really like frogwatching! It's interesting and it's fun. I want to learn more about frogs at school.
Joyce: Who would you recommend Frogwatch- Ontario to?
Alexandra: I recommend Frogwatch-Ontario to every one. It's very good for you. You are helping the world!
An Interview with Liza Mischler:
Joyce: When did you start participating in Frogwatch-Ontario?
Liza: This is actually my first year with FROGWATCH-ONTARIO. I started my observations at the end of March 1999 and we just finished in the middle of July 1999.
Joyce: What made you interested in the program?
Liza: I first found out about the program through an article in the Canadian Geographic Magazine.
From this article, I became very interested and wanted to find out more information. The OHS newsletter contained your website, and from your website, I was able to quickly get started.
Joyce: How did you get interested in amphibians or frogs?
Liza: I became really interested in frogs while taking a herpetology course as a part of my degree in zoology at the University of Guelph.
Joyce: When do you usually go out to Frogwatch? Is this a recreational activity or a hobby?
Liza: We have designated Monday nights as our Frogwatch nights. My husband and son join me and it has turned into an exciting family night. It is very important for me to teach my son, who is two, all about the wonders of nature.
It is also a night where we can just turn off the t.v. and get some exercise. For our family it has turned both into a hobby and a recreational activity.
Joyce: What are the most interesting findings that you have encountered while Frogwatching?
Liza: We were fortunate enough to witness the entire life cycle of toads, including fertilization of the eggs, territorial displays and toadlets the size of a baby fingernail! In addition, we were able to view spring peepers which I heard was difficult. Other observations include: garter snakes, rabbits, beavers, deer, raccoons, bats, crayfish, back swimmers, leeches, fireflies and June bugs.
Joyce: How do you feel about the results of your activities? Has our program prompted you to join other activities that would help preserve the environment?
Liza: I feel great about my activities knowing that I am contributing to a worthy environmental cause, and I get to spend quality time with my family. Since this program has become a valued part of our life, it has prompted us to get more involved with Frogwatching. We are presently contacting the Canadian Wildlife Service, to find out if we can be of further service to this cause and of course we are anticipating another year with Frogwatch-Ontario.
Joyce: Have you recommended Frogwatch-Ontario to others?
Liza: I have recommended the programme to anybody who is interested. I feel the more people we have out there listening the more accurate the resulting scientific data will be. I'm sure there is a large amount of data coming in from urbanized areas, but we need more coverage in the smaller communities.
RAVE REVIEWS FOR FROGWATCH-ONTARIO!
I am excited about this (web) site and Frogwatch! This is so cool! I can't wait to help with Frogwatch-Ontario!
-Heather Coleman, Oshawa, Ontario
I hope initiatives like Frogwatch� will continue to be supported so educators like myself will be able to help develop the positive, hopeful problem-solvers needed for the next millenium.
-Renay Weissman, Agincourt, Ontario
What a wonderful program! I live in Nunavut so I can't participate but I have recommended Frogwatch-Ontario to my nieces in Ontario! There are no frogs up here. How I miss them.
-Brian Jones, Nunavut
(The Frogwatch website) looks great! Hope it is attracting a lot of attention!
-Josephine Mikoluff, Manitoba
Frogwatch-Ontario is an exciting opportunity for students and community members of all ages to participate in an Ontario-wide amphibian monitoring programme. Frogwatch-Ontario is a community oriented programme designed to increase the awareness of the importance of local wetlands.
By listening to frog and toad mating calls, students, homeowners and cottagers can record and contribute valuable information that is important for monitoring the health of Ontario's wetlands. To become a Frogwatch-Ontario participant call the registration line at 905-336-4418 or check out the website at www.ciw.ca/frogwatching or www.torontozoo/adoptapond.
Frogwatch-Ontario is a partnership among the Toronto Zoo's Adopt-A-Pond Programme, Environment Canadas' Ecological Monitoring and Assesment Network (EMAN), and the Ministry of Natural Resources' Natural Heritage Information Centre (NHIC).
WHAT DO ONTARIO FROGS AND TOADS SOUND liKE?
Ontario has thirteen species of frogs and toads. Each have their own distinctive call, making them easy to identify.
American toad: High pitched trill, lasting 20 - 40 seconds.
Fowler's Toad: rare; found only along the northern shore of Lake Erie. Extended nasal "Waa� waa."
Gray Treefrog: short, high pitched bird-like trill blurted out.
Spring Peeper: loud, short "peep� peep."
Pickerel Frog: uncommon; a long drawn out nasal snore.
Wood Frog: quacking sound similar to a duck.
Mink Frog: like galloping horses or hammering in the distance.
Green Frog: barking, a call that sounds like plucking a banjo string.
Bullfrog: deep bass, like "jug-O-rum� jug-O-rum."
Striped and Boreal Chorus Frogs: rasping, like running fingers along the teeth of a comb.
Northern Leopard Frog: A chuckling sound similar to sounds made by running wet hands over a balloon
Blanchard's Cricket frog: rare; southwestern Ontario (Pelee Island). A series of rapid laughing clicks. May sound like two stones tapped together.
Just a reminder:
When leaving your observations on Frogwatch Phoneline voice mail, please remember to specify the type of frog heard and the exact date of your observation.
WHY IS MONITORING AMPHIBIANS IMPORTANT?
Thank you to all Frogwatch-Observers! Your participation has made this program successful! Through your continued involvement, you have provided valuable information about the distribution of frog and toad populations in Ontario.
Amphibians can be used as an "indicator species" because they are vulnerable to changes in land or in water. They are also sensitive to changes in the amount of ultraviolet radiation in the atmosphere as well as changes in water quality.
The distribution and abundance of amphibian populations indicate the presence of environmental contaminants such as acid rain, fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides present in the wetlands. Any changes in amphibian populations can help us understand changes occurring in the environment. Frogs and toads can be considered as "barometers" of environmental health.
Thus, by monitoring the mating calls of frogs and toads, data will be used to determine the health of Ontario's wetlands.
From this information, scientists evaluate which areas are in need of habitat restoration and water quality improvements.
As well, the data gathered from monitoring frogs and toads help trace the phenology, or south to north progression of these mating calls. This spring, for example, the mating calls of spring peepers in Ontario were first heard in London on March 28, 1999. These mating calls gradually began to progress to towns such as Tramore in northern Ontario, as the temperatures became warmer (see the map above).
Why is observing the trend of phenology important? Over the long term, these records help scientists note any global weather changes such as the greenhouse effect, and how environmental conditions may affect different ecosystems. populations, but people as well .
This year, Frogwatch-Observers from over 50 towns and cities entered their observations on frog and toad mating calls in Ontario!
The species heard in the southern most region of Ontario (St. Thomas and Ingersol) were the spring peeper (heard April 2/ Ingersol), the gray treefrog (heard June 6/St. Thomas), the American toad (heard May 6th/St.Thomas) and the green frog (first heard May 6th/Thomas). The northernmost call reported was the green frog in Lappe, Ontario, heard July 12 1999.
It is important to note that frogs such as the bullfrog, green frog, and mink frog breed later during the season between June and August. So, remember to keep an ear out for them and continue Frogwatching into the summer months.
Interesting observations, such as the presence of eggs, tadpoles or toadlets at the wetlands, can also be noted on your monitoring sheet.
Your reports of frog and toad mating calls can also be made more accurate. The Frogwatch Hotline and website can help you to refresh, review and remember the frog and toad mating calls for next year's Frogwatch season!
There's also a fun quiz located on the web page to test yourself on your frog call identification skills. Have fun!
The Frogwatching season began on the last week of March. As the season progressed, more and more people visited the website. The number of visitors peaked to almost a thousand on the first week of May! Hooray Frogwatch!
THANK YOU TO ALL FROGWATCH OBSERVERS!
Here is a list of cities and towns that are closest to active Frogwatch stations.
Ajax, Angus, Ash, Atha Road, Aurora, Bethesda, Brampton, Briar's Park, Bury's Green, Burlington, Cambridge, Capreol, Commanda, Crow Lake, Duckskin, Duff Corners, Duffy, Egbert, Elliot Lake, Erie, Fergus, Gravenhurst, Hilburn, Ingersoll, Ivan, Kars, Laird, Lappe, Leeds, London, Lucan, Naiscoot, Newcastle, Norland, North Bay, Owen Sound, Peterborough, Roxborough, Seouls Corners, Scarborough, Snug Harbour, Stanton, St.Catharines, St. Mary's, St. Thomas, Thornton, Thorold, Tramore, Tweed, Wildwood, Ville-Marie
A SPECIAL THANK-YOU to David Selwyn, a Toronto Zoo volunteer! Dave helped register many interested Frogwatch Observers during our very busy spring season.
DID YOU KNOW?
A Frogwatch-Ontario Observer in St. Catharines actually entered 140 observations of frog and toad mating calls in their area!
Great Work!!